Jones Chases Goodwood Glory

Jones Chases Goodwood Glory

If they made a movie about Caitlin Jones’ life, Morphettville would be the default setting for filming and Savatoxl would be the logical choice for a leading protagonist.

For the 32-year-old jockey, Adelaide’s premier racetrack has been the scene of most of her greatest triumphs, many of which have come aboard the enigmatic sprinter.

Savatoxl gave Jones a maiden Stakes win in 2021 when, little more than a week out of her apprenticeship, she won the Listed Christmas Handicap (1200m) on Son of Kuroshio, who was trained by Tony McEvoy at the time.

It was this association that prompted Alice Springs trainer Will Savage, who also bought and part-owns Savatoxl, to lock in Jones’ services to ride the gelding in the Group 3 D.C. Mackay Stakes (1100m) last start.

The pair saluted once again and now they will chase history – a second Goodwood win for Savatoxl and a first Group 1 success for Jones – when they combine in Adelaide’s most famous race on Saturday.

“He’s quite sentimental to me this horse – he was my first ever Listed winner as a senior rider a week out of my apprenticeship so he was always going to hold a special place in my heart,” Jones said.

“To come out the other day and win a Group 3 on him, which also my first Group win, was amazing and to partner up with him in a Group 1 race is a real privilege.

“Any opportunity to ride over the carnival, especially in these group races, you’ve got to grab with both hands.

“I’m really confident in the horse I’m riding and I’ve got a good rapport with him, having only had three rides on him for two wins.

“We’re going to make it three from four on Saturday.”

The Savatoxl story is almost worthy of its own blockbuster movie.

Initially an $8000 yearling purchase, Savatoxl was trained by Savage to win nine races in the Northern Territory, headlined by the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m).

Savage “went bush” and handed the reins to Darwin maestro Gary Clarke, who landed the Metric Mile with Savatoxl and stretched him to 2000m for a placing in the NT Derby.

The Balaklava Cup was the intended target when connections shifted the horse south to McEvoy’s Angaston base, but such was the gelding’s improvement that he won a series of Stakes races before his triumph in the 2021 Goodwood.

Jones said all reports from the stable are that the horse has continued to thrive since the D.C. Mackay Stakes, with his final lead-up gallop completed at Murray Bridge last week.

While Savatoxl has led in many of his races, Jones believes she has several options from barrier six on Saturday.

“He seems to be doing well back in here in SA,” she said.

“He’s as tough as they come and he doesn’t know that he’s seven years old.

“If he’s in a great headspace, which I think he is, he’s going to be right in it.

“He’s got natural gate speed and he responded really well when I gave him a squeeze out of the barriers in the D.C. Mackay Stakes and he took up the running nicely.

“Being a Group 1, there’s a bigger field and a quality field so there’s going to be a bit more pressure.

“He may not get it as easily, but it’s not a necessity that he has to lead – I know that he’ll be on pace and he’s drawn the gate to sit beautifully behind them if that has to happen.”

Two Morphettville-trained horses – last-start Sangster Stakes runner-up Another Award and Chris Bieg’s Free of Debt – will take their place in a Goodwood field that includes popular Victorian sprinter Lofty Strike, Newmarket Handicap hero Zoutori, Corowa pin-up Front Page and a trio of Godolphin runners, headlined by last-start R.N. Irwin Stakes winner Kallos.