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In demand apprentice set to dominate Tasmania's Wednesday meeting
Colin McNiff • January 14th, 2026 12:32 pm
Star young jockey Jabez Johnstone has his sights not only set on winning the apprentice title this season but is also aiming at taking out the senior title.
At the halfway mark of the season, Johnstone has ridden 30 winners. He has a massive lead in the junior title but is keen to chase down Erica Byrne Burke, who leads the senior premiership.
“Erica is not setting an easy task, she’s making it hard for me. I am 10 behind, but who’s counting,“ Johnstone said with a laugh.
“We are well clear in the apprentices, but you’ve always got to aim higher.”
Johnstone is the younger brother of Taylor Johnstone, who, after starting her career in Tasmania, is now making a name for herself in South Australia.
Byrne Burke extended her premiership lead, riding four winners in Launceston last Friday night. Johnstone clawed one back, riding the last winner on the program.
On Wednesday night in Launceston, Johnstone had a full book of rides before an early scratching. Allowed to claim 3kg at feature race meetings, Johnstone will be in demand for the remainder of the Summer Racing Festival.
Byrne Burke, a past winner of the apprentice title, has rides in five races.
As it stands, Byrne Burke has 40 winners, leading Johnstone 30; the winner of the past two premierships, Anthony Darmanin, is third with 27 wins.
The feature race on Wednesday night is the $125,000 Kevin Sharkie Launceston Guineas (2000m). Only a small field of six has been accepted for the feature event, with smart filly Crack The Shutters allocated the equal topweight of 58kg.
The Stuart Gandy-trained youngster looks the pick of the locals; two Victorians have made the trip to contest the 3yo event.
Crack The Shutters opened well in the red at $1.45, while the Ciaron Maher-trained Dad and Dave, along with Wolf Junior from the Barry Campbell stable, are on the second line of betting at $4.80. The other Victorian Caelius is at $8.
Sanderson sidelinedKelvin Sanderson, who has been enjoying a stellar season with victories in the Newmarket Hcp, Devonport Cup and Conquering Stakes, to name just a few of his feature race wins, will miss the next few weeks after going under the surgeon’s knife.
Sanderson had a melanoma removed and is unlikely to ride until the end of the month, forgoing rides on Devonport Cup winner Asva in Sunday’s Summer Cup in Hobart and brilliant youngster Mazzini in next week’s Ladbrokes Stakes in Launceston.
Wednesday night’s meeting is underway at 18:04. Matt Reid and Jason Witham will have all the action on Tasracing Live and Sky Thoroughbred Central.
