DARREN Jones rode Keep It Danish into third in the recent Walcha Cup Prelude but has opted to ride the Leon Davies-trained Kurtley in today’s $30,000 Elders Walcha Cup (1440m).
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The Tamworth jockey, in the best form of his career, jumps six-year-old Kurtley from barrier nine in today’s Cup.
While the son of Dane Shadow has the huge impost of 61.5kg, he will take a power of beating around the Walcha circuit even though he hasn’t started there.
He will vie for race favouritism with Prelude winner Pro Consul, even though the Greg Bennett-trained gelding drew the one and has in-form Samantha Clenton on board.
He actually drops a half a kilo for his Prelude win with another non-claiming female apprentice Rachael Murray.
That Jones is in outstanding form isn’t news to Kurtley’s trainer Leon Davies.
“He gets 90 per cent of our rides,” Davies said this week.
“He won the South Grafton Cup on him too for us (last July) and I offered him the ride (Walcha Cup) a few weeks ago.
“He was more than happy to jump on.”
Davies has confidence in Jones.
“He’s been riding good but he also rides to instructions.
“He rides them all to a tee.”
The Tamworth jockey, who is second only to Greg Ryan on the HNWRA jockeys’ premiership, jumps Kurtley from barrier nine in today’s Cup weather permitting, although there is some chance the gelding could also start in Sydney tomorrow.
“We’ll wait and see what the weather does but if Walcha is wet he will go to Sydney,” Davies said.
“He also drew eight in Sydney but if Walcha is right we’ll run there.
“Nine is a good barrier for him too so he doesn’t get crammed up for room.
“And there should be a bit of speed on too, with Pro Consul, Got Unders and a couple of others leaders.
“We can get a nice sit in behind.”
Kurtley has also “done really well” since his last- start fifth at Randwick.
“He worked nicely on Monday,” Davies said of a gelding who is also being aimed at the February 19 $35,000 Akubra Quirindi Cup (1600m).
While Jones has opted for Kurtley, Ryan has jumped on Keep It Danish.
Davies will also start Bowie’s Babe (B70 1000m) at Walcha today and will probably steer her away from the $100,000 Country Championships Qualifier at Scone on February 21 and look for some sprint races for her.
“She’s a bit suspect over the 1200 to 1400m,” he said.
“We might look for a TAB Highway race for her and there are some nice races at Grafton as well.”
Maybegrey and St Luke appear to be Davies’ Scone Country Championship runners.
“St Luke resumes at Mudgee on Sunday in a hard race,” he said.
“But the Scone Country Championship heat is going to be a real tough race.
“Jane Clement’s horse (Chrysolaus) is back and you have Greg Bennett’s horses as well.
“It’s going to be a very strong heat.”
