Jim Cassidy says Whitefriars will improve on whatever he does in Friday night's Canterbury Classic but still believes the Salinger winner will make his presence felt against a strong line-up of sprinters.Cassidy partnered Whitefriars to victories in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1100m) at Randwick and the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during the spring carnival.The jockey returned last Saturday from a two-month suspension for a marijuana offence but rode the Rick Worthington-t

Jim Cassidy says Whitefriars will improve on whatever he does in Friday night's Canterbury Classic but still believes the Salinger winner will make his presence felt against a strong line-up of sprinters.

Cassidy partnered Whitefriars to victories in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1100m) at Randwick and the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during the spring carnival.

The jockey returned last Saturday from a two-month suspension for a marijuana offence but rode the Rick Worthington-trained gelding in a recent barrier trial hitout.

Whitefriars came up with barrier 11 when a field of 12 was declared on Wednesday for the 1100m Listed feature.

"The run will improve him and he hasn't drawn the best alley but there seems to be enough speed and I'm sure he'll run well," Cassidy said.

"He trialled nicely and felt really good in the trial. Certainly whatever he does on Friday he'll improve on but he looks good and looks to have come back from Perth well."

After his Salinger Stakes success Whitefriars went to Western Australia where he finished third in the Group Two Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) as favourite.

The five-year-old returned to Sydney and was second in a 1050m trial at Randwick on December 30, his first gallop since the Perth race a month earlier.

Worthington has Group One sprints in Melbourne in mind for Whitefriars later this campaign.

"He has a few bigger fish to fry but you want them to be going good before they go down there," Cassidy said.

Winter King was installed the $4 favourite on Wednesday with Whitefriars on the second line of betting at $4.80 with Burdekin Blues.

The field also includes country sprint star Border Rebel, the Peter Snowden-trained Pinwheel, stakeswinning mare Graceful Anna, the speedy Keen Commander and last-start Carrington Stakes winner Jest Crewsin'.