Like gallopers of yesteryear were trained for races, Jones relies on farm and bush tracks fitness to have his small team fit.

Unlike many country cups lately, the first five racehorses home were from the Mid North Coast Racing Association and only 2.5 lengths separated the first seven gallopers in a thrilling finish on the line.

“He is only little and at his last five runs nothing went right,” Jones said in justifying the win.

Second was Taree’s grey marvel, nine-year-old Clune’s Rocket ($12), then Port Macquarie’s Backhouse Billy ($12), with the heavily backed local favourite Sniponet ($2.15) just ahead of mare Capital Magic $10, trained at Taree by injured Bob Milligan.

Jones bought Fastquest at a tried horse sales about 18 months ago and notably it has won at Cessnock, run second in a TAB Highway in Sydney and won over $50,000 for him.

The affable trainer was certainly chuffed when admiring the winner’s cup and told the big crowd at the presentation:”It is always a pleasure to race here…the country atmosphere is second to none.”

Manning Valley Race Club chairman Greg Coleman said the club was indebted to the legacy of Allen Bakewell in sponsoring the cup, he being associated with the Krambach Club since 1960 until his passing a year ago and wanting the family to continue its association with the race.

Taree trainer Wayne Wilkes may have been disappointed with fourth with his five-year-old gelding Sniponet in the cup but he had a “cracker” of a meeting with two wins and a second with Party Host ($9.50) behind smart Gosford gelding Zoffany’s Lad ($3.10) which made it four wins in a row for trainer Grant Allard in the Krambach Hotel Class 3 Handicap over 1600m.

Wilkes was happy to finally have five-year-old gelding Subtle Grey $2.80), bred by Patinack Farm and owned by Kendall’s Les Tinkler, win (by 3.7 lengths) for apprentice jockey Louise Day in the PWD Earthmoving Maiden Handicap over 1400m.

“I didn’t expect it to lead but then it didn’t spend too much,” Wilkes said.

His three-year-old filly Good Excuse ($1.90) justified its favouritism in making it two wins in a row for a mainly Sydney syndicate of owners, headed by Brian Manuel, in the Banarra Brahmans Class 2 Plate—Country Only over 1250m.

Newcastle jockey Andrew Gibbons again showed his prowess with a up front ride to score by just over a length.

He also won on Taree five-year-old gelding Tigers Image ($3.50), trained by Michael Byers, it coming from an outside barrier to score by just under a half-length in the Harrington Hotel Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1000m.

Manly Warringah rugby league immortal Bob Fulton’s three-year-old filly Havenot ($4) had silks in the club’s colours sporting an eagle in a just under a length win for Wyong trainer Allan Denham and jockey Serg Lisnyy in the United We Stand Maiden Plate over 1000m.

Other winners were mare Bid’N’Bare ($2.4)0), trained at Wyong by Kristen Buchanan and ridden by Jeff Kehoe in the U.S.U. Picnic Day Maiden Plate over 1250m and Kopite ($6), trained at Gosford by Adam Duggan and ridden by Josh Adams, in the Glipsal Allan Bakewell Memorial Sprint over 1250m.

Racing returns to Bushland Drive Racecourse, Taree, for the Melbourne Cup day races on Tuesday, November 6.

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