Premiership races heating up as jockeys eye season honours

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

The countdown to the end of the racing season is well and truly on, with just over a month remaining for Australia's leading riders to chase premiership glory. While several jockeys have built commanding leads in their respective standings, a handful of titles remain very much alive.

Headed by an enthralling Sydney metropolitan apprentice battle between reigning champion Braith Nock and the fast-finishing Siena Grima and there is a similar contest going on down in Melbourne within the same category between Luke Cartwright and Logan Bates.

Meanwhile, Melbourne's metropolitan premiership is shaping as another contest that could go right to the wire, ensuring there is plenty still to play for before the 2025/26 season draws to a close.

McDonald in control in NSW as apprentice showdown takes centre stage

James McDonald looks set to add another Sydney Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership to his remarkable record. The champion hoop leads the standings with 88 winners and, barring an extraordinary finish to the season, appears out of reach.

Zac Lloyd sits second on 71 victories, while Tommy Berry occupies third with 68 winners. Both have enjoyed strong campaigns but face a significant task to reel in McDonald over the final month.

Keagan Latham has placed one hand on the Provincial Premiership, leading the standings with 59 1/2 winners. Mitchell Bell remains the closest challenger on 51 victories and, while still mathematically within striking distance, will need a sustained run of success to bridge the gap over the closing weeks of the season.

Nock and Grima poised for a thrilling finish

The closest and arguably most captivating premiership battle in the country is unfolding in Sydney's metropolitan apprentice ranks.

Reigning champion Braith Nock leads the standings on 29 metropolitan winners and is chasing consecutive premierships after claiming last season's title with 40 victories. If successful, he would become just the fourth apprentice this century to defend the Sydney metropolitan apprentice crown.

But the momentum has swung firmly towards Grima in recent weeks.

The 23-year-old has surged to 25 winners after an outstanding run of form, with her rise coinciding with a successful move to Chris Waller's stable. Grima joined the champion trainer on a three-month loan in December and gradually found her feet in metropolitan company before flourishing following the Sydney autumn carnival.

With only 10 metropolitan meetings remaining, just four wins separate the pair, setting the stage for a fascinating finish.

The in-form apprentice is embracing the challenge as she attempts to chase down the reigning titleholder.

"We are very competitive riders," Grima told racenet.com

"We don't speak that much but he is a great rider so to hopefully win the premiership over him would be a great feat in itself.

"Braith has clearly demonstrated how strong he is in the metro area so to catch him and hopefully win would be a feat."

The backing of Waller has been instrumental in her rise.

"I didn't think I would be able to pick up so many wins so quickly," Grima said.

"The goal was always to win the premiership but always thought next year would be the go so to have it so close is really exciting.

"Chris has been amazing with support and has always given me plenty of rides, especially while I was learning the way they ride here.

"This time of year is great for apprentices so I'm very lucky to be getting a lot of rides as well. I didn't expect to be this close (in the premiership) because I came in a bit later but these last few weeks it's been going well.

Grima is set for another busy weekend at Rosehill with nine rides booked, six of them for the Waller stable, including Royal Air Force (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Tarzing (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), Pinhole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro), Surf's Up (Flying Artie) and Narbold (Churchill {Ire}).

Melbourne metropolitan and apprentice title race set to go down to the wire in Victoria

If Sydney's apprentice race is the headline act, Melbourne's metropolitan premiership is not far behind with Craig Williams, Jamie Mott and maybe Mark Zahra still in the hunt.

Craig Williams leads the standings with 52 winners, but Jamie Mott is breathing down his neck on 49, while Mark Zahra remains within striking distance on 42 victories.

With several quality metropolitan meetings still to come before season's end, the Victorian title remains one of the most open and intriguing premiership contests in the country especially as Williams is currently suspended from a ride in Queensland recently, which may provide an opening for Mott.

"I've got some nice rides … (with) some luck there's a few that could win," Mott told racenet.com.

"The thing is, it's not him (Williams) versus me, there's 10-12-14 other jockeys in the races, I'm not just worried about him.

