Every year Jim Cassidy takes a long winter holiday, prompting talk of retirement.
And every year the champion jockey returns in the spring to make an immediate statement as he has in the past few days.
Cassidy’s first ride back at Canterbury on Wednesday was a winning one and his performance on Hawkspur in the Chelmsford Stakes was that of a master.
“I believe in myself,” Cassidy said.
“I had 2-1/2 months off but I did a lot of preparation in the last month of that.
“I knew I had to be ready for the spring.”
This Is Australia’s debut win at Canterbury was enough to convince the jockey he was a serious horse in the making while Hawkspur’s win was testament to Cassidy’s wealth of experience.
Before the Chelmsford, Cassidy went to stewards to say he wanted the option of taking Hawkspur forward in the race and then told trainer Chris Waller about Plan B.
“Weight-for-age racing is all about tempo,” Cassidy said.
“I needed the choice and going forward was the difference between winning and losing.”
This Is Australia is trained by Clarry Conners for John Singleton and the big colt could be headed to the Coolmore Stud Stakes in November, a race Cassidy won last year on Zoustar.
“He is a quality colt but he is still a big baby and has to take the next step up,” Cassidy said.
“If he can he could be a real contender for a race like the Coolmore Stud Stakes.”
The Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) on September 20 is the race Conners has earmarked for This Is Australia’s next start.
On Saturday Cassidy will again ride for Conners and Singleton when he heads to Melbourne to partner Dear Demi in the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) as the mare heads to the Caulfield Cup.
“I’m going to ride her and Brazen Beau for Chris Waller in the Danehill,” he said.
Brazen Beau is being sent to Melbourne for the Group Two sprint to avoid Sydney’s wet tracks.
Cassidy won the 2012 VRC Oaks on Dear Demi who finished third in last year’s Caulfield Cup with James McDonald aboard.
The mare was an eye-catching fifth in the Cockram Stakes (1200m) at her first run for the season.