Jade Metcalfe dreaming big after top honour

By Andrew Smith

Jade Metcalfe has big dreams of one day riding in the Melbourne Cup.

And it is the recent history-making efforts of female jockeys Angela Jones and Emily Lang that is spurring her on to chase that dream.

The apprentice hoop was named the Racing Queensland Student of the Year at last week’s 2025 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.

The 21-year-old was momentarily lost for words on stage at The Star Brisbane as she accepted the trophy.

Metcalfe paid tribute to trainer Wayne Nugent, who first gave her the opportunity to work in his stable as a high school student.

“He’s my rock - thank you to him for everything, he taught me how to ride a racehorse back in 2022 and he means more to me than he realises,” Metcalfe said.

“I was still attending school at the time, and I needed a job to start somewhere and make some pocket money, and it started in a racehorse stable with Wayne.

“Everyone always told me growing up ‘you should be a jockey,’ and Wayne gave me a go and put me on a horse, and noticed I was quite fearless.

“From the first time I set my eyes on a horse, I knew it was for me, and from the moment I got on a real racehorse in 2022, you just know with things, you have a calling.

“Honestly, I just love the horses so much. It does not worry me what I do – I’ve always been quite fearless about everything and wanting to have a go, and it just transpired from there.”

Now in her fourth year of riding, Metcalfe enjoyed the best season of her fledging career in 2024/25, posting 17 victories to take her overall tally past the 30-win mark.

The bulk of those victories have come for the Toowoomba-based Nugent and Jandowae trainer Geoffrey Schrader.

The former Wilsonton State High School student beat out fellow apprentices Corey Sutherland and Kelsey Lenton for Student of the Year honours.

RQ Senior Apprentice Coach Shane Scriven cited Metcalfe’s work ethic and the eagerness to learn from Group 1-winning rider and RQ Apprentice Jockey Coach Michael Cahill as the reasons for her success.

“It’s an award for professionalism and there's no one more deserving than Jade,” Scriven said.

“She went from being a country apprentice to wanting an upgrade to provincial and the team didn't think she was quite there.

“So we put a plan together for her to get to where she wanted to be and she would travel from Toowoomba every Monday down to Brisbane.

“Michael Cahill spent a lot of time with her, and the dedication she showed and the drive she had to get to where she wanted to be - to where she is now - is great.

“She realises she's got another couple of hurdles to get there, but it's that dedication that makes her a good and worthy winner, and it was really great to see what it meant to her too.”

Metcalfe has now set her sights on continuing to improve in the saddle in the bush and eventually ride at the metropolitan level.

That progression towards riding in the city continues with the youngster set to ride this Thursday at Ipswich, before the meeting was moved to Monday, October 27 due to forecast extreme heat.

She has made no secret of her dreams to be based in New South Wales one day, but for now is happy to stay under the guidance of Nugent on the Darling Downs.

“I want to keep being better than I have been really, it would be nice to get on some faster horses so that I can show myself a little bit more,” Metcalfe said.

“Wayne's got a few of our better horses in now, so once they get running, I'll be seen more in provincial and hopefully when my face is out there I can get put on more, and if my skills are good enough, I just keep going from there.

“I dream big, and whether that's silly or not, my dreams are as high as that and I definitely dream of a Melbourne Cup.

“I believe that if you try your hardest at something, and you have a dream, you do everything to try for that dream, you will get it and realistically, I believe I'm going to get there.”

Metcalfe is taking inspiration from fellow rider Angela Jones who was crowned the George Moore Queensland Jockey of the Year, after becoming the first female to take out the Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership.

The youngster admitted she had been a long-time fan of the history-making hoop since their days on the Darling Downs.

“I've always sort of looked up to her, and when I first started riding trackwork, I saw her going around,” Metcalfe said.

“She was with Lindsay Hatch at the time, and my eyes were just locked on her - that's all I really wanted to look like.

“I practice her style trying to make myself like her, she's the best thing that you can look at, and she's the best role model.

“I am so, so happy for her, and as soon as I found out she had won the premiership, I was like, ‘wow, of course she'd get there, of course she'd make it.’”

The strong influence of the country and provincial circuits was evident through Jones winning the top award.

Her runner-up in the Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership, Emily Lang, had also developed her skills in Central Queensland.

After breaking new ground as the first woman to claim the premiership, Jones cited her early days riding in country Queensland as providing the platform for her success.

“I think at the time when the season was over, it was probably a little bit of a rush, and it was hard to appreciate it,” Jones said.

“I'm glad when I started, I was able to make the most of my year I had in the bush, and I was able to see all those bush tracks all over Queensland.

“I was glad I was able to do that and slowly come through the riding ranks, and I felt like I can appreciate being here more accepting this award after seeing all the racing all around Queensland.”

The success of the female jockeys in the 2024/25 racing season has come as no fluke.

Currently, there are 51 females in the Queensland apprentice jockey ranks out a total of 64.

Scriven said it was an exciting time for female hoops across the Sunshine State.

“You've only got to look at the girls that have been up there on stage, and what’s been happening - it was only a matter of time, and this year has that breakthrough for them,” Scriven said.

“Who's to say that Ange won't go on again next year? And then you've got Em coming through as well.

“They're good role models, and their professionalism is what has got them to where they are, along with all these other young female apprentices coming through, and the boys could take a leaf out of their books as well.”