The Southland Times

Danielle Johnson back on track after European holiday

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Bubbly Cambridge jockey Danielle Johnson is ready to get back in action after a break.

The confident 25-year-old has cut a svelte figure as she climbed the pecking order of New Zealand jockeys over the past few seasons.

These days, Johnson ranks among our elite. She has three Group I wins to her credit and her Karaka Million win aboard Xiong Feng at Ellerslie in January marked another successful year, albeit one marred by a nasty racefall at Ellerslie in April, which stymied the latter part of her season.

Johnson ended her season with four rides at an invitation­al female jockeys series in Sweden and while her four rides were all unplaced, the trip and subsequent few weeks travelling in England, France and Italy has her rejuvenate­d for the upcoming season.

‘‘It was a brilliant trip,’’ Johnson said at Te Awamutu on Wednesday after completing strapping duties for her partner, Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh.

‘‘We started the trip off in Sweden. I didn’t have any luck over there but the people were excellent and they looked after us very well. The setup over there is going to be amazing. I’d love to go back and see how the track and facilities are next year.

‘‘Then we went to London, Paris and Italy, where we relaxed on the beach in the sun. I felt like I needed a little break, especially after having my fall. I’m in the right head space now and I’m raring to go – to ride some winners.’’

Johnson, currently tied with Matt Cameron and Michael Coleman for most Group and Listed wins for the season with 11, will again don the silks at next Tuesday’s Te Teko trials before making her raceday return at Tauranga the following day.

‘‘I thought I’d start off on trial day and make sure my fitness is 100 per cent and then take one or two at Tauranga and then be back into it fully at Ruakaka the following Saturday,’’ she said.

Johnson will partner Group I winner Valley Girl in the open sprint at Ruakaka on Saturday week and will trial Capella at Te Teko, having travelled to Matamata to ride her in trackwork this week. That pair are in the forefront of her potential mounts for the weight-for-age features at the upcoming Hawke’s Bay spring carnival, while Johnson will get the pick of Marsh’s emerging youngsters.

‘‘Stephen’s got a lovely team coming up – a nice lot of 2-year-olds and 3-yearolds and I’m really looking forwarded to riding them,’’ Johnson said.

‘‘I definitely want to ride over 100 winners next season. I did it the year before – I rode 132 – but this year with my fall I’ve ended up on 89 so I’ve fallen a little short.

‘‘I’ll try and get a Group I win too. This season, I got the Karaka Million [aboard Xiong Feng] and that was a big thrill but I missed a Group I win.’’

Johnson’s previous three Group I wins all came at Trentham, on Shuka (2) and the Thorndon Mile with Puccini.

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