A pumped up Jim Cassidy was back to his best when he lead all of the way on Steps In Time to beat the unlucky Beaded in the Group 2 $175,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Classic (1200m) at Warwick Farm today.

Cassidy rode with authority on the John O’Shea mare to hold off the $2.50 favourite Beaded by three quarters of a length with the heavily back Red Tracer ($3) just over a length back in third spot.

Stable foreman Bryce  Heyes was full of praise for both Cassidy and Steps In Time and expects the mare to go onto better things.

“This mare deserves this win,” Heyes said.

“It was James Arthur (Cassidy) at his best. He pulled their pants down.”

Heyes said that Steps In Time would now be considered for the  Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24

“She’s drawn the line in the sand today,” he said.

“She is on the up and looks like she will be well placed in the Coolmore.”

“Where we go all came down to what she did today,” he said.

“We can make plans now.”

Cassidy said it was always the plan to go forward and get a break on the favourite Beaded.

“We wanted to be positive,” he said.

“She keeps improving and took the next step today.

“Not a bad ride either – that helped.”

The Peter Snowden trained Beaded had to change course a couple of times in the straight but jockey Corey Brown said she had her chance to run down the winner.

“She raced up to win in the last 50,” he said.

“She just couldn’t get there.”