Adelaide-based jockey Taylor Johnstone ‘on a roll’ ahead of Flemington debut on Saturday

Adelaide-based apprentice jockey Taylor Johnstone is riding in the form of her life and will tick off another milestone at Flemington on Saturday.

Riding in the form of her life, Adelaide-based apprentice jockey Taylor Johnstone will tick off another milestone on Saturday when she rides at Flemington for the first time.

The Tasmanian hoop, who has charged into equal second in the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership, will pilot South Australian gallopers Seeking Stardom and Wiggum for trainers Andrew Gluyas and Travis Doudle, and will also ride Victorian gelding Airclash.

Johnstone nailed another metro double at last Saturday’s Murray Bridge meeting, which followed her two city trebles in December, and she’s continued her barnstorming run into 2025, riding five winners at Murray Bridge and Oakbank in the new year – outriding her 3kg claim.

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“It’s been really good, everyone’s supporting me really well – it’s great that I’ve got the opportunity to go over and ride at Flemington,” Johnstone said.

A testing period in October proved the catalyst for Johnstone’s purple patch of form, with the hoop rebounding strongly after three separate riding bans handed down by stewards.

“I got suspended a few times in-a-row, I was having a pretty bad run, once I came back from that, about a month or two ago now, I’ve ridden a winner almost every meeting since that,” she said.

“I’m on a bit of a roll at the moment, obviously the trebles and doubles have been an extra bonus – I couldn’t really be any happier to be honest.”

Taylor Johnstone after winning aboard Arugamama at Morphettville in December. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

Johnstone knows there’s no room for complacency however, with Saturday’s exciting opportunity upon her, and the Adelaide jockeys’ title fast becoming an attainable goal.

Johnstone currently sits on 19 metro wins in for the 2024-25 season, alongside Group 1-winning hoop Lachlan Neindorf, the pair trail young gun apprentice Rochelle Milnes by two wins.

“I’m going into work early on Saturday, I’ve got to work a few horses, then my flight out is Saturday morning,” Johnstone said.

“I’m trying not to look at the premiership too much at the moment as it’s still early days, but it’s a good achievement and hopefully things keep continuing.

“It’s definitely a goal I want to achieve at the end of the season and hopefully I’m on top.”

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Johnstone made the move from Tasmania to Adelaide in June last year to ride for gun trainer Andrew Gluyas, and while it was initially a three-month term, she’s now set to stay in Adelaide.

Seeking Stardom, the long odds on favourite survives the challenge of Pool Pony, notching up wins in consecutive starts 💫 pic.twitter.com/rzyPwXuKLs

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 21, 2024

“I really wanted to come over, it was a big experience thing more than anything, and obviously using the three kilo metro claim, as we don’t do metro-level races down home (Tassie),” she said.

“Going as well I am is something I didn’t expect would happen, I’m just grateful for the support, obviously landing in a good work environment helps a lot, Andrew and the team are really supportive and have really given me a go which is nice, it definitely helps and it’s something I’m really grateful for.”

“I’ll finish my apprenticeship over here, I’m not looking to go back home, if things are still going well once I come out of my time, and I’m still getting rides, there’s definitely no reason why I’d leave.”

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As for future goals, Johnstone is striving for Group 1 success.

“You always want to aim for the bigger races and get that against your name, a Group 1 is a long-term goal, and just to see where things go,” she said.

“Obviously Melbourne is the best sort of racing here in Australia so if I got the opportunity to ride over there I definitely wouldn’t pass it up.

“To have Andrew and Travis, trusting me to go over to Flemington and ride their horses, it’s a big deal.

“Not everyone gets that opportunity, so it’s really good that they are giving me a go and trusting me enough to take me over there with them.”

Johnstone is eyeing a three-peat of wins aboard Seeking Stardom ($4.40 Sportsbet) in Saturday’s Benchmark 78 (1600m), while one-time Flemington winner Wiggum is a $14 hope in a Benchmark 74 (1200m). Airclash, trained by Shannon Roughan, is a $61 chance.

Originally published as Adelaide-based jockey Taylor Johnstone ‘on a roll’ ahead of Flemington debut on Saturday