Jockey Emily Lang seeks to build on talented and impressive start

Rising Queensland racing apprentice Emily Lang says her patient and extended learning process has paid dividends as she plans for the provincial level next season.

Rising Queensland apprentice Emily Lang says her extended learning process has paid dividends as she plans to further improve next season.

The Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted stable apprentice has recorded seven winners and six placings from her past 24 starts, following a perfect five from five at Warwick at her second ever race meet.

Within 48 hours of making her racing debut Lang had outridden her four-kilogram claim and said she couldn’t believe her start.

“It was very special, I had good runs in all of my races and the horses went well so I couldn’t believe it really, I was just in shock,” she said.

Emily Lang after riding five winners at Warwick. Picture: Bubbles Barbierato

All new riders need to complete 20 satisfactory trials and jump-outs before they can embark on their first race rides but for Lang it was a much more patient process.

“Steve highlighted to me that it was better to be as prepared as possible and ended up telling me I had to do 50 trials and just as many jump-outs before race riding,” she said.

“At the start I just wanted to get to the races and was thinking ‘what’s this guy doing’ but halfway through I figured I wasn’t as good as I thought I was and only started to get on a roll when I got to the 50 mark.

“I couldn't count how many I would’ve done but it was definitely worth it because it really is another massive step up.”

Emily Lang with her partner Baylee Nothdurft.

The 21-year-old said she was grateful for the support from the stable as well as her partner Baylee Nothdurft.

“Matty and Steve have done as much as they can for me and even bought a few horses off Inglis Digital for me to ride out bush,” she said.

“That’s something I’m extremely grateful for and I’m pretty lucky that Baylee is a very good jockey so he helps me with everything as well.”

She said she hoped to further improve next season.

“Hopefully I can just ride as many winners as possible to get down to my two kilogram claim and look at going provincial, but at the moment it’s just about getting my bearings,” Lang said.

Originally published as Jockey Emily Lang seeks to build on talented and impressive start