The 2025/26 Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership standings highlight just how quickly the riding ranks can change, with six new faces breaking into the Top 10 compared to the previous season.
Leading the new-look leaderboard is Ben Thompson, whose return from Hong Kong resulted in an outstanding first Brisbane premiership.
Only four jockeys managed to retain their place in the Top 10 from the 2024/25 season – Angela Jones, Emily Lang, Ryan Maloney and Cejay Graham.
Of that quartet, Ryan Maloney was the only rider to improve both his finishing position and his number of winners.
Maloney climbed from third to second after increasing his tally from 47 winners to 74, while also recording the best winning strike rate of any rider in the Top 10 at 18.5 per cent.
Angela Jones, who created history by winning last season’s premiership, slipped from first to third after her number of winners dropped from 66 to 54.
Emily Lang fell from second to seventh, with her winning total declining from 63.5 to 32, while Cejay Graham moved from eighth to sixth despite riding slightly fewer winners, finishing with 34 compared to 38 the previous season.
Among the new entrants, Thompson was the headline act after making an immediate impact following his return from Hong Kong.
Apprentice Jace McMurray also enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, backing up his Brisbane Apprentices’ Premiership success by finishing fourth overall in the senior standings.
Daniel Moor proved another major addition after relocating from Victoria early in the season, securing fifth place in a consistent first campaign in Queensland.
Martin Harley, Damien Thornton and Michael Rodd rounded out the Top 10 after all climbing from outside the leading group the previous season.
The biggest movers in the opposite direction included Andrew Mallyon, who dropped from fourth to 19th, Bailey Wheeler, who slid from fifth to 93rd, and Kyle Wilson-Taylor, who fell from 10th to 18th.
Jimmy Orman and Noel Callow also disappeared from the standings after not participating throughout the season, with Orman riding in Hong Kong while Callow served lengthy suspensions. Cody Collis also fell out of the Top 10 after relocating to Mauritius during the campaign.
Every rise and fall tells a different story, whether through injury, suspension, overseas opportunities, relocation or changes in form.
The ever-changing leaderboard is a reminder that, outside the handful of elite riders who dominate Australian racing year after year, few positions are guaranteed.
As the new season begins, every jockey starts another battle to earn and retain their place among Brisbane’s best.
