Leading female rider joins Origin Jockey Series

One of New Zealand’s premier riders, Danielle Johnson, will join countrymen Opie Bosson and Damian Browne in representing New Zealand at the inaugural 2015 Origin Jockey Series from December 5-26.

In a major coup for the 2015/16 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, Johnson will represent New Zealand against the likes of Glen Boss (QLD), Craig Williams (VIC) and Tye Angland (NSW) in week one of the Origin Jockey Series at Doomben on Saturday, December 5.

The Origin Jockey Series is an exciting new initiative between Racing Queensland and UBET which will bring some of the best jockeys from Australia and New Zealand to do battle at four consecutive Saturday metropolitan race meetings at Doomben and the Gold Coast from December 5 – 26.

The 24-year-old Johnson, who is currently third in the New Zealand Jockeys Premiership after finishing second overall last season, has ridden more than 550 career winners including 32 Black Type wins.

Significantly, Johnson has opted to miss a Group 1 in New Zealand on December 5 in order to represent her country in the innovative new Origin Jockey Series, which will mark her first time riding in Brisbane.

“Being able to represent New Zealand will be great. It’s exciting for New Zealand to be involved in the Origin Jockey Series and it’s great to have brilliant riders like Opie Bosson and Damian Browne on our team,’’ said Johnson.

“We’re better than the Aussies at rugby so we might as well show them how to ride too,” she joked.

“I thought this was a good opportunity to get over to Brisbane and hopefully it’ll open up some doors for the Brisbane Winter Carnival which is a great carnival.”

Johnson plans to make the most of her time in Brisbane by also riding at the Brisbane Racing Club’s twilight meeting on Friday, December 4 at Doomben.

Two specific Origin Jockey Series races have been programmed at each Saturday metropolitan race meeting throughout December, with owners and trainers also set to benefit from the availability of the leading jockeys for the remaining seven races on each card.

One jockey from each state/country will be randomly allocated a ride in the specific races from the top four horses in order of favouritism after weights are declared.

Points will be accumulated over the eight races in the series with the winner being the state/country that has secured the greatest number of points after the running of the final leg at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday, December 26.


ORIGIN JOCKEY SERIES – WEEK 1 RIDERS
Saturday, December 5 – Doomben Racecourse
QLD: Glen Boss
NSW: Tye Angland
VIC: Craig Williams
NZ: Danielle Johnson

Some of the stars of the Origin Jockey Series include:
QLD: Glen Boss, Jim Byrne
NSW: Tye Angland
VIC: Craig Williams
NZ: Opie Bosson, Damian Browne, Danielle Johnson

ORIGIN JOCKEY SERIES RACE MEETINGS
Brisbane Racing Club – Saturday, December 5
Brisbane Racing Club – Saturday, December 12
Brisbane Racing Club – Saturday, December 19
Gold Coast Turf Club – Saturday, December 26

ORIGIN JOCKEY SERIES POINTS SYSTEM:
1st placing = 10 points
2nd placing = 6 points
3rd placing = 3 points
Unplaced = 1 point