Cassidy answers critics with double

Press, 16 November 1987, Page 32

Cassidy answers critics with double

NZPA Sydney The expatriate New Zealand jockey, Jim Cassidy, capped off a tremendous Melbourne spring carnival when he took out the Sandown Guineas-Sandown Cup double on Saturday. Cassidy, who had already won three Group One events at the four-day Flemington carnival — the Victoria Derby on Omnicorp, the Gadsden Stakes on Sky Filou and the V.R.C. Oaks on Sandy’s Pleasure, was praised for a classic ride to win the sAustlol,ooo Sandown Cup (2400 m on Colour Page. His all-the-way win on Ascot Lane in the SAustl 00,000 Guineas may have earned the colt a -run in the New Zealand Derby. Cassidy’s performances were the perfect answer to his critics who had been questioning his toughness after a series of

injuries and illnesses had often kept him off the racetrack. In the Sandown Cup, Cassidy showed great skill in manoeuvring Colour Page from his wide barrier to the rails and into second place in the first run past the judge’s box. Then he brought him off the fence in a perfectly timed run to the winning post. Some 300 metres out, the New Zealand horse, Argonaut Style, was out in front and the top Melbourne jockey Harry White looked to be heading for his fourth Sandown Cup victory. But blistering finishes by Colour Page and the topweight, Drought, meant Argonaut Style had to be content with third place for the second week, finishing a half length behind Drought which was just a long neck from Colour Page.

Argonaut Style, whose Melbourne Cup chances

were dashed by a poor start, has shown his mettle the last two week-ends — having run a slashing third the previous week in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500 m The New Zealand mare, Daria’s Fun, finished solidly for fourth. Sandown PA Wellington Weather fine, track firm SANDOWN GUINEAS $100,000; three year olds; 1600 m. 2- ASCOT LANE 3 55.5 J. Cassidy 1 3- HIGH REGARD 2 55.5 H. White 2 1-2 POTTER MCQUEEN 4 55.5 D. Gauci 3 Others in finishing order: 4-5 Above Deck, 6-10 Iskra, 5-4 Tara Path, 12-12 Expected Journey, 14-13 Cordonnier Boy, 10- Lord Lonsdale, 8-8 Seas Rising, 7-6 Raj Quartette, 9-7 Doug’s Hope, 13-14 Hytambo, 11- Jacobean. 1 len, 1% len. Time; 1:36. Win: $4.90. Places: $1.50, $2.35, $1.75. Quinella: $9.75. Trifecta: $87.10. SANDOWN CUP $100,000; 2400 m. 1-1 COLOUR PAGE 2 55.5 J. Cassidy. ... 1 3-3 DROUGHT 1 57.5 D. Gauci 2 7-7 ARGONAUT STYLE 4 53.5 H. White .... 3 Others in finishing order: 8-8 Daria’s Fun, 13-13 Jabba Hutt, 12- Sansong, 2-2 King Of Brooklyn, 6-5 Globetrotter, 5-6 Beau Trist, 15-15 Bronx Bomber, 4-4 Noble Kit, 9-9 King Matthias, 18-17 Grey Liberty, 10-11 Happy View, 14-16 My Day, 17-18 Our Als Mate, 16-14 Gielgud’s Belle, 11-10 Leica Topic (pulled up). Long nk, >/ 2 len - Time: 2:29.5. Win: $6.35. Places: $2.35, $2.90, $3.55. Quinella: $17.80. Trifecta: $172.95.