Saturday, 27 March 2010: Tempers flared after Melbourne filly Psychologist's Golden Slipper campaign came to an abrupt end with her failure inb today's Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill when she hit a brick wall after setting a torrid pace.
Trainer Tony Vasil was furious with Jim Cassidy's ride after the filly led the field by about eight lengths before compounding to finish 10th.
Stewards stepped in and interviewed Vasil and Cassidy in separate hearings.
Vasil blasted the veteran rider's handling of the filly.
"I'm furious, after 300 metres I thought 'what's going on here'," Vasil said.
"I told him she had blinkers on for the first time and to begin positively but be aware of the fact she had them on for the first time.
"He made no attempt to restrain her. When you go your first 600 metres in 34 seconds you cannot win. More importantly it's gutted the horse.
"I rode for 3-1/2 years, I've been a trainer for 25 years, I ride all my own work, I'm not stupid.
"What I saw astounded me."
Cassidy told the stewards he was dumbfounded that Vasil had not fronted him after the race.
"He did not have the guts to come and say anything to me," Cassidy said.
"Out there he said to me if it leads it will either win or run last, I bet he didn't say that in here."
Cassidy told stewards he didn't think there was much more he could do to restrain the filly.
"I certainly wasn't breaking its jaw like a cowboy," he said.
"I know it was going quick but what else could I do?
"I haven't just sat up over its neck and let it rip.
"Bad luck if he's disappointed, I was disappointed."
Stewards adjourned the inquiry.
