Age shall not weary Jim Cassidy for the once condemned is again in demand.
None other than the dominator Chris Waller and the one he usurped as premier trainer, Gai Waterhouse, is banking on Cassidy producing at Rosehill on Saturday.
Fellow training giant Clarry Conners has Cassidy on board his VRC Oaks winner Dear Demi in the Coolmore Classic which is one of three group 1s on the card which is the official start to the Sydney autumn carnival.
“I just hang in there,” Cassidy said shortly after riding in the Randwick barrier trials on Friday.
“I’ve been knocked down, rubbed out, but I keep getting back up. Trainers, owners, have said they don’t want me but it is a matter of turning up.
“It is just a matter of turning up well prepared, what is the old saying, ‘failure requires no preparation’.
“I’m putting in the work, I’m loving it at the moment and when they don’t want me, I’ll give it away but I’m enjoying it and I’m getting the rides.”
Dear Demi is a John Singleton home bred and Cassidy was adamant he was going to stick to the oaks despite having a winning association with Coolmore rival Steps In Time.
“Singo has stuck by me, so I’m sticking,” Cassidy said.
“She is a great filly. The first-up run was good, she won the Surround and while this is her toughest test with a bit of luck in running she can win the Coolmore, no worries about that.”
In the Canterbury Stakes Cassidy and Singleton are set to rumble. Singleton’s mare More Joyous takes on stablemate Pierro with both prepared by Waterhouse.
A triple crown winner as a two-year-old last season Pierro’s usual jockey Nash Rawiller has opted to continue the association on More Joyous which is out to win the Canterbury Stakes for a third straight year.
“The opportunity came along to ride Pierro and I took it,” Cassidy said.
“They’ve put me on and now I’ve got to deliver. He was the champion two-year-old, I thought he was unlucky in the Caulfield Guineas, he ran terrific in the Cox Plate and picked himself up off the canvas to win the Hobartville.
“He is taking on a champion mare in More Joyous, it is going to be a good race and I’m up for it.”
Waller has engaged Cassidy for Foreteller in the group 1 Ranvet Stakes.
“An even type of race and a lot of the stayers are looking to go further whether it be the BMW or the Sydney Cup,” Cassidy said.
“My bloke’s runs were good in Melbourne and when Waller’s horses head back to Rosehill they grow a leg.”
Cassidy described the rise of his fellow Kiwi in Waller as having been “marvellous” and “an absolute credit”.
“He might be the next TJ Smith,” Cassidy said.
By Craig Young
