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Cassidy lands first win back from injury

Saturday 4 February 2012
Glenn Davis

The real Havatryst returned to his best form at Doomben on Saturday, overcoming an outside barrier to claim the Woolworths Open Handicap.

Havatryst ($6) stormed home to win the 1200m dash in a nail-biting finish by a short neck over The Sixties ($8.50) with Fangles ($10) a length away third.

The win provided jockey Larry Cassidy with his first winner since he returned from injury last month after sustaining four broken ribs and two hairline fractures to his right leg in a fall on November 30.

"It's good to get some money in the bank finally," Cassidy said.

Trainer Barry Baldwin was relieved to see Havatryst back to his best following two indifferent performances in the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben in December and Listed Goldmarket Handicap (1300m) at the Gold Coast in January.

The son of Foreplay had a splint bone problem after finishing ninth in the George Moore Stakes and was then found to be suffering from a throat infection after his Goldmarket Handicap defeat.

"I was only half confident with him today because of his wide draw," Baldwin said.

"He was always wide but he did a great job.

"I'll give him a spell now and nominate him for the major sprints but I'd say he'll be better off in some of the second-tier races."

Earlier Taree apprentice Matt McGuren maintained his perfect metropolitan strike rate scoring aboard Lucky Luna in the Sky International Benchmark90 Handicap (1640m).

McGuren, 21, has had only two metropolitan rides and was successful at his first attempt on Youthful Jack last month at the Australian Turf Club's midweek meeting transferred to Wyong due to construction at Randwick.

"That's two wins from two rides and the streak is continuing," a beaming McGuren told Lucky Luna's connections.

"My first was on Youthful Jack."

McGuren was originally indentured to Grafton trainer Alan Ryan who was convinced the rider would be a success in the saddle when he entered his stable weighing 65 kilograms.

Now 10 kilograms lighter, McGuren has since been transferred on loan to Ross Stitt at Taree to grab more opportunities.

He had his first ride for Kelly finishing second on Lucky Luna at the Gold Coast in December.

A handy bull rider in his younger days before injuries forced him from the sport, McGuren was always confident of scoring on Lucky Luna.

"We got posted three deep early on but we made the most of a run we got and he was too fit for them at the end," he said