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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Reece Jones is quietly confident he can pull off a second hit and run mission to the state’s south when he partners Matusalem in Friday’s Listed $200,000 Wagga RSL Club Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).

The Group 1 winning rider combined with the Chris Waller-trained gelding to win the Albury Cup on April 17 and he’ll be out to emulate Fawkner Park’s deeds of a year ago and win both feature races.

Jones, whose maiden Group 1 win was for the Waller camp on Land Legend last spring, said he’s more than happy to make the trip once again, as he did at Albury, for the sole reason of riding Matusalem.

“I’ve been doing a bit of work for Chris and the team and they’ve been giving me a fair few rides. You’ve got to take those opportunities,’’ Jones said.

“He meets a pretty similar field so it’s not beyond him, I think he can do it. I’m going down there for the one ride again so I’m hoping I can convert it again.”

The four-year-old, $9 with TAB on Wednesday, found himself in the unusual position of stalking the speed in the Albury Cup after drawing barrier 13 and Jones said it possibly made the winner look a bit hard fought.

He staved off Beltoro and My Brothers Keeper, both opponents again at Wagga, to get the job done and he'll rise just 1.5kg for his trouble.

Matusalem wins the Albury Cup

“The plan was to be that little bit handier, we had to force our hand a little bit from the wide draw,’’ he said.

“There weren’t many other options. He rolled into a position where we were going to get a bit of cover and the race worked out pretty well.

“He’s drawn a hell of a lot better this time around so I suppose the plan would be to bounce him out again and have him up there somewhere.”

While that scenario wouldn't faze him, Jones has a bit of a juggling act ahead of him as he says it’s more than likely Matusalem will be more comfortable a little further back in the field than he was at Albury but he doesn't want to waste the more favourable barrier.

It was his first ride on the gelding in the Albury Cup and with that experience under his belt he said he might have learned a thing or two about how to get the very best out of him.

“I’d say he’ll sit in a prominent enough position but not as close as he was,’’ he said.

“His usual pattern is probably a pair or two further back so I have confidence that he can come from further back.

“I think he did have a bit of a think about it when he got there (at Albury).

“He felt like he had a bit more to give, he got there and he felt like he needed some extra encouragement to get to the line. He might have got there a bit too early.

“As long as he’s travelling comfortably he should be able to give a good kick.”

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Wagga Cup meeting