Jim Cassidy is in for a couple of gruelling days if trainer Gerald Ryan decides to run last start Flemington winner Charlie Boy in the Group 1 $400,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Sunday.
Jim Cassidy will have to diet hard to ride Charlie Boy at 52kg in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Ryan has nominated Charlie Boy in both the Group 3 $175,000 BECK Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and the Sir Rupert Clark Stakes and the top Sydney trainer is not sure which way he will go.
Charlie Boy caused an upset win at his first run back beating Kiss A Rose in the Group 2 $220,000 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 7 and has been weighted at 52kg for the Sir Rupert Clarke.
Cassidy said he would be able to get down to the 52kg, but it would take a lot of hard dieting leading up to Sunday.
“It takes a bit of doing for me to get to 52kg but if that is the race for Charlie Boy, I’ve promised Gerald I’ll ride him at the correct weight,” Cassidy told The Daily Telegraph.
“So, I’ll be watching what I eat all week, I’ve got plenty of riding to do with races and trackwork, and I’ll be hitting the gym when I can.”
Ryan knows that it takes a top line three year old to beat the older horses in the 1400m feature sprint but it has been done in the past with wins by Our Maizcay (1995), Encosta De Lago (1996), Testa Rossa (1999) and Exceed And Excel (2003).
“I’ve had a look at the history of the race and three-year-olds have a good record,” Ryan said.
“But they are elite three-year-olds who have won the race.
“I’ll have a good look at the entries for both races before making a decision but either way, I’m looking forward to seeing what this horse can do when he gets to 1400m.”
Cassidy is willing to put in the extra effort as he is sitting on ninety-nine Group 1 wins and will take every opportunity to break the one hundred winner mark.
Charlie Boy is one of thirty nominated for the Sir Rupert Clarke as well as one of twenty three year olds entered for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
