Racing: Cassidy bows out on winner

Veteran jockey Jim Cassidy made the most of his final ride before he undergoes knee surgery when he steered Love Conquers All to victory in the June Stakes at Randwick.

Cassidy came to Randwick yesterday for just one ride for his old friend Nick Moraitis for whom he won the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups on Might And Power.

The jockey will undergo surgery on his knees next week and expects to be sidelined for about two months.

Love Conquers All went into the Listed June Stakes (1100m) as the $1.65 favourite but had a fight on his hands in the straight to get past former West Australian Hay List ($6.50) who was making his eastern states debut.

The favourite prevailed by three-quarters of a length with Bejewelled ($21) heading the rest four lengths away.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said there was a chance Love Conquers All could head to Queensland for the Group Three WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) in two weeks.

"We never make decisions on race day but there is the race in Brisbane in two weeks," Hawkes said.

"Or we might just give him a break and get him ready for the spring."

A setback early in his preparation meant a Stradbroke Handicap campaign had to be aborted.

Cassidy was impressed.

"He is a lovely horse and he is really going somewhere," he said.

"He took a while to get balanced but then he knuckled down over the last 100 metres and was too strong. I wasn't expecting to be riding at all today and I came here for just the one ride and it was a good one."

- AAP