Since making the transition from Tasmania to the Ciaron Maher stable on the mainland, apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone has been experiencing a significant career upswing.

Having secured his first Stakes race win earlier this month, Johnstone added the Group 3 Coongy Handicap (2000m) to his resume on Wednesday with an all-the-way triumph aboard Ziryab.

A ride in the prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday is now on the horizon for Johnstone, who will partner Kings Valley, and he is also booked for Mr Monaco in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.

Ziryab ($5) managed to fend off the determined challenge of the $3 favourite Darkbonee by a neck, with Sunset Park ($14) finishing a short-neck behind in third place.

“I’m so grateful to Ciaron and the whole team,” Johnstone stated.

“I’ve been here around five months and to win two Group 3’s and have a Group 1 ride, it’s a real moment.

“And the way Kings Valley is going, he’s a real chance in the Caulfield Cup.”

Ciaron Maher, the trainer, was highly impressed with Johnstone’s handling of Ziryab, an English-bred gelding by Kingman, who achieved his second successive win after his recent success at Mornington.

Maher had instructed Johnstone not to dwell on the pace, and the apprentice adhered to the advice.

“His best asset is his sectionals,” Maher noted. “I was a little bit worried around the top that he had backed it off a little too much, but he did pick it up early.

“The horse has a crack, and he showed that last start and again today.

“Jabez is going well and it’s good to see him win another good race after he won The Bart Cummings for us and now, he’s won a Coongy.

“Hopefully he can keep it rolling into a Caulfield Cup as he’s certainly got a live chance.”

Ziryab’s performances have been varied since his arrival from the UK, despite an initial winning Australian debut at Cranbourne.

The gelding finished third in the Warrnambool Cup in the previous year but struggled to regain that form, spending a period in Tasmania during the Summer Carnival earlier in the year.

“The owners have had to be patient,” Maher explained. “There have been a few preparations where they were like ‘what are you doing’, but he’s furnished now and you can see that he’s happy.”

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