By Jordan Gerrans
There is a new and unexpected name high up in the Queensland jockeys premiership rankings in the early stages of the 2022-23 campaign.
Apprentice hoop Jake Molloy has rocketed up the standings to be just outside the top five in the state wide premiership, as well as being rated second overall on the provincial scene.
Only one other apprentice – Jasmine Cornish – sits above Molloy in the Queensland Jockey Premiership as the campaign approaches October.
To put that in context, the 22-year-old Molloy did not rank inside the top 20 riders on the provincial or country circuit when the 2021-22 season was recently completed.
After working for a number of trainers around the Sunshine Coast area in recent years, Molloy has found his niche on the Darling Downs with renowned apprentice mentor Lindsay Hatch.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Molloy has 15 winners to his name across the state and is only behind experienced rider Nathan Day for victories on the provincial scene.
He would have been a runaway early leader in the provincial title with a slice or two of luck.
Molloy has ridden just as many second place finishes – 15 – as he has winners so far.
The emerging youngster believes gaining more race day chances now that he is under the Hatch banner as well as knuckling down to the task has been behind his strong start to the new season.
“I have been pleased, I am getting more opportunities now,” Molloy said.
“I am getting on better horses while also consistently aiming to ride well, but it is just about the stock you get on I think, as well.
“I did not get the opportunities I am now when I was at the Sunshine Coast so now that I am here at Toowoomba, I need to keep working hard to make the most of those chances.”
The 59-year-old Hatch has a knack of identifying talented apprentices, having Baylee Nothdurft, Kyle Wilson-Taylor and Angela Jones on his books, before they all headed to town and were successful.
While that trio have made it in the city, he believes it is also crucial to note there is a lot of apprentices’ he has opted not to offer a job to, as well.
“There is a lot of apprentices that I look at that, watch them ride or have a chat to, that I do not take on, people don’t really know about that,” Hatch said when asked why his apprentices’ have had such a strong run of form in recent years.
“Same as yearlings, you get a good impression of them at first.
“I usually have a talk to them and see if they are prepared to listen and so forth, I will give them a crack.”
Molloy clearly passed Hatch’s early test and he has backed his boss’ decision so far.