With six winners in the space of a week champion jockey Jim Cassidy has delivered a statement of intent ahead of the fast-approaching autumn carnival.Cassidy, who turned 48 on Friday, showed his younger on-track rivals he was still a force to be reckoned with as he rode a winning treble at Rosehill on Saturday on the back of a double a week earlier and a midweek winner at Randwick.The jockey made his latest comeback on January 8 after two months on the sidelines due to a marijuana offence.His pu

With six winners in the space of a week champion jockey Jim Cassidy has delivered a statement of intent ahead of the fast-approaching autumn carnival.

Cassidy, who turned 48 on Friday, showed his younger on-track rivals he was still a force to be reckoned with as he rode a winning treble at Rosehill on Saturday on the back of a double a week earlier and a midweek winner at Randwick.

The jockey made his latest comeback on January 8 after two months on the sidelines due to a marijuana offence.

His push for more Group race success will begin later this week in Melbourne.

"It's nice to get my eye in straight away and I'm going to Moonee Valley on Friday night to ride Whitefriars," Cassidy said.

"I'm getting my eye in at the right time, I'm working hard, and I'm getting my weight right.

"I'm probably still about a week and a half away and then my weight will be perfect.

"And motivation certainly isn't a problem."

Whitefriars is set to take on a strong field in the Group Two Australia Stakes (1200m) on Friday night.

The weight-for-age contest will feature the return of reigning Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy who hasn't started since her second to Sacred Choice in the Group One Myer Classic on Derby day.

Ortensia, who finished fifth in the Hong Kong Sprint on International day in December, will also be lining up in the Moonee Valley feature.

Whitefriars came of age during the spring carnival with wins in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Randwick before his victory in the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby day.

The Rick Worthington-trained gelding then ventured across the country to Perth where he was third as favourite in the Group Two Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.

Cassidy rode Whitefriars to second in the Listed Canterbury Classic (1100m) on January 14 where he went down to Pinwheel by three-quarters of a length with 59.5kg on his back.

The grand slam-winning jockey expected Whitefriars to improve on whatever he did at Canterbury ahead of his Melbourne campaign and was pleased with the Canterbury showing.

Also awaiting Cassidy in the autumn will be rising staying star Maluckyday who finished second in the Melbourne Cup behind Americain and is favourite to go one better later this year.