Jones will start Sportstar Samuel in the Segenhoe Stud Benchmark 65 (2200m), one of 18 horses he has brought south with atleast another eight still to come.

Jones trained out of Rosehill for many years but when developers moved in 13 years ago sold his stables and moved to the Gold Coast.

However reductions in prize money in Queensland prompted him to move back over the border.

“I have trained for Gerry Harvey for many years and he and Stuart Ramsey both urged me to move to Scone so here we are,” Jones said.

“It is a marvellous track with outstanding training facilities and I wish I had done it sooner.

“In all the years I was training in Sydney I never had a runner at Scone.

“So far all of my Queensland clients have been happy for me to bring their horses down here but I am also looking for new clients.

“The move has taken about six weeks but apart from the other horses still to come down we are just about settled in.

“My partner, Tracey Rodger, has a daughter at university in Sydney and they are loving being a lot closer.”

Jones has no worries about Sportstar Samuel, the only three-year- old in the race, handling the testing 2200 metres.

“He would run two miles on his ear,” Jones said.

“The horse will settle well back but he has a powerful finish and he is going to love that long straight.”

Three starts back Sportstar Samuel won a 2150 metre maiden at Ipswich, ran eighth over 2100 metres at Lismore then was getting home well when fourth at the Sunshine Coast.

“He got too far back at Lismore and you can’t do that on that track,” Jones said.

Jeff Penza will ride the three-year- old, re-igniting an old friendship.

“Jeff rode a lot of winners for me when I was in Sydney and we have been mates for a long time,” Jones said.