Johnson looking for magic touch on return at Ashburton
The Magic Man and Maybe Miami might sound like a trashy American comedy but the combination will be no joke on Saturday.
Riccarton trainers Kevin and Pam Hughes are more pleased than anyone to see the return of Chris Johnson, aka the Magic Man, who will ride Maybe Miami at Ashburton.
Johnson has not been sighted on race day since May 21 due to returning a positive cannabis test at the Rangiora trials on May 24.
He pleaded guilty at a hearing on June 3 and was later suspended until the close of racing on July 26.
Maybe Miami will have Johnson on his back in an open handicap over 1400m at Ashburton and in the Group III Winter Cup on August 6.
‘‘We’re very fortunate to have him back because otherwise we were sitting here without a rider for the Winter Cup,’’ Kevin Hughes said.
Sam Wynne and Terry Moseley, who have combined to ride Maybe Miami in his last three starts, were unavailable for the Winter Cup.
A winner of 2103 races, Johnson has been aboard Maybe Miami for all of his three victories.
‘‘It’s great to have him back because he knows the horse so well,’’ Hughes said.
A $1.80 favourite with bookmakers, Maybe Miami will carry 59kg on a dead 6 track in a field of just six runners.
He has previously never carried more than 57.5kg but Hughes does not see it as a factor.
‘‘I did think about it but I don’t think that it will worry him, he’s a strong horse,’’ Hughes said.
The four-year-old son of Iffraaj was second, half a length behind Signify on a slow 9 over 1400m in his last start, also at Ashburton, in the Winter Cup trial.
Maybe Miami is still yet to run over a mile but the Hughes’ are confident he will see it out after making up around a length and a half on Signify in the final 200m.
‘‘There’s no reason he won’t see it out, his family has a good record over a mile,’’ Hughes said.
On that occasion, Maybe Miami was hard up against the rail when the rest of the field were running home down the outside fence.
‘‘He was along way apart from them and with the hood on he wouldn’t have know where they were so he did it all on his own really, I was pretty impressed with the run,’’ Hughes said.
Maybe Miami is also nominated for the Group I $200,000 Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings and Hughes said that trip is likely if he makes the field.
Another talented type, five win sprinter Super Trouper is back at the Hughes’ Riccarton barn following four starts in the North Island with Paul Mirabelli.
The Darci Brahma mare is a chance to start in the $40,000 open sprint on the opening day of the Grand National Carnival.
Meanwhile top rider David Walsh, is heading to Mauritius.
Walsh could not be reached for comment on Friday, but it is understood he leaves next week.