KEY POINTS:
Comeback jockey Jim Cassidy urged punters not to disregard wayward colt Chilled as a Magic Millions prospect after he was beaten into third place on debut at Doomben yesterday.
Cassidy was having his first race ride back since he suffered serious injuries in a fall at Eagle Farm in June and the royally-bred Chilled was supposed to provide the champion hoop with an armchair ride for victory in the A$50,000 ($57,563) Equipment Funding Plate (1110m).
But those plans were quickly thrown into disarray when Chilled jumped awkwardly and raced greenly for the first 600m, forcing Cassidy to work feverishly on the colt a long way from home. The favourite gradually responded to Cassidy's urgings and loomed as a winning chance once he got balanced in the straight before his lack of experience told and he weakened to finish third, just over a length from the winner Saratoga.
Talented Toowoomba colt Que ran a bold race from his outside alley and finished powerfully from last on the turn to claim second a nose ahead of Chilled.
It may not have been the dream comeback he had hoped for but Cassidy was not disappointed and is looking forward to the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on March 24.
"He'll improve out of sight with that experience," Cassidy said. "He didn't begin well and then he switched off. He got lost on the corner and he was always climbing in his stride."
By Redoute's Choice out of Encosta De Lago mare Lady Mulroy, Chilled raced in blinkers and Cassidy told trainer Maryann Thexton the horse would race more truly without them.
While Thexton was plotting an educational exercise for Chilled, winning trainer Ron Maund was rapt with the professionalism shown by Saratoga and said he was now eyeing a start in the Magic Millions Classic.
"She's an absolute sweetheart and does everything right, she's qualified for the Magic Millions and that's where she'll go although I might sneak her back here for another one."
- AAP
