1 month ago
9
By Craig Kerry
January 29, 2026 — 5.00pm
History-making jockey Angela Jones feels like she owes a lot to Zarastro and she can’t think of a better horse to ride in her first Sydney race.
The Queensland jockey heads to Rosehill on Saturday to partner the Tony Gollan-trained seven-year-old in the group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m), which this year carries the title of the JRA Plate.
Sydney-bound jockey Angela Jones will be on board Zarastro on Saturday. Credit: Racing Photos via Getty Images
The opportunity is just one coming Jones’ way after last season becoming the first female rider to claim the Queensland metropolitan premiership.
The 24-year-old rode a winning double at Ellerslie at her first New Zealand meeting on New Year’s Day and has also been invited to next month’s International Jockeys’ Challenge in Saudi Arabia.
A first chance to ride in Sydney came after a change of plans for Zarastro, a horse she has ridden to five wins and a second behind Joliestar in the group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup. A water-walker injury ruined Zarastro’s shot at back-to-back wins in the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets, but a dominant trial victory at Deagon on January 20 convinced Gollan to carry on and find another target.
Jones has the two rides at Rosehill, but she was happy to sacrifice a bigger book at home to stick with the former Chris Waller-trained veteran.
“I’m always keen to go wherever Zarastro’s going, he’s been very good to me and I think it’s good they have let me stick with him, so I never turn the opportunity down,” Jones said.
“I feel like he’s been a lot of firsts for me. I think he was my first listed winner, then my first group win and first $1 million race win, at the Magic Millions.
“He’s been a pretty special horse to me … the opportunity is there to go ride somewhere new, and it’s a good experience. You usually learn a lot from new places, too.
“I’m hoping Rosehill will suit Zarastro as well.”
Zarastro has not raced since finishing 14th in the group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in September. Jones hoped a draw in gate four of eight and encouraging work at home would lead to a winning return on Saturday. Zarastro was an $8 TAB chance in an open field where only Compelling Truth ($26) was double-figure odds.
“This week he seems to be his best self,” she said.
“He’s feeling really good at home so I don’t see why he can’t bring his best form, even though he has had a bit of a messy start to the prep. He seems to be going as well as ever at home.
“It’s the perfect draw for him, he’ll get out and be rolling. He doesn’t have to lead, but he needs to be going at a nice clip. I think we’ve got options from four. We can get out and let him go at a speed he’s happy at.”
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