Cobalt disqualification has ramifications on Brisbane jockeys’ premiership race between Angela Jones and Emily Lang

There is a late twist in the Brisbane jockeys’ premiership battle between Angela Jones and Emily Lang after a horse tested positive for cobalt and was disqualified.

There has been a shock twist to the Brisbane jockeys’ premiership race with apprentice Emily Lang now only trailing great mate Angela Jones by one win after the disqualification of a winning horse due to a cobalt positive.

With only two metropolitan meetings remaining in the season, Jones (65 wins) had led Lang (63 wins) by two.

But Lang will now be elevated to 64 wins, as a horse she had finished runner-up to was disqualified at a stewards’ hearing in Brisbane on Thursday.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

The Will and Peter Hulbert-trained Dillian was the winner of a BM80 race at Eagle Farm on April 26, with Lang finishing second on Jack Bruce-trained Galifianakis.

However, Dillian has now been disqualified by stewards and a $5000 fine imposed on its trainers after the galloper tested above the legal threshold for cobalt.

The Hulberts are mystified as to how cobalt got in the imported gelding’s system and say they have never had one of their horses test positive to a banned substance.

But they don’t intend to appeal, meaning Lang edges closer to Jones’ in the Brisbane jockeys’ title race which for the first time will be won by a female jockey.

• Wagering hike ‘shows value of Inter Dominion in Queensland’

“Following its run on April 26, Dillian returned a positive to cobalt, above the threshold,” Queensland chief steward Josh Adams told Racenet.

“Dillian has today been disqualified from that win.

“The training partnership was fined $5000 and their license was suspended for 12 months, with that suspension being wholly suspended for two years.

“We have already notified Jack Bruce that Galifianakis has got the win.

“It will give Emily Lang that extra win, so she is now only one behind Angela Jones.”

Emily Lang has gained an extra win after a rival horse was disqualified by stewards. Picture: Trackside Photography

• Group 1 winner’s return hinges on weather

The disqualification drama adds extra intrigue to the Brisbane jockeys’ premiership.

On Wednesday at Eagle Farm, Lang was suspended by stewards for seven days for overuse of the whip.

However, that suspension will not impact the race for the Brisbane jockeys’ title, as Lang deferred her ban to start after the last metropolitan meeting of the season at Doomben next Wednesday.

It is a low-key off-season meeting at Doomben on Saturday but all eyes will be on Jones (full book of nine rides) and Lang (rides in eight of the nine races) as the good mates try to get the edge in the premiership.

Regardless of who comes out on top after next Wednesday’s final metropolitan meeting, history will be made as no female rider has ever won the Brisbane jockeys’ title.

Originally published as Cobalt disqualification has ramifications on Brisbane jockeys’ premiership race between Angela Jones and Emily Lang