Trainer Mark De Montfort admits that Jim Cassidy will have to produce the ride of his life on McClintock to upset overwhelming favourite Ashikaga in Wednesday's Group Three Newcastle Newmarket.And if Cassidy does deliver the goods in the 1400-metre feature he will join Kevin Langby and Neville Voigt as the most successful jockeys in the history of the race.Cassidy has won the Newmarket twice with Vain Fury in 1985 and Comrade in 1990.The in-form Cassidy has been aboard McClintock in his four mos
Trainer Mark De Montfort admits that Jim Cassidy will have to produce the ride of his life on McClintock to upset overwhelming favourite Ashikaga in Wednesday's Group Three Newcastle Newmarket.
And if Cassidy does deliver the goods in the 1400-metre feature he will join Kevin Langby and Neville Voigt as the most successful jockeys in the history of the race.
Cassidy has won the Newmarket twice with Vain Fury in 1985 and Comrade in 1990.
The in-form Cassidy has been aboard McClintock in his four most recent starts and has landed two wins.
McClintock was overhauled last start at Rosehill by the Gai Waterhouse-trained Ashikaga over Wednesday's distance on February 28.
Cassidy took control of the race shortly after the start and pushed McClintock out to lead Ashikaga by a couple of lengths coming round the home turn.
But Ashikaga surged home to win by 2-1/4 lengths.
"All things being equal we won't beat Ashikaga on Wednesday," De Montfort said.
"We would certainly need something to go wrong with Ashikaga or for Jimmy to produce something special to get our bloke home, he would have to produce the ride of his life."
McClintock gave De Montfort, a former top jockey, his first metropolitan win as a trainer in May last year.
"He was the fifth horse I got in my stable and that win came shortly after I got my licence, he's really put me on the map and now we've got 17 in work," De Montfort said.
Among De Montfort's Group One victories as a rider were the 1987 AJC Australian Derby on Myocard, the 1998 George Ryder on Quick Flick and the biggest of them all, the 1999 Golden Slipper with Catbird.
"I never won this race as a jockey but to win it as a trainer would easily be the biggest win I've had since becoming a trainer and would be a huge thrill for the stable," de Montfort said.
"I'm really enjoying training and we've benefited from our move to Warwick Farm in October, the facilities there are outstanding and that is showing with McClintock, he's thrived out here."
TAB Sportsbet has Ashikaga as $1.85 favourite for the Newmarket over Makybe Diva's three-quarter brother Musket at $5 while McClintock is rated an $11 chance.