Racing: Johnson rediscovers his magical touch

Chris Johnson returned to a standing ovation when he rode his first winner in seven years at Ashburton yesterday.

The former star jockey was having first day back riding at the Ashburton Country Racing Club's meeting since he last rode in 1998. He had giving up riding because of weight problems.

Johnson, 41, rode two winners at yesterday's meeting, with the first aboard the favourite Paris Hilton in a maiden race.

Paris Hilton is trained at Ashburton by Jan Hay who said the crowd was delighted to see Johnson back doing what he does best.

"I just think everybody got a real buzz," Hay said last night.

Johnson, nicknamed Magic Johnson because of his riding genius, became one of the South Island's favourite sons for his riding feats.

Hay said his return was a fillip for the Mainland.

"It will be great for South Island racing," she said. "Everybody lifts their game a little bit when they have somebody good to ride against."

Johnson had a busy first day back. He had been booked for eight rides but gained an additional mount when another rider was injured.

Hay said Johnson would be a little stiff tomorrow.

"He was exhausted by the end of the day because he ended up with nine rides.

"But he didn't look as if he had lost any of his talent."

Hay said Johnson was his usual self in showing little emotion or having not much to say about his successful return to the fray.

"You know Chris. It was just another day," she said.

Johnson's second win came aboard another favourite, Volronamo, in the day's main race, the $10,000 McCrea Handicap.

Volronamo is trained at Wingatui by Steven Prince who said Johnson showed one his great qualities in balancing a horse during the running.

"He just let him stride to the front," Prince said.

"He's a horse that has to be balanced up. He [Johnson] fitted the bill perfectly."

Prince said Johnson displayed his relaxed riding style when it appeared Volronamo might be run down.

"It's just his [Johnson's] balance on a horse - he's just superb. He just let the horse do the talking."

Prince said Johnson told him he would have preferred just three or four rides for his return and was obviously short of race conditioning.

"He's got to get his fitness back. He was blowing a bit. But he's only going to get better."

Volronamo yesterday had his first start for nearly seven months after previously having a stint in Melbourne where he was trained by Brian Mayfield-Smith.

The 6-year-old gelding is now targeting the Coupland's Mile Handicap (1600m) at Riccarton on November 9.

- NZPA