Apprentice Reece Jones has made the most of a rare opportunity for Godolphin, landing a facile win aboard three-year-old Gravina.
A day after celebrating his 25th birthday, apprentice Reece Jones has had an afternoon to remember at Randwick with his first win at his first ride for Godolphin.
Jones, who is indentured to Rodney Northam at Scone, got the job done in style, spearing Gravina to a five-length victory in Saturday’s Wilson Asset Management Handicap (1200m) and earning praise from Godolphin assistant trainer Darren Beadman in the process.
“He’s a young, up-and-coming young man and Rodney (Northam) has done a terrific job with him up north, but he will certainly get a lot of confidence out of that and so will the horse,” Beadman said.
“He had a lovely run from the nice gate and he’s very much a push-button type of horse.
“Those type of horses really suit young apprentices, they just put themselves in the right spot and he gave him a faultless ride.”
The win was Jones’ second in Sydney after posting a Highway Handicap victory earlier this month.
The young rider was thankful to be given an opportunity by Godolphin and said with the top jockeys in Brisbane for the winter carnival, it was a good time of year to grab some chances in town.
“It’s definitely rewarding, especially with the bigger jocks away. It opens up some doors that I normally wouldn’t get at this level but I’m just really grateful even to don the Royal Blue colours. It’s a huge honour,” Jones said.
“Luckily I can ride a light weight so that’s kind of appealing to those bigger stables and if they give me the opportunity, I’m going to try to take it with both hands.”