Orman dreams of climbing Kosciusko

By Jordan Gerrans

Premiership winning hoop James Orman believes he heads to Sydney this weekend with a “live chance” in the rich The Kosciuszko.

Orman celebrated his maiden Brisbane Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership for last season on Sunday night at the 2022 TAB Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.

And, the leading rider immediately turned his attention to new goals for the 2022-23 campaign.

The father of two is keen to win his first Group 1 event as well as take his riding talents around the country to Melbourne and Sydney more often.

He kicks off some of those ambitions on Saturday in the $2 million The Kosciuszko with the David McColm-trained Far Too Easy.

The Murwillumbah conditioner has chopped and changed his jockey selection this year with his talented gelding but he has opted to stick with the 25-year-old Orman.

Orman partnered the son of All Too Hard in his most recent victory on the Gold Coast on Pink Ribbon Cup day and was again with him in a recent Eagle Farm trial.

As of Monday afternoon, the TAB has Far Too Easy listed as a $11 chance – on the fifth line of betting – in the 1200-metre feature.

“It is a nice ride, he loves the wet track and I think he will run a really good race,” Orman said.

“I cannot wait to get down there.

“I know the track and I reckon I go down there on a live chance.”

Far Too Easy has had six different jockeys pilot him in trials and races this year, with Orman to be the first of the lot to ride the emerging gelding in consecutive runs.

Orman was in the ear of McColm just moments after the devastating win at Aquis Park last month and his persistence has been rewarded with the feature booking.

“I expressed my interest to stay with the horse and let him know that I really think the horse can win it,” Orman said.

“I get along pretty well with the horse and he was happy to have me on, so the rest is history.”

If Orman and Far Too Easy were to claim the spoils on Saturday in Sydney, it would be the biggest pay day of his career as a jockey. 

Orman was recognised for his career-best season of 78.5 winners on metropolitan tracks around Queensland on Sunday night.

He nabbed a couple of Group 2s across the recent winter months in Brisbane but is still searching for the elusive elite level victory.

As the numbers suggest, Orman believes the most recent completed season is his best since he was an apprentice.

With a metro premiership on his resume, the popular rider is keen to experience some southern riches going forward.

“Going forward it is the same thing, I need to keep turning up every day and doing my best,” Orman said.

“My main goal is to ride as many winners for the season as I can.

“I want to do a little more travelling this season – trying to get to Sydney or Melbourne – if I can with any horses that is good enough to take you there.

“I am happy in Queensland living wise but I would like to do a bit more travelling for my riding.”

Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said Orman was one of a number of local products who had shined over the last year.

“The strength of Queensland racing at present is clear as ever,” Parnell said.

“Queensland continues to unearth some genuine stars of Australian racing and we look forward to what’s to come over the next 12 months.”