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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Reece Jones has seen more than enough in his only race ride on promising filly In Flight to be confident the Joe Pride trained galloper can measure up at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jockey Reece Jones. (Pic: Bradley Photos)

It’s certainly not unusual for Pride to test the waters with a lightly raced horse getting in with a featherweight and that’s the case with the three-year-old in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1100m).

Jones partnered In Flight to an easy first-up win at Gosford a couple of weeks ago and she’ll drop from 59kg to 53.5kg for the rise to Benchmark 72 level.

“She has the makings of a nice horse and I think she can take that next step based on what she’s done so far,’’ Jones said.

“She was really impressive at 1100m first-up, she had two nice trials leading into it and was fit and if anything was doing her best work going through the line.

“She steps into that race with 53.5kg, she’s shown signs of being quite a progressive filly and I think she’s earned the chance to have a shot at a race like this.”

In Flight, $5.00 with TAB on Thursday, handled a heavy track with ease in her first-up win, which is a tick in case it rains, and Jones is confident he can make some use of a favourable barrier.

“It gives us options, she can bounce and put herself closer so I think it suits her well,’’ he said.

“She’s only missed the placings at her first start, she’s ultra consistent and Joe’s done a great job with her.”

Jones partners Zippo Idea for Rod Northam in the TAB Highway (1500m) and he says it would be no surprise if the filly improved sharply on what the form guide shows of her two runs back.

She started in the market in a Highway back in February on the back of a couple of impressive Muswellbrook wins and Jones said while she ran ninth second-up at Scone she was beaten under two lengths in a race that didn’t suit.

“She had to carry a big weight first-up over probably a little bit too far. She loomed and just peaked on her conditions,’’ he said.

“Last start they were too sharp. They went slow and it turned into a sprint home.

“I think getting up to 1500m in Highway grade, they are usually high pressure races, there should be enough speed for her to settle and get into a rhythm.”

Stablemate The Dramatist bounced back from throwing the rider at Narromine in April to score a dominant Country Cup win at the Scone carnival.

Interestingly, Jones feels the Narromine incident may have contributed to his easy win.

In Flight wins at Gosford on May 16

He said the gelding strode around confidently without the jockey in that race and took that confidence into the Scone performance so he can only hope he turns up in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) with the same level of bravado.

“He was ultra impressive last start and Rod was full of confidence going into that race,’’ Jones said.

“I don’t mind the gate for him, he can be a bit tardy away but if we give him a squeeze he can settle that bit closer and not give away as much start.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting