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By Ray Hickson

There’s nothing like confidence boosting win and both jockey Reece Jones and emerging three-year-old Mortal Halo have had just that going into the Star Turn @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Wednesday.

They’ve had that lift as a pair, combining for a runaway win at Scone last month, and in Jones’ case individually as he won the $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill last weekend.

It was a timely boost for Jones, already a Group 1 winning jockey, who claimed his biggest win financially.

Reece Jones (Pic: Bradley Photos)

In Mortal Halo’s case, the Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained colt was one of four winners for Jones at the October 24 meeting as he put four and a half lengths on maiden opposition first-up.

“I wouldn’t mind a few more million dollar wins but I wouldn’t mind a few more sit and steer jobs like him either,’’ Jones said.

"It was a fair step back in grade from what he’d been racing against, going from a Group 1 to a maiden at Scone.

“He showed his class and put them away very easily, which is a good sign and hopefully he gets a bit of confidence from that. He’s been virtually untouched or asked for an effort so he did it quite well.”

Mortal Halo, $3.00 with TAB on Tuesday, jumps from that maiden straight into a Benchmark 72 but Jones said it appears within his reach if he takes the improvement he’s sure the colt has into the race.

“He’s got a soft draw, he can possie up nice and handy and not too far off them,’’ he said.

“Obviously there’s going to be a touch of luck needed to get the gaps when he needs but it’s a nice race for him."

Iron Hawk might be unfancied in as he resumes in the TAB Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill but Jones said based on his trials he might have turned the corner.

The Gary Portelli-trained four-year-old did win a Class 1 at the provincials last time in but was safely held in three starts in midweek company around that success.

“He’s a quirky fellow and can do a few things wrong here and there but I thought he’s trialling quite well,’’ he said.

“He’s showed a bit of tactical speed that he hasn’t shown in a lot of his starts.

“Whatever he does I’m sure he’s going to improve on and he’s a cheeky chance.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Rosehill meeting