In the minutes before the last race of his career, Jimmy Cassidy was imparting words of wisdom to those around him in the jockeys room. Just one last time.

The student was superstar-in-the-making James McDonald, who is 22 and another Kiwi with it all in front of him.

"There's one thing you've gotta do and that's be prepared to back your own ability and your own judgement," Cassidy told McDonald. "Sometimes you'll be wrong, but you'll end up making more right decisions than wrong ones. That's the difference between being good and being a superstar."

Pumper mightn't have won the final race of his career, but he showed why he'll forever be remembered a superstar.

He hooked Lee Freedman's Distant Rock to the very outside rail at the turn, effectively towing McDonald's horse Zebrinz with him.

As Distant Rock faded, McDonald got to the line a nose ahead of Craig Williams on Lord Athenaeum.

When they returned to the yard, Freedman slung an arm around his emotional jockey.

"I had an influence on the result," Cassidy said. "I was asked to go to the outside and I did. If he [McDonald] went to the inside, he wouldn't have won. He tried. I won the race for him."

Said McDonald: "There was no way in hell I was going there [to the outside rail]. He just started to go and I followed."

Before the first race of the day, Cassidy was in his home away from home – the stewards' room.

He wasn't in trouble. He wanted to snap a photo with Racing Victoria stewards – including chief stipe Terry Bailey – for posterity.

"I've spent enough time in there over the years, so why not?" quipped the 52-year-old, cheekily wearing a pork pie hat belonging to one of the panel members.

Before the fourth, he strutted along a guard of honour of his fellow jockeys. Glen Boss then sprayed him with champagne. Unsurprisingly, Pumper opened up his mouth, trying to catch a few drops.

Since Cassidy broke the news of his retirement through Fairfax Media a week ago, he has been soaking up every moment of his farewell. He admits he teared up during the Australian national anthem before the Melbourne Cup.

"Even though I'm a proud Kiwi," Cassidy says, before reminding us about the All Blacks' World Cup victory – not for the first time this week. His neck is stiff and sore after being knocked sideways and almost down on Grand Marshal as the field started to wind up on Tuesday. The main culprit was flamboyant Italian Frankie Dettori, who was subsequently rubbed out for a month and fined $20,000 for shifting on Max Dynamite.

"Frankie said to me afterwards, 'I'm sorry, Pump! I tried to kill you in your last Melbourne Cup!"' Cassidy recalls with a giggle. "That's racing. That happens in this game. Everyone came back after the race, that's the main thing."

He was equally philosophical about the scratching of John Singleton's filly Dawnie Perfect on the morning of the Oaks because of a leg injury. Some don't want him to retire just yet. They've urged him to do a national tour, having farewell rides in each capital city.

"No, that's it," he insists. "I'm not going back on any decision. I've made my mind up."

Over the past 32 years, Cassidy has returned to the Flemington enclosure having claimed two Melbourne Cups, two Victoria Derbies, five VRC Oaks and his 100th group1 aboard Zoustar.

Three tornados hit Melbourne on Ladies Day, delaying the meeting at one stage. They eventually faded away. Racing's little tornado, Jim Cassidy, has finally stopped turning, too.

"I've had a good time," he said. "But it's over. It's finished. It's just finally there. Curtain's closed. I'm in one piece. I've finished a career in one piece, and that's what I wanted to do for my girls. To not be in a wheelchair, or a broken down old crock."

Cassidy was due to fly back home on Friday morning, ready to see his young daughter Piper perform in the local musical Annie.

"Daddy's getting off the big stage," he said, "and she's getting on it."

Much praise for Payne

Cassidy was full of praise for Michelle Payne, who became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup with her ride on 100-1 shot Prince Of Penzance. While Glen Boss was under siege for reported comments that Payne would regret her now-famous attack on the racing misogynists, Cassidy was full of praise for her "get stuffed" remarks.

"Good on her," he says. "She's proven herself. She's beat all the boys in the big race. She was inside of me the whole race. Her horse was hummin' and pullin' and she just sat there and didn't panic. When the split came, she got it. Purton, Cassidy, Oliver, Boss, Moreira ... nobody could've ridden it any better. She deserves all the accolades. She's created history. That's something they can never take away from her."

