MELBOURNE - Sydney jockey Jim Cassidy continued his hot form in the saddle since resuming from a suspension this month when he guided Whitefriars to victory in the group two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday.
Cassidy, nicknamed "The Pumper", had ridden seven winners on Sydney tracks, including a
treble and a double at Rosehill, and was at his brilliant best aboard the talented sprinter prepared at Warwick Farm by Rick Worthington.
The controversial jockey had spent more than two months on the sidelines after returning a positive test to a banned substance, marijuana, at Warwick Farm on October 4.
Cassidy, who won the Salinger Stakes at Flemington aboard Whitefriars and The Lexus on Maluckyday on Derby Day at Flemington, was glad to be back in the winners' circle at the Valley, the scene of his 1998 Cox Plate win on Might And Power.
"It's always special to come back to Melbourne and win a big one, especially at the Valley," Cassidy said.
"I've had a lot of good times here and you saw tonight they are not over yet."
Whitefriars ($6.50) sat outside race leader Undeniably ($9) who carved out a fast speed with reigning Horse Of The Year Typhoon Tracy ($1.60 fav) chasing the tearaway pair.
However, the leaders didn't come back, with Whitefriars prevailing by a short head ahead of Undeniably and Typhoon Tracy three-quarters of a length away third.
Ortensia ran on to finish fourth with Secret Flyer fifth.
Cassidy said his mount was race fit and had shouldered 59.5kg to run second to Pinwheel in the Canterbury Stakes (1100m) on January 14.
"Me and Rick discussed it prior to take it to them," said the jockey. "You know we're not here to play marbles. We had to tough it out and see where we were going after tonight.
"The plan was be aggressive and go forward and be in the first two and if I had to lead and dictate so be it but Michael Rodd was keen to lead [on Undeniably] and he wanted to put the pressure on 700m out.
"If he hadn't done it I would have, so it worked out good for me."
Cassidy said he was trying to talk Worthington into running Whitefriars in the Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on April 16.
"He's getting better with every run. He's relaxing and to ask him to do what he did tonight shows he's gone up a notch because he's done it both ends."
- AAP
