Apprentice Angela Jones has made a stunning start to her riding career after riding winners in the first three races of her career at Dalby on Saturday.

History pundits within racing have been feverishly scouring the record books this morning to establish whether this is the first example of a jockey starting their career with three consecutive winners.  If you can shed any light on the subject, please make contact with the On The Bit Racing Australia team.

Jones was clearly excited about her debut but could not believe how it unfolded.  “Before the first race I was pretty much a wreck, very nervous and then it went so fast,” claimed Jones.

When asked if she could have scripted her debut any better, Jones replied: “I’m a bit overwhelmed actually, and it probably hasn’t really sunk in yet. I would really like to thank everyone around me, the connections who had trust to put me on today, my Mum & Dad, and Tracey and Lindsay Hatch of course”. Jones’ connections weren’t asked to wait long with the talented young hoop riding her winning debut on Race 1 on the card. Riding the short price favourite Miss Charlee Lyn (pictured) for Mark Currie, Angela got the best of the 5 year old mare, holding off Beau Appo on Hisgrace by 0.2L with Verve for Anna Bakos a further 1.5 lengths away in third.

Angela’s second winner came on her very next ride aboard Toecarnargie Man ($4.80) in Race 2 over the 800m.  The Ross Coveney trained 7-year-old grey, brought up his third win on the track, thanks to a very well-judged ride from Jones. Filling the placings were Misslleers ($2.50F) ridden by Ron Goltz for the Kirkwood barn, with Oyashio Drift ridden by Skye Bogenhuber for Jake Capewell in third.

Her extraordinary day continued in Race 4, where Jones brought up the third leg of her hat trick in just her third ever race ride. Riding Jochberg ($2.60F) for Donald Baker, Angela guided the 6-year-old gelding home to win comfortably by just under 2 lengths, defeating Apithanos ridden by Ron Goltz and Enterprise Grand with Gary Geran aboard filling the placings.

Jones’ out of this world debut almost went cataclysmic, where her quest to extend her winning sequence to four winners in her first four races was brought undone by the narrowest of margins. In the last race of the day, By The Law, ridden by Angela Jones finished second, beaten less than a length by Mac’s Gal ridden by Shannyn Stephan for Ben Park.

Congratulations to Angela and all connections. We look forward to watching the rest of your career through On The Bit Racing Australia and beyond.

 

Photo Courtesy of Sariah Skye Champkin