Tasmania’s leading apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone is poised to take the next step in his career, with a move to Victoria on the horizon to join the powerful Ciaron Maher stable.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise since debuting in November 2024, riding 79 winners at an impressive strike rate of 14 per cent.
Johnstone is set to commence a three-month loan with Maher’s operation next week, although he still needs to tick off one key milestone before the move can be finalised.
“I can’t transfer until I have 80 winners, so I’ve got a few cracks in the next week, and hopefully at least one of them hits the post first,” Johnstone said.
He has already gained valuable experience riding interstate, securing his first Victorian winner at Caulfield on April 29 while competing on a visiting licence.
Johnstone returns to Victoria this week and could reach the required 80-win mark as early as Thursday at Seymour.
His rise has mirrored that of his sister, Taylor Johnstone, who also expanded her career beyond Tasmania, and the young rider now looks set to follow a similar path on a larger stage.
In his first full season, Johnstone has built an unassailable lead in the Tasmanian apprentice premiership and sits second overall on the jockeys’ table with 48 wins, trailing only Erica Byrne Burke.
The move to a major mainland stable presents a significant opportunity for the talented apprentice to further develop his skills against stronger competition.
