Jones keen to repay faith on Vivy Air after Doncaster disappointment

Reece Jones thought he might lose the ride on Vivy Air following a troubled run in the Doncaster then missing a trial leading into the Ciaron Maher-trained mare’s Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) tilt on Saturday.

Grateful for another chance, Jones believes he and the five-year-old mare can make the most of a better draw and claim the group 3 Big Dance qualifier on the annual standalone program.

Vivy Air, into gate two with scratchings, was $4 (TAB) for the $250,000 race after a campaign in which she flashed home for a half-length third in the group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 14 then was 10th in the $4 million Doncaster Mile on April 4 at Randwick.

Jones was aboard both times, continuing an association which started when he replaced the suspended Andrew Adkins for the $2 million Five Diamonds on November 8 and took her to a thrilling win with a rails run from near last.

She was well back also in the Doncaster, that time from a tricky draw in 11, and was checked at the top of the straight when searching wide for a run.

Adkins took her to a trial win at Wyong on April 24 in preparation for the Hawkesbury Cup and Jones admitted he worried he might miss out on Saturday.

“She trialled at Wyong and I wasn’t able to ride her that day, I was elsewhere,” Jones said.

“After that, especially after things didn’t go right in the Doncaster, I thought I might be a bit stiff, trying to get back on her, but they’ve given me another opportunity so hopefully I can make the most of it.

“That support goes a long way and it’s very much appreciated. Hopefully I can repay their faith in me with a good result.”

Jones broke through for a group 1 win in 2024 with Chris Waller-trained Land Legend in the Metropolitan, but the Five Diamonds victory with Vivy Air is his biggest prizemoney success.

“She’s been pretty good to me,” he said.

“Obviously, she was brilliant first-up in the Coolmore. The Doncaster, it was probably just a forgive run really. Just put a line through it. Things didn’t really work out from the gate.

“She rattled home well though. She had a bit of drama at the top of the straight and lost a bit of momentum, but she did well to pick herself up and finish off as well as she did.

“It goes a long way, good barriers. She began quite well last start in the Doncaster, so hopefully she does again. I’ve got the favourite [Taken] outside me, so if I can get a tag on the back of it and get a good, cosy run, hopefully she can be strong late.”

A win on Saturday would give Vivy Air another chance in November’s $3 million Big Dance, a race where she has finished runner-up to stablemate Gringotts the past two years.

Jones, meanwhile, will be aiming to go one better at Hawkesbury after last year finishing second to Punch Lane aboard Osipenko in the cup and a nose runner-up to City Of Lights with Tashi in the group 3 Crown.

He also has hopes on the day with Damien Lane-trained Oakfield Jupiter in the last, a benchmark 88 handicap. The mare was a $12 chance from gate four after a sixth last start in the $1 million Provincial Midway Championship.

“It’s been in some tough races this time around, obviously aiming at the provincial championships and she hasn’t been disgraced,” Jones said.

“It’s still a tough race, but hopefully she can run well.”

Farragher out to capitalise on chances

Irish jockey Adam Farragher is looking to another Ciaron Maher-trained mare to fire on a Saturday in town off interstate performances when he partners Yes Lulu in the group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m).

Farragher scored just his second Saturday city winner in Australia, a first since November, when Enamorada won at Randwick last week after strong results in Melbourne.

The 26-year-old, who came from England to Sydney seven months ago to link with Maher, will ride Yes Lulu ($26) from gate five. She is first-up off a break following a summer campaign which ended with 1.5-length fourth in the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies and Mares feature on the Gold Coast.

“I sat on in her last trial at Rosehill and I thought she gave me a very good feel,” Farragher said.

“I thought she was going really well and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her run a good race.”

Bjorn Baker-trained War Eternal ($26) in the group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup was a late pick-up ride for Farragher, who has had 11 winners since kicking off in NSW last November.

“On paper, he probably looks a bit up against it tomorrow, but if he recaptures some of that older form, he’ll be a nice pick-up,” Farragher said.

“It’s been good so far. It’s probably one of the most competitive places in the world to be riding.

“I’ve had a few winners and I’m starting to pick up a few more outside rides as well, so I’ll just keep working away. I’m thoroughly enjoying it.”

Tyler Schiller, meanwhile, said he would be right to return on Saturday at Hawkesbury.

Schiller fell heavily from Winters Kiss but escaped serious injury when the filly broke down in race two at Kembla on Wednesday. The three-year-old was euthanised because of her injuries, while Schiller was stood down and has not ridden since.