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Jabez Johnstone set for Maher move to Victoria
Matt Reid • May 20th, 2026 4:21 pm
After months of speculation, Tasmania’s leading apprentice, Jabez Johnstone, is set to move to Victoria for an opportunity with trainer Ciaron Maher.
In the 18 months since he debuted in November 2024, Jabez has ridden 79 winners at a winning strike rate of 14%. It seemed an inevitability that he would follow in the footsteps of his sister, Taylor Johnstone, and further his career outside Tasmania.
Jabez is set to begin a three-month loan with the Maher stable next week, though there is one important hurdle that he needs to clear.
“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,” Jabez said.
Jabez has had multiple trips to Victoria in the past month on a visiting licence, landing his first interstate win at Caulfield on 29 April. He is back there again this week, with a chance of landing his 80th win at Seymour on Thursday afternoon.
It’s been a rapid ascent for the 19-year-old through Tasmania’s jockey ranks. In his first full season of riding, Jabez has an insurmountable lead for the Apprentice Premiership, and his 48 wins sit behind only Erica Byrne Burke (74) on the overall table.
“I’ve had great support from heaps of trainers since I started, but particularly from my Master Sarah (Cotton).
“Sarah gave me my first chance, and no matter what happens from here, I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Jabez earned his maiden black-type success during the 2025/26 Ladbrokes Summer Racing Festival when he rode the John Blacker-trained Daytona Diva to victory in the Listed Strutt Stakes (2000m) on Hobart Cup Day.
His older sister, Taylor, left Tasmania for South Australia almost two years ago and needs only seven wins to reach 200 in her career.
“I’m really proud of what Taylor has done in South Australia and the way she managed the move. I probably wouldn’t even be a jockey if it weren’t for her, so she’s a great example for me.”
If all things go to plan, Sunday’s Hobart meeting will be the last in Tasmania for Jabez before he makes the move and leaves Kirra-Lee Lane as the only claiming apprentice left in the state.
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