Holidays Mean No Change

The Informant's Dennis Ryan writes:

The standings at the head of the national jockeys' premiership will remain unchanged for the remainder of the season with table-toppers Matt Cameron (Te Akau stable rider) and Danielle Johnson on holiday until the end of the month.

Both jockeys were booked for rides at New Plymouth on Saturday, but the abandonment of the Opunake Cup card due to a water-logged track left Cameron's tally on 154 and Johnson on 136. With Johnathon Parkes  a distant third on 102 wins, Cameron has successfully defended his 2013-14 title, when he rode 143 winners versus 118 for runner-up Parkes.

Cameron had finished a close second in the two previous seasons, his 156 wins in 2011-12 just three behind Lisa Allpress and the same margin in arrears of Opie Bosson in 2012-13 with 149 wins versus 152.

The past season has been clearly the best for 24-year-old Johnson, her 136-win tally eclipsing a previous best of 95 a year before.

“Matt left on Sunday for a couple of weeks' break in Hawaii,” Cameron's agent Mike Brown said. “He's earned it after another big season and will be back fresh for the new season.”