Johnson Staying in the saddle
Chris Johnson has bad news for any jockey aspiring to break his record for most race wins – he’s not planning on hanging up his reins anytime soon.
The 56-year-old North Canterbury rider rewrote the New Zealand racing record books on Saturday with victory 2452 of his career when he guided Sassenach home at Awapuni.
Johnson – nicknamed ‘Magic’ after NBA basketball legend Magic Johnson – said he planned to keep going as long as he can.
‘‘I’ve got no plans to retire and while I can still ride, I just hope to keep going.’’
His reaction was a re-run of his comments after equalling David Walsh’s record of 2451 wins at Invercargill on December 12.
‘‘If I stopped, what would I do? While the body is in one piece, I’ll keep going.’’
Johnson, who has won two season premierships (1995-96 and
2017-18), said after matching Walsh’s feat: ‘‘When I first started riding I was hoping to get a winner, let alone 100 [winners] or 2000-odd [winners].’’
He told Trackside on Saturday after Sassenach’s success that it was a relief to break the record.
‘‘I’ve been riding the last few days hoping to get a win. On Thursday, I felt I had been trying too hard, trying to push it.
‘‘I was a bit more relaxed about it today.’’
Johnson said he owed a debt of thanks to ‘‘a lot of good trainers and owners’’, who had shown faith in him, and also to some ‘‘great horses’’.
‘‘I didn’t have too much to do with horses when I was a kid, but they seem to have taken a liking to me, which has been in my favour,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve been lucky to ride so many good horses. They make our job easy, and they make us look good.’’
Johnson had little time to savour his success at Awapuni. He jumped on a plane and headed to Southland for yesterday’s Tapanui Racing Club meeting in Gore where he finished eighth, ninth and second in his first three starts.
The South Island horseman is now 637 wins ahead of his closest active challenger, Darryl Bradley, a
54-year-old Central Districts rider with 1815 career victories.
Michael Coleman, 51, has 2131 wins – 321 behind Johnson – but he retired in June after breaking his femur and suffering serious pelvic injuries at the Rotorua trials.
Opie Bosson, aged, 40, is 674 wins behind Johnson, on 1778 with Lisa Allpress, 45, on 1623 – 829 wins adrift of the category leader.
Bosson was still an infant when Johnson rode his first winner on his very first ride on New Year’s Day in 1981, guiding Noble Star to success at Tauherenikau.
Johnson’s record-breaking feat has attracted widespread praise in the racing community.
Veteran racing journalist David McCarthy posted a social media tribute, saying: ‘‘Congratulations Chris Johnson, a guy many claimed wouldn’t even be riding at 40 never mind setting records at 56.’’
In a report headlined ‘‘Magic moment for a Magic man’’, NZ Racing Desk acknowledged Johnson
had come a long way from that first win at Tauherenikau as a 16-year-old apprentice.
‘‘He has gone on to establish himself as one of New Zealand’s most talented riders, also winning several jumping features including Grand National Hurdles (4200m) wins at Riccarton aboard Ampac in 1989, Woodbine Blue Chip in 1993 and Kid Colombus in 2011.
‘‘What has made his record all the more meritorious is that he took a break from riding for seven years from 1998, taking time out to travel overseas before returning home to work on farms and in stables before he resumed riding in 2005.’’
Johnson has again showed his resilience by bouncing back from a month-long suspension after being stood down after failing a breathalyser test after his first ride at Riccarton in September.
He had his licence suspended temporarily, but got it back from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing after proving he was not alcohol-dependent after a visit to a medical specialist. Tavi Mac, who carries the moniker ‘Frodo’ due to his diminutive stature and ungainly build, captured the biggest victory of his burgeoning career by dashing away from his rivals at Awapuni. The Allan Sharrock-trained son of Tavistock won Saturday’s Group II $100,000 Kevin Pratt Memorial Manawatu¯ Challenge Stakes (1400m).
Tavi Mac has captured hearts due to a pugnacious, never-say-die attitude that has now produced 10 wins from 15 career starts, with his last three victories at stakes level. Set for the race by Sharrock after a hollow win in the Levin Stakes (1400m) at taki in November, Tavi Mac presented in outstanding order before travelling kindly in behind the pace early in the contest.
Rider Troy Harris had a lapful of horse as he angled into the clear at the 300m, where Tavi Mac dashed to the front and cleared out from his rivals, eventually posting 11⁄ 2- length winning margin over Callsign Mav, with southern mare Kiwi Ida taking third.
Sharrock makes no secret of the affection he holds for his pint-sized poster boy.
‘‘He has a special place in my heart, this horse,’’ Sharrock said.
‘‘He’s not the best horse I’ve ever trained, but he is the toughest I’ve ever laid a hand on.
‘‘The tenacity he shows every time he lines up is just amazing.
‘‘He’s developed a cult following and everyone wants to get their picture taken with him, which is just fantastic.’’