Boss was steaming about the News Corp story, claiming he was wildly taken out of context.

Burgess back, bank on it

Bath coach Mike Ford says Sam Burgess hasn't asked for release – but take it to the bank that Burgess has asked to come home to South Sydney.

Nobody should be making a definitive prediction either way on what will happen with the dual-international. The call is not Ford's to make. It will come down to wacky and ridiculously rich Bath owner Bruce Craig, who has declared he hasn't received a single request for a release.

Yeah, good. As we understand it, he's wants a massive transfer fee to set Sammy free, because he had to pay a massive transfer fee to get him from Souths in the first place.

Burgess left rugby league largely because of his disillusionment with the game, and0 now wants out of rugby union for the same reason.

If he does return, what club will he return to at Redfern?

Dylan Walker has been slapped with a show cause notice following the prescription drug episode last month, and that has infuriated some senior players.

We've been telling you for weeks: the angst among the playing ground at Souths threatens to boil over during the off-season.

Mini set to large it at Super Bowl

Big show: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick after winning last year's Super Bowl. Photo: AP

Roosters legend Anthony Minichiello ticked every box in rugby league, but he'll place one massive tick on the bucket list in early February when he hosts a supporter group to Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco.

The details of the trip read like every sporting fan's ultimate fantasy: primo seats at the match at Levi's Stadium, VIP entry into the famous "Leather and Laces" party, a round of golf at the Olympic Golf Club, tail-gate party on game day with 20 current and former NFL stars, welcome dinner with a former MVP ... and quality time in San Fran with Mini.

"I've never been before, this is my first, and it is certainly something that's been on the bucket list for many years," says Mini. "I grew up as a 49ers fan, and always loved Jerry Rice as a player. I had his jersey. And now that Jarryd Hayne has signed with them, I'm even more of a fan."

There are also Mad Monday celebrations post-Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

The trip is run by professional golfer Adam Wilcox, who has become renowned for his top-class trips to the US Masters and Super Bowl in recent years. He has also been responsible for bringing the likes of Brian Lara and Sir Garfield Sobers to Australia.

For information on Super Bowl packages contact Wilcox on 0410 049 419 or adam@wilcoxgolf.com.au.

Bondi bonanza - be in it

The warmer weather is upon us – sort of – and that means it's time to pull on the cossies and get in the water. Here's an idea: enter the Bondi Splash'n'Dash on Saturday November 21 and help raise money for Waverley Action of Youth Services. The community charity event is the brainchild of Bondi Rescue lifeguard/star Andrew 'Reidy' Reid.

The event is in its second year and includes a one kilometre swim, a one kilometre run and then another one kilometre swim. Easy. There's a prize pool of over $10,000.

Confirmed big-name competitors and celebs include Courtney Atkinson, Aaron Royle, Natalie Van Coverden, Grace Musgrove, Dr Chris Brown, Timmy Gilbert, Silvia Jeffries and a stack of Roosters players.

THE WEEK

The Quote

"I love sport! It brings us all together! I love Australia! I love New Zealand! I wish them both congratulations and it's an honour to watch!" – And we love you, David Hasselhoff, for loving the Rugby World Cup!

Thumbs Up

In the wake of cobalt and drive-by shooting scandals (they might be related, who knows?), Michelle Payne, her brother Stevie, trainer Darren Weir and 100-1 shot Prince of Penzance provided the Melbourne Cup the fairytale story it desperately needed.

Thumbs Down

That said ... The condition of the Flemington track during the carnival has been atrocious. On Cup day, the TAB turned $141 million. Good luck picking a winner. The middle of the straight was quicksand. Look closely and you'll see some of the horses I backed still stuck in it.

It's a big weekend for … the New Zealand and Australian cricket teams. They've traded that much lip before the first test at the Gabbatoir, whoever doesn't win will look like gooses. Or is it geese? They'll look silly.

It's an even bigger weekend for … Sydney FC as it takes on Brisbane Roar in an A-League top-of-the-table clash at Allianz Stadium. Roar coach John Aloisi anticipates Graham Arnold "mind games". Thanks, scoop.