Family team with triple shot at Bega Cup with eye on Big Dance

Local trainers Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones are set to play their usual strong hand in Sunday’s $80,000 Bega Cheese Bega Showcase Cup (1600m).

The family operation of Joseph and Jones has a good record in the Bega Cup, which carries eligibility for the Big Dance at Randwick in November.

Racing hits the Sapphire Coast on Sunday.Credit: Getty

They will saddle up three runners in Sunday’s event with Zouatica (Billy Owen), Super Helpful (Nick Heywood) and Belleistic Kids (Claire Ramsbotham) all set to go around.

Paul Jones said he expects all three contenders to run well.

“Zouatica has been trained for the race,” said Jones.

“He’s got a big weight with 62 kilograms, but he has a very good record with eight wins from 29 starts and he’s won more than $400,000 in prizemoney.”

Super Helpful contested the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick last November when finishing 18th and has since finished fourth in the Mudgee Cup before a last start 10th of 10 at Rosehill.

“It was a good run at Mudgee, and you can forget his last start run at Rosehill when assessing his chances at the Sapphire Coast,” Jones said.

“He’s also a very well performed galloper and is closing in on $1 million in earnings so he’s definitely got the class to win.”

Belleistic Kids has also been a good performer for the stable with $365,000 in earnings, courtesy of seven wins and 12 placings from 48 starts.

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“He’s never too far away and his recent form has been solid enough,” said Jones. “It wouldn’t surprise to see him right in the finish.”

The Joseph and Jones stable has a number of top contenders going around on the eight-race card at the Sapphire Coast.

Ramsbotham has three other rides for the trainers when riding Jazz All Knight in race three, Belleistic Bonny in race 5, and Lambay in race six. Cougars will also line up in the sixth with Blaike McDougall in the saddle. Navajo Code will line up in race one for Robyn Freeeman, Bombelleistic is in race four with Owen taking the ride, and Remadosi is in race eight with Pierre Boudvillain aboard.

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