The Brisbane jockeys’ premiership is set for the most exciting finish on record with just 1-1/2 wins separating the top three with 10 meetings left in the season.
Reigning champion Jim Byrne leads on 64-1/2 with Jeff Lloyd on 64 and apprentice James Orman on 63.
In the 90 years of record keeping in Brisbane no premiership has been such a close three-way tussle a month from the end of the season.
Lloyd and Orman both rode winners on Saturday with Byrne failing to add to his total.
The wild card is that Orman is riding on a stay pending his appeal against an 11-day suspension.
“I have appealed and I haven’t got a date for it yet. But I am confident I can win the appeal and I obviously would love to win the senior premiership,” Orman said.
He already has the state title wrapped up with 135 winners, well clear of Byrne on 100-1/2.
Orman rode his second stakes winner on Sold For Song in Saturday’s Daybreak Lover Stakes.
He will be available to ride the filly if she backs up at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Tony Gollan has the metropolitan trainers’ title in his keeping with 78-1/2 wins but the Queensland battle is looming as a close call.
Mackay-based John Manzelmann has 94 winners to Gollan’s 93-1/2 with Robert Heathcote on 76-1/2.
