Ben Thompson has been a keen observer in the fascinating duel for the Brisbane jockeys' premiership
But the women may want to enjoy their time in the spotlight because Thompson plans to take the crown from the eventual champion next season.
The 27-year-old Thompson returned home to Brisbane on Thursday night from his 18-month stint in Hong Kong after steering Storming Dragon to a narrow runner-up finish in his farewell ride in a Class 3 Handicap (1200m) last Wednesday at Happy Valley.
'It was nearly the fairytale finish to this chapter but the next-best result,' he said.
Thompson is enjoying a short break with his family – wife Stephanie and young son Harry – before returning to trackwork at the end of this week in preparation for his racing comeback at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
And he's been watching with interest as Lang and Jones, who have both served suspensions for careless riding this month, are locked in a thrilling battle to become the first female to win a Brisbane jockeys' title.
Jones leads the metro standings with 64 wins, two ahead of apprentice Lang, who returns from an eight-day suspension on Wednesday at Eagle Farm.
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'It seems to be what happens in these duels late in the season when there's a premiership up for grabs,' Thompson said of the dramatic circumstances surrounding the shootout.
'Both ladies have obviously had fantastic seasons and made every post a winner since they started riding.
'They're both brilliant riders. If someone had a crystal ball and said that Ang and Emily would be fighting it out for the premiership, it would come as no surprise to anyone.
'It speaks volumes too, albeit Emily is an apprentice to Tony Gollan, that both riders have the full support of the state's leader trainer and one of the country's top trainers.'
In another boost for the rapid rise of women jockeys in Australia, Thompson noted that Rochelle Milnes (44 wins) was four ahead of Lachlan Neindorf in the South Australian metro premiership jockeys' race.
In Victoria, it's an all-male metro jockeys' battle but a thrilling one nonetheless between champion hoops Blake Shinn (71 wins) and Craig Williams (66).
Group 1 -winning jockey Thompson has never won a Brisbane jockeys' premiership but it is a goal he's determined to tick off once the new season starts on August 1.
'It's funny with racing because it feels like it never ends in a sense but the premiership does count for a lot,' he said.
'It's something I'd love to achieve. Hopefully it can be a good season for myself.'
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