Jim Cassidy’s exuberance for racing shows no sign of waning after Sadler’s Lake gave him a stakes double in the first two races at Randwick on Saturday.
The jockeys’ room veteran came down the outside to win the Heritage Stakes aboard the Chris Waller-trained Counterattack but was happy to stick near the inside to score on his Epsom Handicap-bound stablemate Sadler’s Lake.
Sadler’s Lake
“Clickety clack the king is back,” Cassidy said.
Waller scratched Sadler’s Lake from the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on Friday in preference for Saturday’s Group Three Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m), a traditional Epsom Handicap lead-up race.
The race was expected be a match in two between easing $2.40 favourite Rudy and Sadler’s Lake who was backed late from $3 into $2.80.
While Rudy closed late to get within a half length of the winner, Sadler’s Lake was never in danger to confirm his spot on Waller’s team for the Epsom in two weeks.
“It’s a big step but I think it’s perfect timing,” Waller said.
Waller has Epsom favourite Winx and several others under consideration for the race, including Silverball who he is now considering taking to the feature mile instead of the Metropolitan Handicap.