James Orman not interested in taking a break after marathon season

STAR young Queensland jockey James Orman reckons he does not need a holiday, ­despite an extraordinary 1140 rides this season.

James Orman landed his first stakes winner on Sold For Song at Doomben in December. Picture: Jono Searle

RISING Queensland jockey James Orman reckons he does not need a holiday, ­despite an extraordinary 1140 rides this season.

Orman, 19, has had more rides than any other Australian jockey this season and even rode at three southeast Queensland meetings on one day in December.

On the day Orman celebrated his first stakes win, on Sold For Song in the Gold Edition Plate at Doomben, he also rode at the Gold Coast and Toowoomba.

Workload debate is flaring in Victoria, with moves to limit how many meetings apprentice jockeys can ride at in one day.

Queensland Jockeys Association boss Glen Prentice says the issue will be raised with Racing Queensland at the next quarterly occupational health and safety meeting — but insists he has “no problems with someone who works hard”.

Orman was surprised when told by The Courier-Mail how many rides he had taken this season.

He had another four on Tuesday at Beaudesert but won’t hear of having time off.

“I don’t want a holiday, I just want to keep riding winners,” Orman said. “I am probably a bit lucky in that I am apprenticed to my mum (Caroline Allardyce) so I don’t have to ride as much track work as a lot of other apprentice jockeys.

“My main focus is race day and that has worked out really well for me.

James Orman has ridden in more races than any other jockey in Australia this season. Picture: Liam Kidston

“I am getting paid for what I absolutely love doing, so I have never sat down and thought I need a holiday. I have never lost my focus.”

Orman has enjoyed a breakout season but concedes his hopes are gone of winning the senior metropolitan jockeys’ premiership in Brisbane.

Orman has 67 winners and is no chance of catching leader Jeff Lloyd (76), although he is eyeing off second-placed Jim Byrne (71½).

Orman has partially modelled himself on Tim Bell, the young Brisbane jockey whose star shone so brightly before his tragic passing in Singapore last November.

Orman remembers how in 2012 he strapped his mother Caroline’s horse Magnetic Miss at Doomben and then Bell rode the mare to victory.

“I really loved the way Tim Bell was as a person and a jockey and the confidence he exuded,” Orman said. “I am also a big fan of (Sydney jockey) Blake Shinn and how he rides.”

Orman has an upcoming three-week riding trip to Singapore and is looking forward to riding Sold For Song during a probable Melbourne Spring Carnival mission.

Originally published as James Orman not interested in taking a break after marathon season