Racing: Controversial Cassidy back

Jim Cassidy takes part in the Melbourne Cup Parade. Photo / Getty Images

Jimmy Cassidy returns to scale aboard Maluckyday. Sydney jockey Jim Cassidy's latest comeback is marked by three rides for trainer Joe Pride, who marvels at the mental strength of the 47-year-old.

Cassidy's stellar career has been interrupted by serious injuries and controversial bans, the latest a two-month suspension for a marijuana offence.

Pride and Cassidy have enjoyed success at the highest level with Vision And Power, winner of the 2009 George Ryder Stakes-Doncaster double, and the trainer is looking forward to the next instalment.

"He's an amazing athlete, and just the character, the mental character he must have to come back from some of the things he's had to," Pride said on Thursday.

"He's probably got himself into most of those predicaments but he gets himself out of it as well.

"He's a great rider and I'm just keen to see him get back into the thick of things again because when he is he invariably comes out on top.

"He's a real competitor."

Cassidy is one of a select group of jockeys to have won racing's grand slam of the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and the Golden Slipper.

The most serious interruption to Cassidy's career was a 21-month ban for his involvement in the infamous "jockey tapes" affair in the mid-1990s.

He has also had to work his way back from several serious injuries, including a shoulder reconstruction in 2005 and a broken ankle after a fall at Eagle Farm in 2007.

More recently, Cassidy underwent surgery in September 2009 when he almost severed two fingers in a gardening accident at his home.

Cassidy, the regular rider of emerging staying star Maluckyday, owned by another of his close friends and supporters, Nick Moraitis, has been competing in Sydney barrier trials for the past couple of weeks and returns at Randwick today, with rides on Hadaaf, Brom Brom and Khemosabi for Pride.

He will also partner the Graeme Rogerson-trained Dandee Topwin.

Eight-year-old Hadaaf has never been placed in 14 attempts at Randwick and saves his best form for Rosehill.

Rosehill has not hosted a meeting since Hadaaf last raced on December 11 and despite the gelding's dislike for Randwick, Pride said he needed to racetoday.

The trainer has pencilled in a return to Rosehill for Hadaaf in two weeks.

Stablemate Brom Brom runs in the Ticketek.com.au Handicap (1800m) with Pride hoping the addition of blinkers can ignite some competitiveness in the 6-year-old gelding who has not won in eight starts since returning from Hong Kong.

Khemosabi will be first-up in the Australia Day at Warwick Farm Handicap (1400m).

- AAP