Larry Cassidy is confident of riding at next month’s Magic Millions meeting at the Gold Coast after succumbing to rib injuries which have ruled him out of action for the next four weeks.
Cassidy sustained rib cartilage damage when involved in a four-horse fall at Doomben eight days ago which also sidelined apprentice Priscilla Schmidt for four months with a broken leg.
Schmidt will have surgery on Monday to have a plate inserted in her leg.
Cassidy had five rides at Ipswich on Friday and five at Doomben on Saturday including star sprinter Havatryst in the Group Three George Moore Stakes.
Trainer Barry Baldwin will wait until race morning before booking a replacement for Cassidy but Scott Galloway is favoured to take over on Havatryst in the 1200-metre feature.
“The owners want to wait until race morning to see who might become available if there’s scratchings but if not I favour putting Scott Galloway on,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin was forced to freshen up Havatryst after he hurt his off-foreleg following his win at Doomben on November 5.
The son of Foreplay was treated extensively with antibiotics for 10 days after the setback, which ruled him out of the Listed Keith Noud Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Baldwin is not overly concerned with a heavy track rating for Havatryst who has won on a slow track.
“He’s won on a slow and ran a great race on a very wet track in the Gold Coast Guineas so I don’t think he’ll have a problem on a heavy,” Baldwin said.
“I’d prefer him on top of the ground but he’s got the rails which is a big help.”
Cassidy, who had two rides at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, plans to take up to four weeks to recover from his soreness.
“I slept on a hard mattress on the bedroom floor last night to ease the pain a little,” Cassidy said.
“I’d be kidding myself if I tried to ride now while the ribs are so sore.
“If I keep riding it’ll only prolong the problem further and I need to get it right.”
Cassidy felt more pain preparing in the jockeys’ room for his two mounts on Wednesday than riding at the meeting.
“Riding wasn’t too bad but preparing in the room before the races was difficult. I felt the pain more bending over and picking up gear,” he said.
“I’m going to take a month off and rest up but I’m aiming to be fully fit before the Magic Millions.”
Cassidy is disappointed to miss the mount on Havatryst.
“It’s an even race and I think he’s a very good chance,” he said.
AAP TURF
