Larry Cassidy may have earned the chance of riding in only his second Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March after he continued his great start to his new Brisbane riding career aboard exciting sprinter Burdekin Blues at Eagle Farm.Cassidy landed his second win on his first day riding full-time in Brisbane when Burdekin Blues strolled to a six-length victory in Saturday's Waipara Hills Wines Handicap (1000m).Cassidy, who earlier won with his first ride aboard Funtantes, immediately

Larry Cassidy may have earned the chance of riding in only his second Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March after he continued his great start to his new Brisbane riding career aboard exciting sprinter Burdekin Blues at Eagle Farm.

Cassidy landed his second win on his first day riding full-time in Brisbane when Burdekin Blues strolled to a six-length victory in Saturday's Waipara Hills Wines Handicap (1000m).

Cassidy, who earlier won with his first ride aboard Funtantes, immediately put his hand up to ride Burdekin Blues in his Melbourne campaign.

The four-year-old jumped straight to the front and was never in danger of defeat with Cassidy peeping over his shoulder fives time in the straight.

"He was very impressive and definitely a Group horse," Cassidy said.

"The first time I looked over my right shoulder and then checked the other side," he said.

"I thought `this can't be right' as they looked about 10 lengths behind us.

"It was a working gallop."

Burdekin Blues, who took his record to six wins from 10 starts, proved to owner Tom Sheahan that he was worthy of heading to Melbourne for the autumn.

Trainer Barry Baldwin rarely travels to Melbourne and in recent times has only taken away his 2006 Stradbroke Handicap winner La Montagna and Arimathea.

"I've never won a race in the city down there," Baldwin said.

"Tom and I have had a bit of a disagreement whether he's worth taking away but he's proven he is now.

"I've been saying for a long time he's a very good sprinter and he's proven that now."

Baldwin was reluctant to declare his hand about who will ride Burdekin Blues in his first Melbourne start which is likely to be in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 21.

"I'm not sure who will ride him. Shane Scriven has done a lot of work with this horse but Larry is a definite chance now and he'll get a light weight anyway," Baldwin said.

Baldwin was always confident Burdekin Blues would score in his first start since August despite a rain-affected track.

"They don't often win like that but the track wasn't that bad," he said.

"I was always confident he'd win but on a slow track he loses a leg. He races six lengths below his best on a wet track."

The Oakleigh Plate is not the preferred option for Burdekin Blues to make his debut in Melbourne but Baldwin has few options before his Newmarket Handicap mission.

"He's never had a gallop the opposite way yet but he'll have to now and Shane (Scriven) reckons he'll adapt easily," Baldwin said.

Cassidy has won 40 Group One races but has never won the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the straight at Flemington.

"I've never won the race and if my memory is right I've only had one ride in it for John Hawkes," Cassidy said.