Johnson’s lead grows

Chris Johnson has one hand on the national jockeys’ premiership.

He extended his lead to six on Thursday with a winner at Wanganui and his five realistic winning chances at the South Canterbury meeting on Friday mean there is a strong chance his grip on the premiership could be even tighter by the weekend.

With three jumping events on the eight-race card at Phar Lap on Friday, Johnson has just five rides but all are playing less than $5 in the final field market.

Johnson is also not without chances over the weekend at Ruakaka (Saturday) and Waipa (Sunday).

He has a six-win buffer over Danielle Johnson (91) with Alysha Collett on 84 and Matthew Cameron 83.

TAB bookmakers have moved Johnson into a $1.10 favourite for the premiership. Danielle Johnson is at $6.50 with Collett at $18 and Cameron $26.

Collett looks the main danger to Johnson, if there is one.

Danielle Johnson is likely to be away for around seven days when she contests an international female jockeys’ contest in Sweden next month and Cameron has hinted at a holiday if he is not firmly in the premiership hunt.

Cameron and Danielle Johnson have also not been making regular trips to midweek South Island meetings to chase the premiership.

The Canterbury-based Johnson brought up his 97th winner of the season in the opening race on the card at Wanganui on Thursday.

He rode Starossa ($3.50) to a one and a quarter length victory for Hawera trainer Tony Furness.

He was not riding at Wednesday’s Te Teko meeting but that was neutralised by Danielle Johnson not riding a winner.

Collett picked up a hat-trick of winners at Te Teko, all for Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning, to keep her slim premiership hopes alive.