Angela Jones has etched her name into the record books as the first female jockey to win the Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership, prevailing over Emily Lang after a tense battle that lasted until the final metropolitan meeting of the season at Doomben. Jones ended the season with 64 wins, two more than Lang, despite finishing runner-up in two races on Wednesday and not finding a winner on the day.

“It’s been a real fight these last couple of months, but especially over the past month it got really close. The biggest feeling right now is relief more than excitement,” Jones said. “I’m thrilled to have come out on top and I think I’ll really appreciate it tomorrow.”

Jones had finished fourth in last year’s premiership with 51 wins but capitalised on the absence of James Orman, who left mid-season for Hong Kong. “I never imagined I’d be in contention for a premiership at this stage of my career. My aim was simply to improve on last season. When Jimmy Orman left, we suddenly had a chance, and it all came together over the last few months,” she said.

Fellow female rider Rochelle Milnes also made history, taking out the Adelaide metropolitan premiership with 48 wins after riding four winners at Morphettville on Saturday. She became the first apprentice to claim the title since Jamie Mott in 2012/13.

Meanwhile, James McDonald secured his seventh straight Sydney premiership, finishing with 83 winners—nine more than Jason Collett, who posted a treble on the final day. Blake Shinn regained the Melbourne title he last held two years ago, ending the season with 74 wins to Craig Williams’ 67. In Perth, William Pike clinched his 15th Perth Jockeys’ Premiership, his 106.5 wins also earning him the national metropolitan crown.

Other notable winners included Anthony Darmanin in Tasmania, Jarrod Todd in the Northern Territory, while the ACT premiership honours were shared by Nick Heywood, Jean Van Overmeire and Rebecca Bronett Prag.