Top jockey Larry Cassidy believes Ipswich Cup winner Our Lukas can take the next step and win a feature staying race in Sydney.Our Lukas controlled the running in the Ipswich Cup (2150m) on Saturday to score a decisive win and emerge as likely favourite for the Caloundra Cup (2400m) in a fortnight."He can stay, and he has made a big step from last preparation to this preparation," Cassidy said."He can make his own luck and if he makes another step forward there is nothing to stay that he could n
Top jockey Larry Cassidy believes Ipswich Cup winner Our Lukas can take the next step and win a feature staying race in Sydney.
Our Lukas controlled the running in the Ipswich Cup (2150m) on Saturday to score a decisive win and emerge as likely favourite for the Caloundra Cup (2400m) in a fortnight.
"He can stay, and he has made a big step from last preparation to this preparation," Cassidy said.
"He can make his own luck and if he makes another step forward there is nothing to stay that he could not win a big staying race."
"A race like The Metropolitan would not be out of the question for him."
Cassidy continued his big-race winning form after last week winning the Queensland Derby (2400m) on Court Ruler.
In a slowly-run race Our Lukas ($3.80 fav) ran out a 1-3/4 length winner over Macknuckle ($6) while Jujulio ($15) was three-quarters of a length away third.
Cassidy has taken all before him since he shifted to Brisbane earlier this year due to a lack of opportunities in Sydney.
The three-time Sydney premiership-winning jockey is a keen worker and rides for most of the leading Eagle Farm trainers including Robert Heathcote who trains Our Lukas.
"I never ride him in his work, but the horse is a credit to Robert and his staff," Cassidy said.
"To get a horse to back up within a week like he did is not an easy task."
Our Lukas finished third to Bareena over 1600m at Eagle Farm last week.
Part-owner Barry O'Toole had been so confident about Our Lukas winning that he prepared a speech for the presentation.
O'Toole read from a ream of papers in which he thanked everyone remotely connected with the horse since his foaling.
Cassidy was not getting carried away with the win but does believe Our Lukas could develop into a more than handy stayer.
Runner-up Macknuckle tried hard and trainer Bernie Howlett said he blamed himself for the four-year-old not finishing closer.
"I told Scott Seamer to ride him back and that was probably wrong because it was a slow-run race," Howlett said.
Macknuckle might get his chance to turn the table in the Caloundra Cup but Howlett does have other options with the gelding.