Pozman ready to grow in Queensland loan spell

By Jordan Gerrans

Hoop Emily Pozman will go searching for growth on and off the racetrack when she commences her loan spell in the Sunshine State on Saturday afternoon at Eagle Farm.

The Victorian apprentice will spend three months in Queensland during the busy spring in Melbourne, where it is traditionally tough for claiming riders to break into feature racing during the period of the season.

The 28-year-old arrived in Brisbane on Thursday of last week, was at trackwork on Friday morning, took trial rides at Deagon on Tuesday before her first proper hit-out on the track on Saturday.

Pozman already has 16 city winners on her resume.

While she is keen to further her riding skills with her northern sojourn, the emerging hoop believes the loan stint might also be beneficial for her as a person away from the races.

“I just think it's a great opportunity,” she said.

“It’s been a big step for me to move away from home, where I'm comfortable.

“I've been working for Peter Moody for the last five years at least. 

"So, that place was like a second home to me. So, just coming up here and making new connections and friendships, it's fantastic.

“And, whether it's just the three months that I stay or I decide to stay on longer, I just look at it as a three-month period that I'm able to learn.

“Nothing negative is really going to come from it. 

"I'm going to experience a lot of different racing and ride against different jockeys and for different trainers. I'm growing as a person, as well, by getting out of Victoria.

“It's the first time I've done something like this. And, it's been great being welcomed very warmly by Queensland, which is nice.”

In a funny twist, Pozman attended the 2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards in Brisbane before she had officially competed in a local race during her loan spell.

She does have some prior knowledge of the Brisbane Racing Club tracks after she competed in the National Apprentice Race Series earlier in her career.

Pozman worked for the Peter G Moody and Katherine Coleman camp in Victoria, with the Queensland racing legend pointing his apprentice in the direction of Kelly Schweida for the loan stint.

The newcomer to the Sunshine State is living with Ben and Stephanie Thompson.

Ben, regarded as one of Queensland’s top jockeys, noted at the awards on Sunday that Pozman was a rider to watch in the back end of 2026.

With the likes of Moody, Schweida and the Thompsons as her close mentors, Pozman thinks she is on the right track.

“I'm in the very best hands,” she said.

“Ben and Steph themselves, obviously, have been very successful and they're more than willing to answer any questions I have. I've got a lot. There's a lot to learn up here.

“I'll have to do a bit of adjusting, but I'm very excited about it. 

"And, I couldn't pick a better place to base myself and two better people to live with for the three months. So, it's so far so good.

“It was just chasing opportunity. It obviously gets a lot harder in Melbourne through spring and just the limited number of races in town that you can actually claim in.

“So, it was just sort of chasing opportunity. I've got really good friends up here in Queensland, the Thompsons.

“And, Steph's always been trying to encourage me to come up here.

“So, I thought it might be time that I listened to her and a good time to come up through spring and improve my riding.”

Group 1 trainer Schweida has encouraged his new apprentice to ride outside trackwork to chase race rides and she has been rewarded in her first week in town.

Pozman had trial mounts for Barry Lockwood and Emma-Jane Vincent on Tuesday and has been booked by Robert Heathcote, Desleigh Forster and Ciaron Maher for Saturday.

“It’s cool because I'm actually heading into Saturday with some knowledge, even though it'll all be very new for me,” she said.

“I've sat on most of these horses at least once in my life already. I've been going into those barns and doing a bit of work there and that's probably where those rides have been able to come from.

“So, I'm not fully in the deep end, but it is exciting. And, there's obviously a few there that should run well.

“Hopefully I can get a result on my first day, but I won’t be putting too much pressure on myself.

“I've been able to get a ride for Ciaron, which is great.

“I've ridden for him back home and had a little bit of success for him, so you're always confident when you're riding for him.”