A typical front running ride by veteran jockey Jim Cassidy saw Steps In Time take out back to back Group 2 $175,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Classic(1200m) at Rosehill today.
Cassidy steered a wide course in the early stages but crossed to the fence to lead easily at the 800m and lead the field of mares into the straight.
Hugh Bowman gave chase on Red Tracer at the 300m and after getting to the girth of Steps In Time was unable to get past the John O’Shea trained mare.
Cassidy adopted the same tactics that saw Steps In Time take out the same race last year when it was run at Warwick Farm with Red Tracer finishing in third spot on that occasion.
The Rosehill track was rated a dead 5 but Cassidy was aware that Steps In Time was having her first run back since the Spring and had to nurse the five year old over the final stages.
“She’s first up and that tracks pretty testing early,” Cassidy said.
“Good training performance. She’s trialled well. I think this mare’s plus is she’s come back stronger this time.”
“She got a little bit tired. I stayed a couple off the fence.”
O’Shea gave credit to Cassidy’s front running ride and the way he was able to access the track perfectly and hold her up down the straight.
And O’Shea thinks that Steps In Time will improve during the Autumn with this run under her belt.