Matt and Di Jones bring horse from Canberra to Rockhampton for The Archer

A Canberra horse-training couple have made the trip from the nation’s capital to the Beef Capital to have their horse lineup at the jump for this year’s The Archer.

Matt and Di Jones made the 1534km road trip from Canberra with Super Helpful for The Archer. Picture: Tony McMahon.

You couldn’t have blamed trainer Matt Jones and his wife Di if the words of the iconic song “It’s A Long Way To Tipperary” were still ringing in their ears.

Both can certainly vouch it is a long way by road from their stables based in Canberra to Callaghan Park racecourse Rockhampton.

They completed their marathon 1534km trip towing a horse float with precious cargo last Sunday.

That cargo is nothing less than their ultra talented galloper Super Helpful with stunning looks to match.

As the winner of 10 races and $835,285 in stakes, the trio are in the Beef Capital to win the big stakes on offer for the $755,000 The Archer (1300m) at Callaghan Park next Sunday.

“We left Canberra early last Thursday and followed the livestock truck carrying Super Helpful up to Sunday for a brief stop over and then it took him on to the Gold Coast. We had him at Kris Lees stables there for a stayover. After that he was on to our float and we brought him up to Rockhampton with a break at Gympie,” Matt Jones explained.

Arriving in magnificent order, Super Helpful has settled in admirably at his on-course Callaghan Park accommodation.

Matt and Di Jones and Super Helpful are the first of the visiting galaxy of nine horses which comprise 75 per cent of the field for the Rocky Amateurs distinguished race The Archer.

Matt and his brother Paul Jones train in partnership with their mother Barbara Joseph, the celebrated trainer from southern NSW often referred to as “the Baroness of Bombala.”

Canberra’s Matt Jones and his candidate Super Helpful for Sunday’s rich The Archer at Callaghan Park. Picture: Tony McMahon.

Barbara Joseph became the first female trainer to win a GR 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) which she did in 1989 with Merimbula Bay ridden by the late “Monto Marvel” – Ken Russell.

Her wins have stretched from Melbourne to Darwin where she trained McJoey to win the 2001 Cup there.

“Mum’s won races all over the country but we had to come to Rockhampton to get a first win up here for her. Super Helpful is in very good form and he is strong chance in The Archer. I give him a rating of 7.5 out of 10,” Matt said just after having the 5YO exercise on a walking machine.

In keeping with the stable ethos of chasing wins wherever they believe their horses are well suited, Super Helpful has won races all over the place.

These include at Rosehill in Sydney, Canberra, Scone, Orange, Wagga and even at

Gundagai where he won a $100K Snake Gully Cup (1400m).

Super Helpful will represent the slot of Whitby Bloodstock, headed by Max Whitby who is something of a colossus in the racing industry through his massive investments in racing and breeding thoroughbreds.

Whitby formerly of Sydney but now Gold Coast based has been a staunch supporter of The Archer since its inception in 2022.

In Super Helpful, he believes he has the right horse to be “right in the race” which in racing jargon means a very good chance.

“I’ve been associated with the Barbara Joseph stable for about 40 years. I always have a team of half a dozen horses with the family. They are a great racing family. I’d like nothing more than to share a win with them in The Archer with Super Helpful,” Max Whitby said.

The final word on Super Helpful came from Barbara Joseph when I contacted her in Canberra.

“Mate he has won some very good races and is very versatile. His distance range is from 1300 to 1600 metres. He has travelled up there well and is well suited,” Baroness Barbara said.

Just for the record Super Helpful is 1300 metres specialist which is the distance of The Archer.

Originally published as Matt and Di Jones bring horse from Canberra to Rockhampton for The Archer