GOLLAN'S HIGH PRAISE FOR ANGELA JONES

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, August 1, 2023

The plaudits continue to roll in for Angela Jones who won the 2022/23 Brisbane Metropolitan Apprentices Premiership … and few people would be better placed to give the background story and an informed assessment on Jones’ truly magnificent season than top trainer Tony Gollan, to whom Jones is apprenticed.

“Lindsay (Hatch) marked her down to come to me (from Toowoomba) a couple of years ago actually,” said Gollan.

“We had to wait until she was ready, but I was adamant I wanted her to come down a couple of months before the new season started … just knowing what it takes to get used to living in Brisbane and a different routine … rather than driving down and back.

"She was driving down one day a week at one stage. I wanted her down here full time a little earlier.

She had a great grounding from Hatchie up there in Toowoomba. He did a great job with her.

“When she arrived, she didn’t ride from here at first. She rode one meeting here and we were getting plenty of phone calls from people wanting her to start riding before the new season started, but I said no. I held her back. We waited.

“So, basically, all she has achieved she has achieved in one season.
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“Once she kicked off in town, Ange hit her straps right from the start and she maintained that high level of performance throughout the season.

“She has outridden her whole claim now … in the one season. I can’t remember an apprentice doing that since I’ve been here … and her attitude is amazing. She has held her cool all year.

“I have often said that when Ange doesn’t ride her best race or when things don’t go so well … when that happens to some other riders their day is ruined … Ange just puts it aside and gets on with things. She doesn’t miss a beat … and it is so easy to forget that this is her first season riding in town.

“She is not flamboyant. She just gets the job done and people like that about her. She is a woman of few words, but, when she speaks, she can be quite comical … and she has that cheeky little smile. She is a pleasure to work with.

“She has done a great job. She has the full support of our stable, but a lot of other stables have helped her out as well. It’s not just us giving her the winners.
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“The Robbie Fradd mentorship for Ange has been in place in the latter half of the season, and I think that relationship has done an amazing job in helping to take Ange to the next level.

“We are obviously very busy with the work we have around our stable, and I felt she needed a bit more help and Robbie has been able to draw on all of his experience and give her that guidance.

“She is going to effectively be a senior rider in the new season having outridden her claim, and his help will be invaluable to her.

“Most importantly though, beyond the results and the professional attitude, she is a such a lovely, receptive young woman. She has got a lovely sense of calm about her.

“That’s what is first and fore-most … the fact she is an unbelievably good person. A really good person to work with … and she has done a remarkable job.
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“Ange has deserved everything that has come her way this season … and everything that is still going to come her way … and there will be plenty to come her way.

“There’ll be far more to the Ange Jones story. This is just the beginning of her career … the entrée.

“The apprenticeship is just that. As long as she wants to keep on improving, she’s got a long way she can go yet.

“We had a conversation about a month ago with what the future holds for her with us. It’s going to be very bright, I can assure you. She is going to be an integral part of our business moving forward.

“There is a lot of talk about a number of good young kids in Australia at the moment, but she is certainly up there with the best of them … I have no doubt.

“I’m looking forward to the future of Gollan Racing and I’m looking forward to the future of Ange Jones.”

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