Lightweight jockey Jason Taylor will be the beneficiary of Sydney rival Jim Cassidy's decision to reject the Epsom Handicap ride on Queenslander Hard To Catch at Randwick on Saturday.Cassidy was offered the ride on Hard to Catch in the 1600m Group One feature but could not guarantee trainer Pat Duff he could make the gelding's 52 kilograms."Unfortunately Jim couldn't give me a guarantee he could ride 52 kilos so I've gone for Jason Taylor who is a close friend of our family," Duff said.Duff has

Lightweight jockey Jason Taylor will be the beneficiary of Sydney rival Jim Cassidy's decision to reject the Epsom Handicap ride on Queenslander Hard To Catch at Randwick on Saturday.

Cassidy was offered the ride on Hard to Catch in the 1600m Group One feature but could not guarantee trainer Pat Duff he could make the gelding's 52 kilograms.

"Unfortunately Jim couldn't give me a guarantee he could ride 52 kilos so I've gone for Jason Taylor who is a close friend of our family," Duff said.

Duff has never had an Epsom Handicap runner during his long career and gives Hard To Catch only a "rough" hope of causing a boilover.

"He's definitely worthy of being a runner in the Epsom but he's only a rough hope," Duff said.

"He worked strongly over 1000 metres between races at Newcastle last Saturday and his work rider Morgan Butler was very pleased with it.

"He had another good gallop there over 1000 metres today so he'll have no excuses fitness-wise."

Hard To Catch was on Tuesday rated a $41 chance in the Epsom with Raheeb steady at the top of the market at $3.50 ahead of Wednesday's declaration of the final field and barrier draw.

Hard To Catch was ridden by Brad Stewart when he finished a courageous sixth in his interstate debut behind Epsom Handicap favourite Raheeb in the Group Three Cameron Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle on September 17.

However, the Stradbroke Handicap runner-up figured in the stewards' report twice after striking interference on the home turn before being held up for a run in the straight.

"Brad thought, and I agree, that he should have run a place," Duff said.

"He ran into a bit of trouble when he couldn't get across the heels of Reigning To Win.

"The winner, Raheeb, bolted in and is the deserving favourite for the Epsom but the second and third horses weren't too far ahead of him and he probably should have finished second."

Duff has been in the top 10 trainers in Queensland for more than 30 years but rarely takes horses interstate.

Stakeswinning sprinter Star Of Florida is the best known galloper of recent times to have represented the Duff stable in Sydney.

Star Of Florida won the Group Two San Domenico Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in 2002 before claiming successive Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Warwick Farm in 2003 and 2004.

"I've only ever taken a handful of horses away but Star Of Florida was the best sprinter while Our Cavalier was my best stayer who ran third in a Manion Cup (1977)."