Hat trick of cups for team Jones

The husband and wife team of Blake and Ellen Jones completed a Coolamon Cup three peat on the weekend after Keto (Sweet Lou) led all the way to snare the harness racing silverware in the heart of the Riverina. 

Local reinsman Peter McRae was handed the reins on the Ellen Jones trained $3.60 second elect while her husband  was in charge of the stablemate American Legacy. 

Keto wrested the lead off Rock Of Joy while the $2.40 favorite Spyglass settled at the rear from its outside second row draw. 

McRae was allowed to take the field through a leisurely 31.8 first quarter but increased the tempo with a 27.9 back straight quarter when Tasmyn Potter pulled out on Spyglass who was forced five wide around the final bend. 

Keto stole a winning break on straightening and was full of running on the line scoring by five metres from Spyglass and Baxter Red. 

The stable had previously saluted in the Cup with Brooklyn Bridge last year and Forever Yin in 2021. 

Jones said McRae decided to ‘get on his bike’ when he realised Spyglass was making a three wide sojourn towards the lead. 

“Peter looked around and saw the favorite coming so he decided to put his foot down,” Jones said. 

Keto is unbeaten in four starts since arriving the Jones stables courtesy of Jones’s sister and brother in law Lisa and Mark Pitt. 

“They thought he would be better suited up here in NSW with the eight-point claim for three year olds,” she said. 

Keto is one of five Jones prepared horses owned by leviathan owner Mick Boots. 

The Joneses train out of Narrandera and work their 21 strong muster at the local racecourse which houses a 1700 metre sand track and an 800 metre all-purpose track installed by the couple. 

“The racing club has been good in allowing us to train on their track and put in our own all-purpose track,” she said. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink