The legendary Jimmy Cassidy never does things through halves.
So when the Dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey decided to get involved in his first standard bread, he went into everything.
“I always wanted one, so decided to give it a crack,” said Cassidy from Sydney.
Not only did he set his money where his mouth was, but agreed with a suggestion of his “big partner” Graeme Rogerson that would be called the Colt “Go Jimmy Cassidy”.
The two -year -old qualified on Cambridge Raceway last week.
The son of American iDeal was purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock in Hamilton for $ 42,500 of the National Yearling turnover of 2024.
So how did the deal come about?
“I have known Rogie since I was 11 years old – he helped me during my career, we are great friends,” says Cassidy.
“I go to Rogie three to five times a year and stay with him and debate and he has always strewn horses everywhere on his table and I saw this and said:” That’s a good looking horse “”.
“I didn’t know if it was a trotter or a pacer or a galloper and he said:” It’s a pacer “” “
“I said,” I will take a share in it, “says Cassidy,” It was just a good horse. “
And it was Rogerson who came up with the name.
“He said,” Why don’t we call it Go Jimmy Cassidy and I said, “You are an idiot.”
Known as “Pumper” because of its distinctive up and down driving style, Cassidy won more than 100 group 1 races in a colorful and very successful career with two Melbourne Cup victories. His ‘last to first’ victory with Kiwi in 1983 is racing with folklore and was followed by his second with Might and Power 14 years later. He retired in 2015 at the age of 53 after a 36-year career and nearly 2000 winners.
Over the years, wind dogs and other horses have had names such as Jimmy de Pumper and King Cassidy and he knows that he will get some ridges about this newest, not that he is at least worried.
“I’ve dealt it all my life, size.”
Cassidy quickly came to his ownership group. It includes Vrouw Vicki and a few wave -mates (Cassidy is an 8 -handicapper).
“I syndicated it for him and I put a lot of my old friends in it from here in Sydney, a group of cotton farmers and others and we will just use it as a bit of fun.”
Cassidy is already thinking of being the trackside to see the young person in the meat.
“Hopefully when he is ready to go, my friends who all play golf and play some golf and then we go to the races and we see him racing.”
“He had a little foot problems, but he has that now and he is qualified – we give him a few weeks and then start fresh.”
And like his two -year -old namesake Cassidy, it’s just step by step.
“It’s fun – if I do something, I like to enjoy it. Whatever happens and that is one of the great things of this game called Racing.”
Through Dave di SommaFor Harness News Desk
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