Toowoomba hoop Emmerson models game on Jones

By Jordan Gerrans

Talented apprentice jockey Jess Emmerson has revealed she models her riding style on history-making hoop Angela Jones as she aims to rise through the ranks herself in the coming years.

After debuting in the middle of December last year, the Toowoomba-based Emmerson has quickly chewed through her claim.

She has also regularly been booked – and won – in non-claiming races for apprentices, such as Battle of the Bush qualifiers across the Sunshine State.

Emmerson heads to Kilcoy on Saturday afternoon with a two-kilogram claim after racking up almost 30 winners over the last six months.

While she will not be riding in the decider of the BOTB in Brisbane, the emerging youngster qualified finalists Ready and Mabel and Milton Road.

The 24-year-old has ambitions to ride in the metropolitan area in the coming campaigns, following in the footsteps of the rider she models herself on – Jones.

“I like to watch a lot of jockeys,” Emmerson said.

“Obviously having Angela come through Lindsay Hatch’s stable has been a big help and the same can be said about Kyle Wilson-Taylor, as well.

“I'm always looking at Ange in particular, her demeanour and the way she goes about things and how relaxed and calm she is on a horse and that.

“But, I think it's good to watch a lot of jockeys and I think there's something to learn from everyone really.”

Jones, who also cut her teeth on the Darling Downs, created history last season when she became the first female rider to win the city jockey’s premiership in Brisbane.

Jones’ first season of riding back in 2020-21 in a lot of ways mirrors Emmerson’s current campaign.

Jones piloted 56 winners at a 25% strike-rate from 222 engagements.

While Emmerson did not debut until half of the 2025-26 season was already completed, she has recorded 27 victories at a 23% winning clip, from 116 bookings.

Emmerson is sure to add to her winning tally before the 2026-27 season commences at the start of August.

Despite riding in less than half the current season, Emmerson sits just outside the top 10 of the Queensland Country Jockey Premiership.

Emmerson, who is indentured to John Dann at Toowoomba, is not getting ahead of herself and is just focusing on her next ride.

“I think I try not to delve too much into it, I just go week-by-week and try to keep the consistency,” she said.

“I go back and forth between my trainer John Dann and Lindsay Hatch, as well as my mentor Robbie Fradd, a lot and just find the little things to improve on.

“I try not to put too much pressure on it. I am just aiming to improve on the little things and it all seems to come together.

“I try and keep a nice level head too.

“It gives me a lot of confidence going out and being as consistent as you can be, but I also think that a lot of confidence comes from rides that you might not get a winner.

“That is because you've done something that you might not have done the week before and you've made an improvement.

“To be able to see that on rides that you're not necessarily winning the ride, but you're giving them a good ride and you're giving them every chance and you're improving the way you want to, it's good.”

It is always a feather in the cap of an apprentice when they are booked to ride in races where they cannot use their claim.

It is even more significant when they win.

Emmerson was chuffed to be able to do it on a couple of occasions recently in BOTB qualifiers.

She did so aboard the Nicholas Beck-prepared Ready and Mabel at Goondiwindi as well as with Milton Road at Nanango for Warwick conditioner Steven Hardy.

“Having trainers put you on non-claiming races for the Battle of the Bush qualifier and being able to win on them and get them qualified is a big thrill,” she said.

“Seeing what it means to the owners and the trainers is really good.

“It was a big thrill to get both of them qualified.”

It has been a sharp rise for Emmerson in the riding ranks after debuting with three winners from five rides in her first day at the races at Texas late last year.

Ready and Mabel as well as Milton Road were also two of the winners on that program at Texas.

It was only a few years ago she was introduced to the racing game by being taken to the stables of the late Pat Duff by a friend.

She counts former champion jockey Fradd as a close mentor, as well as her old boss Hatch.

Emmerson started her racing journey under the guidance of Hatch before transferring her apprenticeship to Dann after Hatch elected to step away from preparing his own stable.

“I think there's lots of lessons to be learnt from a man like Lindsay with the knowledge and everything that he's got,” Emmerson said.

“I think the biggest thing that he's taught me is how you conduct yourself.

“It goes a long way regardless of how you ride one day or the next day.

“How you conduct yourself has to be really consistent and always be well presented and speak well.

“I think that goes a long way with trainers and owners, it does a lot.”

Emmerson heads to Lockyer Valley Turf Club on Saturday for three rides before taking one booking at Kilcoy Race Club on Tuesday.