Jones made a last minute decision earlier this week to enter Fastquest in the Kempsey Cup, as he believes the field isn’t as strong as expected and claims the forecasted conditions played into the hands of the seven-year-old.

“Fastquest prefers a heavy track and the rain we have had this week will be a huge benefit,” Jones told the Argus.

“We have him trained for longer distances, so the 1450m distance doesn’t suit him, but on a wet track it opens the door for him to shine.”

Fastquest has proven to excel at Kempsey on a heavy track, as it finished in second position in a 1450m race on June 30 last year and Jones said the horse was only bested “by a nose”.

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Fastquest, who has four wins and 16 places from 53 starts, enters tomorrow’s Kempsey Cup in great form, having won the Krambach Cup in heavy conditions on October 19 and also finished in third place in race three at the Port Macquarie Cup.

While Fastquest remains an outside chance, currently paying $26 on the nose with Sportsbet to be first past the post, Jones said it would mean a lot to lift the Kempsey Cup.

“Everyone wants to win their hometown Cup, it would be a bit of a buzz if Fastquest can get it done,” Jones said.

“It would be a special feeling to win the Kempsey Cup. A lot of great old trainers rate the Kempsey Cup quite highly.”

Jockey Jeff Kehoe will ride Fastquest in the Cup and Jones believes he’s a “highly underrated jockey”.

“Fastquest is a tricky horse to ride as he just wants to go,” Jones said.

“But Jeff has rode him a few times now and understands how to ride him the right way.”

Jones, who has called the Macleay home for the past 12 years, has six horses in his stable and will have two horses racing tomorrow.

Dangan Ressha will jump in race three but the four-year-old is yet to place in its seven starts.

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