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By Tony Megahey

Semi-retired Mark Jones drove a train for 30 years, then turned breaker and part-time trainer with just a couple in work including speedy mare Life’s a Party into Saturday's $120,000, TAB Highway at Rosehill Gardens.

Extended drought, flooding and then COVID eventually forced the family move from Dubbo for decades to Mudgee where Mark is a one-man three-horse operation.

Life's a Party (Jake Pracey-Holmes) in winning form at Orange. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

Mark is the quintessential example of what Racing NSW intended for the Highway series - to give the battling trainers an opportunity for lucrative prizemoney on the big stage.

Life’s a Party, a five-year-old-mare by Star Turn, is rarely led and is coming off an all the way Class 1, Wellington win at 1100m with 56kg into a Class 2 on Saturday with 54kg for Regan Bayliss.

“We’d also accepted for Mudgee on Friday but the track was heavy, she had 58kg and barrier 12 and is only a little thing,” Mark explained.

“We thought long and hard about the tougher race. But in the end it's worth a crack down there as there’s not many Class 2 Highways.

"She’s in winning form and the 54kg on maybe an improving track. Added to that the level of prizemoney while she’s eligible.”

But Mark is under no illusions about the task in a capacity field opposing the likes of 35 series winner Matt Dunn and the strong Brett Robb, Terry Robinson and Cameron Crockett stables, proven in the series.

Still, Life’s a Party has had only five race starts, significantly has started favourite every time, won twice and placed.

“She’s only lightly raced, so could still improve, won well enough the time was decent and she gets a weight drop.

“But obviously a lot harder race, those bigger stables bring the right horses. But we’ll let her do what she does best, lead or on-pace and see what happens.”

Mark has maintained a small team for 30 years: “These days, no staff or stable jockey just a one-man band pottering around with a few.

“I'm semi-retired but enjoying what I do, love being around the horses.”

In early markets there has been some interest in Life’s a Party at $15 on TAB (in from $17).

Typically Dunn again supplies one of the favourites with The Lions' Gate ($7.50) off a Doomben placing and early win there, and again with his prolific combination with Nash Rawiller from barrier seven and 58kg.

Also a strong lead is Dunn’s early scratching of stablemate and dual winner Goomeri.

At present Rosehill Gardens is a Heavy 8 in fine weather but showers are predicted over the next couple of days.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here