Jim Cassidy continued his remarkable autumn carnival by riding his third group one winner in as many weeks when Vision And Power won the A$2 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday.
The 46-year-old's victory in the 1600-metre feature followed his win aboard Roman Emperor in the AJC Australian Derby
the previous Saturday and the George Ryder Stakes on the Joe Pride-trained Vision And Power a week earlier.
An emotional Cassidy said Pride deserved all the credit for the Doncaster win.
"I've been lucky enough to ride for all of the great trainers but for Vision And Power to do what he has is remarkable. He is an outstanding young trainer," Cassidy said of Pride.
Cassidy went through a gruelling fitness programme to get down to the weight to ride Vision And Power but fell just short and was granted permission by stewards to ride a half-kilogram over at 52kg for the race.
"I've been sucking grapefruit all week but it's been worth it," Cassidy said.
Vision And Power ($11) came from near the back of the field and was the widest runner at the turn before letting down with a stunning run to defeat the Con Karakatsanis-trained Black Piranha by three-quarters of a length with the unlucky Whobegotyou from the Mark Kavanagh yard a half-neck away third.
Pride said it best on his way to the mounting enclosure after the event.
"This is one of the best combinations in racing: Jim Cassidy and Vision And Power," Pride said.
"But I can't believe I've just won the Doncaster.
"This is such a massive effort and has taken so much hard work from all of the stable. They'll be rapt."
The Warwick Farm trainer said that while he was stunned by the result, it was no fluke.
"How many times does he have to do it before people realise he's a top-class horse?" Pride asked.
"There's no secrets with him, he's just a very good horse."
Karakatsanis was proud of Black Piranha, who came into the race after also running second in the George Ryder.
"He ran his heart out and was ready for this race but he just found a better one on the day," he said. Kavanagh was disappointed.
"It's the one that got away ... it's hard to win a Doncaster," Kavanagh said. "Several runs got away from him and he didn't have a lot of luck in the straight."
New Zealand's two runners King Mufhasa and Sir Slick finished 16th and 17th. Former Matamata entire Alamosa was 11th.
- AAP
Jim Cassidy continued his remarkable autumn carnival by riding his third group one winner in as many weeks when Vision And Power won the A$2 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday.
The 46-year-old's victory in the 1600-metre feature followed his win aboard Roman Emperor in the AJC Australian Derby
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.