Reece Jones has already delivered for the owners of Vivy Air by winning the Five Diamonds, but he is extra keen to repay their continued loyalty with a Doncaster Mile victory.
The lightweight jockey was in the saddle when the Ciaron Maher-trained mare resumed with a slashing third to Lazzura in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) and connections didn’t hesitate to lock him in for Saturday’s $4 million showpiece.
“I’m rapt to be able to ride her,” Jones said.
“Really stoked with the owners and connections for sticking with me from that Five Diamonds win, and to be able to ride her in the Coolmore when she had weight, it’s not like they were out of options.
“It was really pleasing to see that kind of faith in me, so hopefully I can reward them with a Group One.”
Jones has proven his mettle at the highest level with a 2024 Metropolitan victory on Land Legend, although a couple of near-misses since then have stung, including his luckless third aboard Encap in the Doncaster 12 months ago.
Vivy Air has also shown her capabilities with a win and three seconds from four starts over the Randwick 1600m, and has an outstanding record second-up.
While she was a perennial bridesmaid earlier in her career – she went more than two years between her second and third wins with 11 minor placings along the way – Jones believes a brace of victories in the spring have helped Vivy Air rise to a new level this campaign.
“I’d like to think she has come back a little bit stronger,” he said.
“She travelled really well for me the other day. She has settled down a lot from previous ‘preps’ and she is doing things really well at the moment.
“Those couple of wins are hopefully a nice confidence boost for her and she can build on that.
“Group Ones are hard to come by, hard to win, so she is going to have to be at her best to be in the finish, but I’m sure she is targeting the right way.”
Jones will also partner Tempesti for Matt Cumani in the Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) and while the former Italian stayer has mixed his form in six Australian starts, Jones is hoping he can improve again from his sixth in the Manion Cup (2400m).
“He showed something last start,” Jones said.
“He was hitting the line well and the step up in trip is going to be ideal. The Sydney way of going seems to be to his liking because it’s probably what he’s been used to (overseas).”
