Duo To End Year On High Note

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday December 30, 1998

Punters are set to end 1998 on a winning note by following Sydney premiership pacesetters Larry Cassidy and John Hawkes at Rosehill today.

Jockey Cassidy will combine with the powerful Hawkes stable five times - Doughnut (5/1, race two), Cerise (10/1, race three), Emotive (4/1, race four), Discipline (9/2, race six) and Freeport (4/1, race seven) at the final metropolitan meeting this year.

Cassidy will also pilot Hey Buster (14/1, race one) for Randwick trainer Gary Moore.

The New Zealand-born rider smashed a series of records last season on his way to winning the Sydney premiership for the first time with 1391/2 wins and claiming the national record with 1861/2 wins.

This season he has ridden 40 metropolitan winners, 12 ahead of his nearest rival, the much improved Danny Beasley.

Hawkes, who controls Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm for millionaire owner-breeders Jack and Bob Ingham, has so far trained 36 city winners, 14 more than arch rival Gai Waterhouse.

But it's still down on his whirlwind start to last season.

The pair's best chance at Rosehill is up-and-coming three-year-old Discipline, who takes on the older horses in the X-Site Nightclub Handicap (1200m).

The son of Quest For Fame looked most impressive resuming with a fast-finishing long-neck win over 1100m at Warwick Farm on November 25, at only his third start.

The Snippets-filly Doughnut must overcome a wide barrier after drawing 16 in the Sydney Racing Christmas Handicap (1100m).

At her first start since switching from Hawkes' Melbourne stable, she made up a ton of ground when a length fifth to Baccarat Babe over 1250m at Canterbury on December 16.

Cerise (2KY Hi-Tide Handicap) scored impressively two starts back in maiden company at Hawkesbury before her fifth to El Montazah over 1900m at Canterbury on December 16.

Emotive will carry 56.5kg in the Truscott's Toyota Handicap (1200m) and may be due for a change of luck after a series of placings.

Freeport (Happy New Year Handicap) appears ready to strike after two runs this time in.

The gelding was beaten under a length when third to in-form Cherubian and Mastery over 1200m at Canterbury on December 13.