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Johnson off the mark; Filly waiting for rain; Hutchings off to good start

Johnson off the mark

Timothy Johnson landed the first winning blow of his career when he was successful aboard Upper Cut on his home track on Thursday.

Apprenticed to Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan, the 18-year-old guided the stable runner to victory in the Placemakers Maiden with a hands and heels ride.

The performance augured well for Upper Cut’s winter jumping campaign as he is a two-time winner over the big fences and he also ran fourth in last year’s Pakuranga Hunt Cup.

Filly waiting for rain

New Zealand-bred and owned filly Elusive Catch is waiting on a change of weather in Brisbane.

The three-year-old joined Liam Birchley’s Eagle Farm stable for a Queensland campaign and last weekend she finished eighth behind the runaway winner Bohemian Lily in the Gr.2 The Roses at Doomben.

“She was only half a length off Platinum Princess and she’s one of our best fillies,” part-owner Sabin Kirkland said.

“Zac Purton rode Elusive Catch and he said she just wanted some rain so we’re going to sit back and wait, hopefully they get some over there.”

Hutchings off to good start

Rory Hutchings went close to making an immediate impact on his second Australian riding stint.

The champion New Zealand apprentice began his loan spell with Chris Waller at Canterbury on Wednesday and they combined for a runner-up finish with Electrifyin’.

Hutchings will partner Lucy’s Look, Danchai, Eigelstein, Good Project and Georgey Aeroplane at Randwick on Saturday for Waller and he will also ride Earnest Ernest for Joseph Pride.