APPRENTICE JOCKEY JABEZ JOHNSTONE
“I went, had a look around, and I haven’t missed a day since.” He was in Grade 10 at the time, doing a workplace apprenticeship three days a week – school, by his own admission, was never really his thing. But horses? That was a different story. From the first thoroughbred gallop to the first jump-out to the first race ride, something clicked.
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I never actually decided on being a jockey, it just happened.
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If Taylor set Johnstone on the path, it was Stephen Maskiell who built the road. Johnstone spent 12 months with the Hall of Fame jockey and now Apprentice Jockey Coach at Tas Racing before signing his apprenticeship with trainer Sarah Cotton. He couldn’t be more grateful for the support from both.
OPPOSITE: (Image credit: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) ABOVE: Jabez was forced to share his maiden Flemington victory on the Ciaron Maher-trained Kaleo with fellow apprentice Holly Durnan (Dirnaseer) after the pair dead-heated in the Play On, For Neale on VRC Community Race Day, a result that also delivered Durnan her first Flemington win. (Image credit: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)
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