APPRENTICE JOCKEY JABEZ JOHNSTONE
“Sarah has been absolutely fantastic, and Stephen really opened my eyes,” he says. “I was always at his place doing replays and mechanical horse work behind the scenes. He set me up to succeed – I wouldn’t be where I am without him. I feel like we understood each other a lot.” Before Johnstone ever set foot in Melbourne, the National Apprentice Race Series gave him his first real taste of what was waiting. Representing Tasmania alongside Jackson Radley, Kirra-Lee Lane and Lauryn Bingley, the team made history by claiming the 2026 national title for the first time – a significant moment for Tasmanian racing and a reflection of the strength of the state’s apprentice program under Maskiell. For Johnstone personally, the series was a turning point. “It really opened my eyes up to riding outside of Tasmania,” he said. “It somewhat prepared me to come over here.” Riding at different tracks, against different apprentices from around the country, gave him the experience and the confidence to back himself when the call from Ciaron Maher’s stable came. When I first found out about the opportunity, I was kind of lost for words that such a big trainer could be interested in an apprentice from Tasmania. I didn’t think I was ready to make the move or good enough to make the move. " “ He arrived in Victoria and proved that he was, riding a double for Maher at Sandown in early June. He then had his first ride at Flemington, which wasn’t quite what he had in mind. The saddle slipped on Terrortorian early in the race, leaving him with next to no control as the gelding hit the front but then faded to last. “In racing, things happen and you have to move on race to race,” he said. “It was a bit of a messy start but I went out in the next race confident.” The confidence paid off, as thirty-five minutes later he was in the winner’s stall, sharing a dead-heat aboard Maher’s Kaleo (alongside fellow apprentice Holly Durnan on Patrick Payne’s Dirnaseer) before adding a second winner on the day with Duchess Zou. A midweek double at Sandown followed, making it seven winners in three weeks for Maher since he arrived. Not bad for someone who wasn’t sure he was ready.
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