1162

days since comeback jockey Janette Johnson last rode before Saturday’s stirring win at the Coast

JOCKEY Janette Johnson says she has finally put to rest the demons that tore apart her riding career after producing a stunning win in her first ride since retiring three years ago.

Johnson was the toast of the Gold Coast racing community on Saturday when she completed a fairytale comeback not even she could have scripted.

The 31-year-old Gold Coaster won the Class 5 Handicap (1200m) at Aquis Park on six-year-old gelding Slydini, trained by her former master Bryan Guy.

It was a fitting return for Johnson, whose previous ride was in March 2015 on the Guy-trained Polynikes.

Johnson was weeks away from finishing her apprenticeship at the time but ongoing battles with making weight for the 170cm hoop took their toll and eventually led to her decision to quit race-riding.

“I wasn’t well back then, mentally or physically, and I wasn’t sure I’d come back at all,” Johnson said.

“I have always ridden trackwork but had only ridden trials in those years I was out.

“I was off the whole thought of racing again. People think that because I’m female I’d be lighter but I’m defined with muscle that weighs a lot.

“I wasted extremely hard and that alone in this game takes a physical and mental toll.

“You have to be in the right frame of mind to be performing at potential and I wasn’t able to do that.

“In hindsight I pushed myself beyond what I should have so this time I was very cautious.

“(Saturday’s race) was for myself.

“I had nothing to prove except to myself that I could turn up and – win, lose or draw – I was determined to feel good.”

Johnson, who won the 2012-13 Gold Coast apprentice jockeys apprenticeship, returned as a senior rider on Saturday but she said she was unsure if it was a one-off appearance or if she would return to the saddle more frequently on race day.

“It wasn’t about any major comeback to a career,” she said after Slydini carried 60.5kg to win. “I was just chasing a few demons and putting them to rest.

“Where I move on to and what direction I go now I’m not sure.

“I’ll just take it as it comes.”

(SATURDAY’S RACE) WAS FOR MYSELF. I HAD NOTHING TO PROVE EXCEPT TO MYSELF THAT I COULD TURN UP AND – WIN, LOSE OR DRAW – I WAS DETERMINED TO FEEL GOOD A JUBILANT JANETTE JOHNSON AFTER WINNING AT HER FIRST RIDE IN THREE YEARS ON SLYDINI (BOTTOM LEFT)