Bookmaker posts Angela Jones hot favourite in final premiership charge
With a two-win lead over rival Emily Lang heading into the final metropolitan meeting of the racing season at Doomben on Wednesday, Ladbrokes has Jones a raging $1.20 favourite to claim the gong.
A drawn title race is $6 while the satchel swingers think Lang has too much ground to make up and have rated the star apprentice jockey a $21 chance to soar to title glory.
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To win outright, Lang would need at least a treble on Wednesday and also have to rely on great mate Jones having a quiet day at the office.
Both Jones and Lang are poised to have seven rides on the nine-race Doomben card after each having a horse scratched that they had been booked to ride.
Whoever wins, it will be a victory for a girl who grew up in regional Queensland.
Jones was raised on a cattle and grain property about 100km from Clermont and went to boarding school in Charters Towers.
• Sporting sisterhood driving jockeys to create history in title race
She had no racing background in her family and when she was very young she watched the Melbourne Cup on television once a year, thinking it was Australia's only horse race.
Lang was raised in Rockhampton and as a youngster she focused on showjumping and eventing, not even setting foot on a racetrack until she was 19.
On Wednesday, one of the young golden girls of the Queensland jockey ranks will break new ground and become the first female jockey to win the Brisbane riding premiership.
Even if Lang can't claw back the margin on Jones, she will still be a runaway winner of the Brisbane apprentice jockeys' title.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Angela Jones and Emily Lang's rides at Doomben on Wednesday (TAB prices, correct at 12.30pm Tuesday)
Race 1: Jones rides Brazen Act, $4.60 – Lang has no ride
Race 2: Jones rides Lady Tangalooma, $18 – Lang rides Reconciliate, $4.80
Race 3: Jones rides Tszyuya, $12 – Lang rides Imminent Boom, $12
Race 4: Jones rides Flywheel, $5.50 – Lang rides Barello, $5
Race 5: Jones has no ride – Lang has no ride
Race 6: Jones rides Diana's Affair, $3.70 favourite – Lang rides Sporting Chance, $4.80
Race 7: Jones rides Certainlycan, $5 favourite – Lang rides Gelatin, $6.50
Race 8: Jones rides Estrondo, $11 – Lang rides Fireforce, $19
Race 9: Jones has no ride – Lang rides Nightcapped, $15
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