Gabrielle Johnston has kicked off where she left off last season, hitting the ground running in 2026/27 with cup wins and winning trebles.
To round out her 2025/26 campaign, the two-kilogram claiming apprentice landed wins at Bathurst on July 28 and Scone on July 31, triumphing on the Ben Lees-trained Mr Cacciatore ($2.70) in a 1100m Maiden Plate and the Joel Wilkes-trained King Jerry ($2.70) in a 1300m Class Two Handicap, respectively.
The following day, Johnston was riding at Gilgandra and commenced the new season with a win, scoring for her boss Jane Clement in the Collie Cup (1280m) aboard Castlebar Road ($4.20).
Have saddle, will travel is certainly a motto Johnston is living by, and the youngster travelled to Muswellbrook on Sunday, winning for Wayne Wilkes aboard Bellerata ($4.60).
Then riding at Dubbo on Monday, Johnston had four rides and still picked up a treble of victories, combining for a winning double with Clement and booting home a victory for Dubbo trainer Connie Greig.
Teaming up with Greig in the 1120m Maiden Plate, Johnston rode Midnight In Minori a tad worse than midfield but the pair finished strongly for victory.
A race-to-race double then arrived for Johnston, who won aboard the Clement-trained Proclivity ($12) in the 1620m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
It was a clever ride, with Proclivity getting home by a nostril from red-hot race favourite Boncapo (Jacob Stiff, $2.25).
Continuing her good association with Castlebar Road, who continues to race in career-best form despite being a 10-year-old, the pair won the 1120m Dubbo Sprint Prelude.
Johnston is simply happy to be indentured to Clement and reaping the rewards of her hard work and dedication.
“I’ve improved heaps, and Jane Clement is giving me so much opportunity and I’ve been riding a lot – it’s an amazing opportunity I’ve come across,” Johnston said.
“It’s awesome, and the Clements let me go everywhere and anywhere to ride races – I just go where I can get them, which is far and wide.”
With a big season ahead, Johnston is keeping her feet on the ground and wants to take her challenges one step at a time.
“The difference is the consistency and getting more opportunities and riding more has really improved me, and it’s amazing,” Johnston said.
“I think my goal is to keep improving and ride as many winners as I can.”
Johnston is back in the saddle on Thursday, riding for Greg O’Neill and Ben Blay.
