Rejuvenated jockey Jim Cassidy has been booked to ride multiple Group 1 winner Sea Siren in Hong Kong after she contests the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington tomorrow.

Sea Siren

Jim Cassidy has been booked to ride Sea Siren (picture) in Hong Kong. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The John O’Shea trained mare will be sent out favourite at Flemington after winning first up this Spring in the Group 1 $500,000 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley two weeks ago with Cassidy and the Randwick trainer is confident she will be in the major part of the prizemoney again.

“She’s in very, very good order. She was ready to go at Moonee Valley but I knew we had left something in the tank and everything has gone right since,” O’Shea said.

On Tuesday morning at Flemington, Sea Siren worked with the John Thompson trained three year old Maury over 1000m and pulled up in fine style after running 1.6.39s for the gallop, running home 23.02s for the final 400m.

The Manikato Stakes winner then had an easier time on Thursday working over 1000m in 1.11.44s, her final 400m in 26.24s, pleasing O’Shea.

“The gallop was perfect, just where we wanted her to be and she’ll go into the Patinack without an excuse,” O’Shea said.

Cassidy, who took out the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Tuesday on Dear Demi has developed a great association with Sea Siren and was aboard when she won two Group 1s at weight for age at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, the $400,000 Bundaberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup (1200m) and the $650,000 Carlton Mid Doomben 10,000 (1350m).

“There’s no better rider in big races in Australia than Jim Cassidy – he showed that again yesterday,” O’Shea said.

O’Shea has his eyes set on an overseas campaign for Sea Siren and will freshened her up after Saturday and head to Hong Kong for the Group 1 HK$14m Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 9.

Sea Siren with Cassidy aboard will start the favourite in the Patinack Farm Classic and is currently heading the betting at $3.80 with the Robert Heathcote trained Buffering the second pick at $5.

The Peter Snowden trained Mental  is the only other runner under double figures at $6 after finishing a neck second to Sea Siren in the Manikato Stakes.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.