Cassidy begins Christmas holiday early

Jockey Jim Cassidy will start his Christmas holidays early after succumbing to a rib injury he sustained during Melbourne Cup week.

Jim Cassidy to recuperate from rib injury over Christmas break.

Jim Cassidy to recuperate from rib injury over Christmas break. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Cassidy informed Racing New South Wales chief steward Ray Murrihy as well as leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller that he wouldn’t be riding this weekend and would use the Christmas period to ensure that he will be fit for the revamped Sydney Autumn Carnival next year.

The veteran rider, who celebrated his one hundredth Group 1 win when the Waller trained three year old Zoustar took out the $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 2, suffered a rib injury when winning part owner Sheriff Iskander gave him a bear hug after the victory.

And then again on Crown Oaks day five days later, TVN’s Richard Callander gave the diminutive Cassidy a another bear hug after winning on Multilateral, a horse he part owns.

Cassidy had to stand down from riding at Warwick Farm on Wednesday after only one ride and has since had tests to ascertain the damage to his ribs.

“I’ve already called Ray Murrihy and Chris Waller this morning,” Cassidy told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

“There’s just some tear there. I also had an ECG this morning, just to check out the ticker and make sure there’s no complications there, and I came through with flying colours. It’s just cartilage.

“I’m still quite happy to put up with the pain for the thrill I got out of winning on Zoustar.”

“I’ll be ready to rip and tear in January.”

Cassidy has forged a great association with Waller and in particular Zoustar whom he teamed up with during the Brisbane Winter Carnival with a win in the Group 2 $250,000 Al Basti Equiworld BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350) at Doomben on May 25.

The pair then ran second to Romantic Touch in the Group 1 $500,000 Patinack Farm J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 before a short winter break.

In the Spring, Zoustar didn’t take long to reap the benefits of a Queensland campaign and produced a stunning finish to come from near last on the home turn to win the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 14 with Cassidy aboard.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.