Jimmy Orman’s Hong Kong sting gives Angela Jones chance to become first woman to win Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership

With Jimmy Orman flying to Hong Kong on Monday for a short-term riding stint, quiet achiever Angela Jones has been handed a golden opportunity to create history and become the first woman to win the Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership.

Angela Jones has a terrific chance to become the first woman to win the Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

With Jimmy Orman flying to Hong Kong on Monday for a short-term riding stint, quiet achiever Angela Jones has been handed a golden opportunity to create history by becoming the first woman to win the Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership.

Orman currently leads the premiership race with 45 victories, with Jones (40) and Emily Lang (38) in hot pursuit.

Humble country girl Jones can bridge the gap while Orman is away in the Asian riding mecca of Hong Kong, where he will ply his trade for a minimum of six weeks and possibly longer if he impresses his bosses.

With more than a few people reminding Jones of the massive stakes at play in her bid to create history, however, she is trying to put the premiership race to the back of her mind.

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“I look at it as if there’s probably an added pressure now,” said Jones, who is engaged to fellow Brisbane jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor.

“A few people are saying there is a good chance for it but if it happens, it happens.

“If it doesn’t then it’s not meant to be this year. It’s definitely a goal I’d like to tick off.

“It’s something I’ve shoved to the back of my mind but this week with Jimmy going (to Hong Kong on Monday) I’ve had a few people remind me about it, that’s for sure.

“If that’s the thing at the forefront of your mind then you won’t be focused at what you’re doing.”

Jones failed to steer home a winner at Eagle Farm last Saturday while Orman, a multiple Brisbane jockeys’ premiership champion, extended his lead in the metro title to five victories after saluting on veteran gelding Irish Songs in the XXXX Handicap (1400m).

Asked what it would mean to become the first woman to win the Brisbane metro premiership, Jones said: “It would be pretty cool because it’s something I never even dared to dream of when I was younger.

“And maybe I could be the first (woman to win the Brisbane metro premiership) but I definitely wouldn’t be the last.

“If you look at the girls’ room now, it’s only a matter of time before a girl will win the premiership. Now the girls are actually starting to outnumber the boys in the apprentice ranks so it’s only a matter of time before it’s even more dominated by girls.”

Premiership-hunting jockey Angela Jones. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

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Born in Emerald, Jones grew up on a property near Clermont and went to boarding school in Charters Towers.

After finishing school she went to work with Lindsay Hatch in Toowoomba, learning her trade while riding in non-TAB meetings at bush tracks in Charleville, Charters Towers and Mount Isa.

She then graduated to the provincial circuit, riding mainly at Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and the Gold Coast.

When she was eventually ready to ride in the city, she made the transition to champion trainer Tony Gollan’s stable and has since been on an upward trajectory.

Jones only needs 11 more winners to equal her tally of 51 from the 2023-24 Brisbane metro premiership season. The 2024-25 title race will officially end on July 31.

“I’m definitely going better. I’ve ridden more metro winners this season compared to last,” Jones said.

“As long as I’m improving on the year before then I’m pretty happy but I’m probably going better this year than I thought I could.

“There’s always room for improvement and I’m still making plenty of mistakes that I can look back and reflect on and try to do better, but I’ve come a long way.”

Originally published as Jimmy Orman’s Hong Kong sting gives Angela Jones chance to become first woman to win Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership