Jones took Mujadale to victory in the Sportsbet Ballarat Cup in 2014.

This year he has country cups specialist Barry The Baptist as a possible candidate for the listed $500,000 event on Saturday, November 21.

Jones said while he did not have special plans for the seven-year-old, the Ballarat Cup was among late spring targets Barry The Baptist might get an opportunity in. "It might be something (for him)."

First though, Jones has his eyes on another Ballarat Turf Club feature race withg Barry The Baptist.

He lines up in a five-strong field in the $50,000 Gold Nugget, 1600m, on Sunday - a race in which he finished second to A Shine Rook last year.

Barry The Baptist goes into the race with a much different preparation this season.

Jones gave him a expansive campaign in 2019, racing right through autumn and winter before a freshen up and then stepping out in the spring.

He was first-up in the Gold Nugget last year and followed that up with a third in the Murtoa Cup and second in the Horsham Cup before suffering a slight tendon strain.

Jones said there had been no choice but to give him an extended break.

He said he had taken no risks and erred on the side of caution in the length of time he had give Barry The Baptist to recover.

And going by his effort first-up it looks to have paid off.

Barry The Baptist finished third first-up to Junipal over 1600m at Moonee Valley.

"He pulled up well," Jones said.

Shandy, chasing a fourth consecutive win, is $1.80 favourite with a Sportsbet fixed market ahead of topweight Coming Around $2.60, Barry The Baptist $7, Alsvin $12 and Cape Richards $23.

The Gold Nugget is race five on a nine-event program on Sunday and once again this meeting will be run without any racegoers and under strict protocols owing to COVID-19 restrictions.

The track rated a soft5, with the rail out 5m from 2000m to 1400m, and out 4m for the remainder of the circuit.