Reece Jones has reached rarefied air as he booted home New Arrangement in the ACY Securities Handicap (1300m) to notch up his fourth winner of the day at Randwick.
The Scone-based apprentice couldn’t wipe the smile from his face as he returned to scale, getting everything out of the Chris Waller-trained gelding to win narrowly by 0.11 lengths.
Jones had only ridden six metropolitan winners before Saturday and now boasts a 12.5% strike rate in town.
Jones said he got nervous as Brenton Avdulla loomed late in the race but was delighted to ride four winners on the day.
“It was a bit of a heart in your mouth type moment,” he said.
“He had me nervous, but he dug deep and came away with the win, so it was a brilliant effort.
“I’ve never ridden four winners, so to do it here as well is massive for me.
“When you’re growing up and starting out, you always dream of being here one day, and to actually do that it’s just a huge thrill.”
New Arrangement settled at the rear of the field after jumping and was aided by the pace being genuine through the middle stages of the event.
Jones pulled the five-year-old to the middle of the track and he let down with a powerful sprint.
He was forced to fight for the win, but the three-kilogram claim of Jones proved the difference as the gelding put his nose down on the finish line to win.
Stable representative Jack Pilkington said the gelding had returned in good order ahead of his first- up assignment.
“We’ve probably never seen him come back quite as well,” he said.
“He’s trialled so well in his two trials coming into today, but also held his condition really nicely.
“He looked like we had a lot to work with heading into todays run, but talk about sprint well fresh, he was really good late there.
“It was really good first up performance.”