Apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone has taken the racing world by storm in recent months, putting together a seriously impressive winter campaign.

After joining the Ciaron Maher stable in late May, the 20-year-old apprentice has ridden 20 metropolitan winners in Victoria for the stable, plus additional country triumphs, marking himself as a hoop for the future.

But most recently, on Wednesday at Sandown – the final metropolitan meeting of the 2025/2026 racing season – Johnstone racked up the victories with an equal career-best four winners on the day.

Reflecting on that impressive jockey performance for the Maher stable, Ciaron Maher exclaimed that the apprentice is making good of his opportunity, labelling confidence as the leading factor in Johnstone’s form.

“He's making a good fist of it, isn't he! He came over (from Tasmania), he was quite experienced and he's certainly heading in the right way,” Maher optimistically said on SENTrack & RSN's Giddy Up.

“He's quite critical of himself, and learns, and he seems to be just improving all the time.

“He did ride with quite a bit of confidence there (at Sandown).

“When a rider’s confidence is up, it's no different to any other sport. Confidence has a lot to do with it and he's certainly up (in confidence).”

But what does this elite form mean heading towards the Spring Racing Carnival for the apprentice?

Maher revealed that he is “sure” Johnstone will be provided with opportunities to ride for the stable without his weight claim.

“Well, we've given him some opportunities without his claim. He won on Duchess Zou without the claim because he was in good form and he'd won on it,” revealed Maher.

“This weekend I've got him on Fancify in the Aurie’s Star without a claim.

“He's in the winter months at the moment and he's got a claim and there’s wet tracks, that sort of comes into it more, but if he keeps doing the right thing and keeps his head down, he can ride any at weight, so I'm sure there will be opportunities.”

Johnstone will ride seven horses for the Maher stable on Saturday at Flemington.

Listen to Maher’s full chat about Johnstone and his runners on Saturday below: