Larry Cassidy will keep his options open concerning riding tactics for Listen Son in the Listed Bernborough Handicap at Doomben on Sunday.Gold Coast rival Rockdale has been been trainer Tony Gollan's nemesis in Listen Son's past two starts in the Listed Recognition Stakes and Listed Lough Neagh Stakes.The Toowoomba sprinter finished second in both races but both Gollan and Cassidy blamed Rockdale for contributing to Listen Son's defeats after he was taken on for the lead.Cassidy believed Listen

Larry Cassidy will keep his options open concerning riding tactics for Listen Son in the Listed Bernborough Handicap at Doomben on Sunday.

Gold Coast rival Rockdale has been been trainer Tony Gollan's nemesis in Listen Son's past two starts in the Listed Recognition Stakes and Listed Lough Neagh Stakes.

The Toowoomba sprinter finished second in both races but both Gollan and Cassidy blamed Rockdale for contributing to Listen Son's defeats after he was taken on for the lead.

Cassidy believed Listen Son, who went down by a length to Zero Rock in the Lough Neagh Stakes, would have finished a lot closer if he wasn't pressured early.

"My horse (Listen Son) is quicker than any of them, there's no doubt about it," Cassidy said.

"He's very fast but do I want to lead on him and be left a sitting duck in front?

"I liked the way he relaxed when I restrained him last week but either way he's an on-pace runner.

"I'm not saying how I'll ride him. I'll ride him the way he feels at the time."

Listen Son has never won at Doomben from six attempts or past 1400 metres but Gollan is confident the four-year-old's hoodoo is about to end.

Gollan concedes Eagle Farm is Listen Son's favoured track where he's won five times.

Listen Son has raced three times over 1600 metres or further with two placings his best result, when runner-up in both the Group Three Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm in May and the Listed Recognition Stakes (1600m) on the same track last month.

Cassidy is aware the Bernborough Handicap (1615m) looks to have more genuine speed with Rightson, Chilled and Rare Diamond all capable of leading.

"I'm not worried. If he has to lead he can and if he doesn't then he'll sit just off the pace," Cassidy said.

Patinack Farm's Tagus, a Jim Byrne mount, looks the interesting runner.

Byrne got off last-start winner Jazz Heart to partner the six-year-old who hasn't raced since finishing eighth to Viking Hero in the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1800m) on a heavy track at Sandown on November 13.

The son of Encosta De Lago won the Listed Bundaberg Stakes (1800m) on a slow track at his previous start at Flemington on November 2.