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Jim Cassidy snapped a three-year Group 1 drought on Saturday afternoon, steering impressive John O'Shea filly Sea Siren to victory in the BTC Cup at Doomben.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Not since Vision And Power's win in the 2009 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) had the 49-year-old hoop saluted in Group 1 company, but he took full advantage of Buffering's late withdrawal to expunge his baron run.
Early-week favourite Buffering was scratched on race morning with a stone bruise and Cassidy capitalised with a gem of a ride on Sea Siren to upstage her older rivals in the weight-for-age feature.
He settled the filly in second spot for most of the trip allowing Adebisi to set a break-neck speed before pulling clear at the 150m and proving too strong.
Scenic Blast ran into second spot from Peter Snowden mare Beaded.
But Cassidy was never going to be beaten, and he instantly vowed to try making the weight for next month's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
“It's been a while between Group 1s,” Cassidy said.
“It's fifty-one and a half [kilograms for the Stradbroke]. I'll be doing it a little bit tough but I've found another good one so it'll be worth it.”
Sea Siren bypassed the Sydney autumn carnival with a focus towards Sydney, and hadn't raced for two months prior to winning the BTC Cup.
She ran a narrow second to Streama on March 10 in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m), three weeks after beating the subsequent Australian Oaks winner in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).
“What a training performance, she's come from restricted class in Sydney to take on Streama, and she was a Group 1 filly,” Cassidy said.
“He set this filly for the Stradbroke instead of going through Sydney.
“I was reading this morning there hasn't been a filly win this race for about 15 years.
“I've had big wraps on her, this is only my third time on her today and John O'Shea said to me he's got the best filly in the yard. She's owned by my great mate which is even better.”
The daughter of boom sire Fastnet Rock has now one four of her six career starts while placing in the other two.
“It's a nice record,” O'Shea said.
“Every time I've asked her to do something she's really stepped up to the plate.
“It's a credit to the sire, a credit to the family and a credit to the people that bred her.”