"We're in with a good chance (premiership race) and it would be nice to peg a few back on Saturday, if I could.

"I'll be going hard for the next six weeks, trying to get myself the metro premiership.

"Hopefully I can put some pressure on Willo."

It's more of the same with the Melbourne metropolitan apprentice premiership with Luke Cartwright and Logan Bates locked in a thrilling battle. Significantly the two apprentices are sitting in fourth and fifth spot respectively in the overall metropolitan premiership.

Cartwright has ridden 37 metropolitan winners this season, while Bates has ridden 34, while as often is the case many apprentices are showing up in the winter months such as Jabez Johnstone and Jackson Radley both having profitable days last Saturday at Flemington.

"I'll give it to Jacko and Jabez, it's a good bit of rivalry and good for them to get over here and get the exposure," Cartwright told racenet.com

"But I think Logan and I sometimes show them who was here first!"

"I wouldn't want to (chase a premiership) with anyone else, Logan is one of my good mates, there's a good bit of banter … it gets the blood rushing late in the season.

"I'm looking forward to the last month … it's not clear cut from here.

"My goal at the start of the season was to see how close I could get in the apprentice premiership and overall, and I'm sitting fourth, I'm happy with how I'm going."

Gordon closing in the Victorian country premiership

Tom Gordon has established a handy buffer in the Victorian country premiership, leading on 97 winners but is refusing to get ahead of himself.

While his overall tally has surpassed 100 victories courtesy of success over the jumps, his premiership lead sits seven clear of Linda Meech, with Teo Nugent a further 13 wins back in third.

Meech's absence through injury has provided Gordon with an opportunity to strengthen his position, although he knows the challenge is far from over.

"Linda's out at the moment, so she will only be back for the last few weeks of the season. I'm just trying to get a buffer because she can punch home four winners at a meeting very easily," Gordon told racing.com.

"My manager spoke to me early in the season and said, 'Do you want to give the country premiership a crack?', and I said, 'Settle down, we'll see how we're going half-way through and make a plan then'. I got to half-way and had a few winners and I was in contention, so from that point on, it's been a goal, and it looks like it's all heading in the right direction.

"I probably could have ridden in town a bit more this season than I have, but if I did that it would put in jeopardy a shot at the country premiership, and a lot more winners and rides, and money in my pocket, probably. It's a bit of a Catch-22... you've just got to weigh it up and make the right call," Gordon said.

Queensland: Thompson's return season proving a masterstroke

Unlike some of the tighter contests around the country, Queensland's metropolitan premiership appears firmly in Ben Thompson's keeping.

In his first season back in Australia following a stint in Hong Kong, Thompson has enjoyed a remarkable campaign, building a commanding lead with 81.5 metropolitan winners.

Ryan Maloney sits second on 69 victories, while last season's champion Angela Jones occupies third on 54 winners. Jones is out injured currently.

Thompson's consistency extends beyond metropolitan racing. He also leads the Provincial Premiership by 4 1/2 wins over Brandon Lerena, with Ryan Wiggins a further two winners back in third, while his dominance across all Queensland meetings is reflected in an imposing overall premiership lead of 47 1/2 winners.

Western Australia & South Australia: Experienced stars closing in on more silverware

Further west, the premiership picture is considerably clearer, with both William Pike and Jason Holder well placed to add another title to their already impressive résumés.

Pike has once again dominated the Western Australian metropolitan ranks, amassing 113 1/2 winners to sit comfortably ahead of Clint Johnston-Porter on 67 victories. His outstanding season is further highlighted by the overall premiership standings, where he leads with 180 1/2 winners, well clear of Holly Watson on 127 1/2.

In South Australia, Holder also appears on track to secure another Adelaide Metropolitan Premiership. He carries a nine-win advantage over talented apprentice Jacob Opperman into the final month of the season, giving him a handy cushion as the campaign winds down. While Holder is deservedly the favourite, racing has a habit of producing late twists, and Opperman will be hoping a strong finish can keep the title race alive until the final meetings of the season.