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Champion jockey Jim Cassidy will add his presence to the Canterbury meeting on Christmas Eve when he returns from suspension for four rides.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The grand slam winning jockey was riding in vintage form when he was outed for five weeks last month for breaches of whip rules.
While the timing of the penalty hurt, the break from riding enabled him to get on top of a painful rib injury.
"That was the only positive out of it," Cassidy said.
"It gave me the extra time to get the (rib) cartilage right.
"It's all good now. I've been back riding work and I'm looking forward to getting back into it on Saturday."
Cassidy only resumed riding trackwork last week and one of the horses he sat aboard was the Tim Martin-trained Cindarockinrella.
She will be one of four rides for Cassidy at Canterbury along with Icy Mist for Chris Waller in the $70,000, De Bortoli Wines Handicap (1900m) and the Graeme Rogerson-trained pair of Barlagarney and Rockin' Rocket.
Eight-year-old Barlagarney was placed behind Hawk Island and Alexander Of Hales in the Listed Parramatta Cup (2000m) last campaign and will be fitter for two runs back from a spell.
He has to contend with top weight of 59kg and Cassidy says he needs a dry track.
"He's got a little bit of pudding which is probably going to make it harder for him and hopefully the track's not too rain affected because he doesn't like it wet," Cassidy said.
