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By Ray Hickson

Lightly raced three-year-old Speedy Henry goes on a redemption mission at Bathurst on Thursday and jockey Reece Jones says he may have to take matters into his own hands while the horse goes on a learning curve.

Jockey Reece Jones. (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Jones rode the Rod Northam-trained gelding in his first three runs this campaign, including an impressive first-up win at Scone, and learned in his unplaced Highway run at Randwick in April that he doesn’t do well with crowds.

That was again evident when he found himself hemmed up back in the field on the fence as he was beaten into sixth place as a $1.40 chance at Dubbo two weeks ago in a performance Jones described as ‘underwhelming’.

“He’s a funny one, he’s a bit quirky, I think he’s got a lot of ability and he can gallop,’’ Jones said.

“We saw what he can do first-up and then in the Highway where he finished strong but that didn’t go to plan either.

“I find if he gets crowded he’s a bit horse shy, he drops the bridle and he’ll make it really hard. It’s a shame because he’s a nice horse and he can gallop.”

Speedy Henry was an impressive winner of his first two starts and a feature of both wins was sitting up on speed and in the clear and out of trouble.

So Jones says he wouldn’t be against leading, or riding the speed, from gate four in the Signage Opportunities Winning Post Plate (1200m) to take out of the equation the scenario apprentice Leeshelle Small found herself in from barrier one when beaten at Dubbo.

“Bathurst can be a tricky track in its own right, he’s probably one of those horses where I wouldn’t mind drawing a bit wide on him,’’ Jones said.

“He can show good gate speed and put himself there without having to worry about something bump him out of the gates.

“Hopefully he can jump well and put himself on speed and give himself every chance, and not be dictated to by other horses.”

It took stablemate Grandini until her 11th start to post a maiden win, last time out at Dubbo, and she’ll look to go back-to-back in the Signage Opportunities Trainers Handicap (1400m).

When Jones rode her into a close second at her fourth race start he didn’t think it would take her another seven to break through but he feels watching her two runs back that she’s heading in the right direction.

“I was quite surprised she took so long to break her maiden but she won well the other day and 1400m will suit,’’ he said.

“I’m not too sure about the Bathurst track for her but she looks like she’s figuring it all out and hopefully her next win isn’t so far away.”

Another Northam-trained galloper Bawnaglen strikes Jones as a work in progress and while he’s not partnered the gelding on race day he’s given an indication in his work that he’s an improver.

Speedy Henry runs third at Scone on May 16

He notched his first placing at start four when runner-up at Scone on June 10 and Jones said the extra ground in the FOTF Sept 14 Handicap (1400m) looks a plus.

“I went to ride a bit of work for Rod while Leeshelle was away and I quite like the horse,’’ he said.

Jones, who won his first Group 1 on Land Legend in the Metropolitan last spring, was apprenticed to Rod Northam and has so far ridden 85 winners for the Scone trainer.

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Bathurst meeting