A day after celebrating his 48th birthday, champion jockey Jim Cassidy showed he was still as fiercely competitive as ever with a winning treble at Rosehill on Saturday.Cassidy, who only returned from a two-month suspension two weeks earlier, opened the day with victories on Barlagarney and Somepin Anypin before finishing in style to bring up his treble on Motspur in the last race."It's only my third Saturday meeting back so it's been a nice day and it's good to get my eye in straight away," Cas

A day after celebrating his 48th birthday, champion jockey Jim Cassidy showed he was still as fiercely competitive as ever with a winning treble at Rosehill on Saturday.

Cassidy, who only returned from a two-month suspension two weeks earlier, opened the day with victories on Barlagarney and Somepin Anypin before finishing in style to bring up his treble on Motspur in the last race.

"It's only my third Saturday meeting back so it's been a nice day and it's good to get my eye in straight away," Cassidy said.

"I had seven rides and I thought it was one of those days where on paper I could get some good results, and things just panned out."

Cassidy was at his best in The Good Guys Auburn Handicap (1900m) when he controlled the race in front on outsider Barlagarney and then lifted the gelding in the final 100 metres after being headed to score by a half-head.

"For 48 I didn't do a bad job - another one I lifted over the line," he said.

He had an easier time of it on Somepin Anypin, who put his hand up as a potential autumn Classic contender with a dominant display to street his rivals by 7-1/2 lengths in the Pages Event Equipment Handicap (1300m).

Then in the final race, the Little Bottler Handicap (1400m), Cassidy combined with trainer Kris Lees as Motspur raced through along the inside to defeat Eire Of Magic by three-quarters of a length with a long head to Faulconbridge in third.

Cassidy has had a long and successful relationship with the Lees family and Kris Lees paid tribute to the jockey's ability to keep bouncing back into the winner's circle after spending time on the sidelines.

"It's been a long association, I was strapping horses when Jimmy first came over (from New Zealand) and was riding winners for Dad (the late Max Lees)," Lees said.

"He keeps bouncing back, most jockeys take an extended period of time to get their eye in after being out but he's always been able to come straight back and ride winners right away. That just shows his natural talent."

Since making his latest comeback at Randwick on January 8, Cassidy has ridden a double at Rosehill last Saturday and another winner at Randwick on Wednesday prior to his treble on Saturday.