Emily Lang to captain Queensland team for 2025 National Apprentice Race Series in Hobart

Life is about to get tougher for gun apprentice Emily Lang but she’s ready for the challenges that come with the Queensland Winter Carnival.

Emily Lang will captain the five-member Queensland team for the National Apprentice Race Series starting in Hobart on Sunday. Picture: Bubblez Barbierato Photography

Emily Lang knows she has to make hay while the sun shines leading up to the Queensland Winter Carnival when life can get real tough for apprentice jockeys.

It’s just how the cookie crumbles when the top jockeys fly in from Sydney and Melbourne to take home the spoils of the carnival while the locals, who have been literally sweating it out all year in southeast Queensland and beyond, are forced to take a back seat.

But so far Rockhampton’s Lang has been doing everything right to earn the better rides, shooting to the top of the Brisbane metro jockeys’ premiership with 46 wins, one ahead of Jimmy Orman, who is riding in Hong Kong until at least the end of their season in July.

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The 24-year-old Lang rode home three winners at Eagle Farm last Wednesday to stamp her credentials as a rising star.

In a further boost for her fledgling career, Lang was named on Tuesday as captain of the five-member Queensland team for the National Apprentice Race Series starting in Hobart on Sunday.

Lang realises she has to be patient as an apprentice, with the top rides likely to dry up once the carnival kicks off in the Sunshine State in early May.

“Everyone’s in the same boat but I think apprentices struggle more so than the seniors do when carnival time comes around,” the new Queensland apprentices skipper said.

“Everything seems to slow down and that’s why it’s really important for these weeks leading up to carnival that I try to be as consistent as possible and improve more and more.

“Hopefully I can get one or two rides during carnival, I’d be happy with that.”

Golden Decade wins in a thrilling finish at Eagle Farm - and that's a double to @emilyyplang!@[e-mail]/8JjaGjZyDS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 18, 2025

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Lang is also well aware that the absence of Orman has helped her cause in the metro premiership race but she credits Brisbane’s premier trainer Tony Gollan with providing the right opportunities for her to excel.

“It’s definitely helped (Orman riding overseas) but there’s no one more deserving of getting that spot in Hong Kong than Jimmy,” said Lang, who rode five winners at Warwick in just her second day in the saddle in June 2022.

“If anything it probably elevates the Queensland riding ranks that he’s been selected to go over there, being our leading rider.

“It definitely opens up more opportunities with having him missing, especially for apprentices.

“I’m really fortunate to have a boss like Tony Gollan though. He’s a big part of mine and (fellow jockey) Angela Jones’ career. We wouldn’t get the results we’re getting without his backing.

“He makes a huge difference, probably even more than Jimmy being away.”

In the apprentice races series, Lang will captain the Queensland team also featuring Rob Thorburn, Olivia Kendal, Cody Collis and Jace McMurray.

Jockey Emily Lang wins aboard the Adam Campton'-trained Catwalk Criminal. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

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“It’s quite exciting,” said Lang, who got the racing bug after doing showjumping and eventing as a teenager before eventually riding trackwork for Chris Munce while studying a Bachelor of Business degree at university.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in the series for the past two years and had some pretty good captains in the likes of Cejay Graham and Angela Jones.

“They were both the leading apprentices then so it’s nice to be on the same trajectory as them.”

The Maroons claimed the coveted NARS trophy for the first time in 2023 when Lang only made the team after Jasmine Cornish broke her back in a sickening fall at Beaudesert.

But they will be looking to bounce back strongly this year after finishing at the bottom of the standings in 2024.

Originally published as Emily Lang to captain Queensland team for 2025 National Apprentice Race Series in Hobart