A winning double for Tasmanian apprentice Jabez Johnstone came after a hair-raising first ride at the track.
Tasmanian apprentice Jabez Johnstone introduction to racing at Flemington was not what he had expected.
On loan to Ciaron Maher for a three-month stint, Johnstone was aboard the Nick Ryan-trained Terrortorian in the Fancy A Gallop Plate (1600m) on Saturday, his first ride at Flemington.
The saddle on the gelding moved forward, placing the jockey at a severe disadvantage, but the jockey stuck firm, eventually finishing the race in last place.
Johnstone brushed himself off and put that behind and came out 35 minutes later to ride the first of two winners on Saturday’s program.
He had to share the spoils with fellow apprentice Holly Durnan in the Play On, For Neale (1600m) when Kaleo and Dirnaseer could not be split before scoring on Duchess Zou in the 20 Years of Living Legends Trophy (1400m).
Duchess Zou dominates and Jabez Johnstone has a Flemington double 🥇🥇
He doesn’t have to share this one 😅@cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/Vh1WDZayHe
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 6, 2026
Both Johnstone winners were prepared by Maher.
“In racing, things happen, and you have to move on to the next thing in the space of race-to-race,” Johnstone said after his dead-heat win aboard Kaleo.
“It was a bit of a messy start my first ride at Flemington with the saddle up on its ears, but I went out on this one confident and with a clear head.
“His last start was really good, and I knew the track would be no problem,” Johnstone said.
“I knew if he got the first half of the race right, he would have that good turn of foot late, which we did.”
Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, said it was a great result for Johnstone to come out and ride a winner.
“He had a bit of a fright in his first ride, but thankfully he stayed on board, and everything was OK,” Turnbull said.
“He was quick to make amends, and we’ll take the dead-heat. It’s a good way to start.
“The horse is going well this prep. He put the writing on the wall last start, and he’s clearly come on again.”
