Jockey Larry Cassidy couldn’t have a more aptly named mount than War Baby to help him break the record for the number of wins in the Listed Caloundra Cup.
The mare will be having her 36th start since she returned from a 10-week break in June 2016 when she lines up on Saturday a week after running third in the Tattersall’s Cup at Doomben.
Cassidy has come back from a crippling knee injury to re-establish himself in the top five jockeys in Brisbane and has ridden 52 winners this season including 33 in the metropolitan area.
He has won the Caloundra Cup (2400m) three times on Portland Singa, Henderson Bay and Procyon to be the equal leader with Chris Munce whose winners were Oompala, Yammer and Brayroan.
The winner of 43 Group One races, Cassidy has a special soft spot for War Baby who he rode to victory in the Provincial Stayers Trophy at Ipswich two weeks ago before last week’s Tatt’s Cup.
“I love her. She just tries so hard and never gives up. A bit of the sting out of the track on Saturday wouldn’t hurt,” Cassidy said.
“My last winner before I was forced out with the knee injury was Winx in the Guineas at the Sunshine Coast in 2015. So I would love to get another big win there.”
War Baby’s winter campaign may not be over after Saturday as trainer Kelvin Hickmott is considering running her in the Queensland Cup (3200m) on July 15.
