Daughter Caitlin sparks Tom Johnstone’s racing comeback

By Jordan Gerrans

A father inspiring his young daughter to ride trackwork for his stable is a relatively common occurrence in the racing industry. 

But, for the Johnstone clan from Dalby, the roles have been reversed.

Former trainer and jockey Tom Johnstone has been sparked on by his daughter Caitlin’s success in the training ranks to come back into the caper himself. 

After returning to the sport by riding trackwork for his daughter and other trainers at Dalby, Tom prepared his first winner in almost 15 years on Monday afternoon at Thangool. 

The 58-year-old was away from the industry for a lengthy period of time after a shoulder injury, but has made his way back in recent times by helping Caitlin’s stable. 

“Caitlin has been going good,” the proud father said.

“She has been lucky with a couple of decent horses that we purchased at a reasonable price.

“She has done really well with them. It makes you proud, happy and everything like that.

“She took on training when I was at the tail end of my shoulder injury, basically.

“That's what I think it was mainly, once my shoulder was sorted out, I started riding trackwork for her and got back into the full swing of it all.”

Caitlin encouraged her father to take out his own training licence again in recent times.

Tom hails from Blackall in the Central West region of the Sunshine State. 

He began riding in races as a teenager and did so for almost two decades before spending around 12 years as a trainer.

He trained and rode in the area for decades before stepping away in the middle of 2012. 

Tom’s last victory as a trainer was in November of 2011 when he prepared a winning double at Longreach. 

Racing And Sports' statistics show Tom has trained more than 50 winners during his career.

The Johnstone clan have since relocated to Dalby for business and family interests. 

Young Caitlin has enjoyed immense success in a short period of time since taking out her own training ticket in 2022. 

She has 19 winners to her name after training out of Jandowae and Dalby over the last few years. 

Her father joined her once again in the winner’s enclosure on Monday when Xuanfeng was able to score at his second start for Tom at Thangool. 

Xuanfeng was previously prepared by the 25-year-old Caitlin before the gelding was transferred to her father’s stable while she was overseas on holiday.

Well-travelled hoop Paul Hamblin was able to put Xuanfeng up on the speed over 1075 metres and the four-year-old did enough late to claim the Benchmark 50 Handicap event. 

“We were very confident going into it,” Tom said.

“He won well in his last start there at Thangool, which was four starts ago now.

“We took him to Rockhampton last start and he drew wide and he had no chance from out there.

"He drew better for Thangool on Monday and with a better alley, we were very confident going into it.

“He's a professional, Paul. You always know what you can expect when you're legging him up.”

Tom prepares a small team of four at Dalby and has a few youngsters set to join the yard soon after being broken in.

He has also helped out Matt and William Kropp with their stable in recent years, as well.

He has recent North Queensland recruit Livewire Lass nominated for races at Gympie and Toowoomba on Saturday.

Tom also trains Sapana's Pearl, who his daughter has prepared to a few South East Queensland triumphs recently. 

“It's always been a passion,” he said of being around the horses.

“I have been away at times over the years because of work commitments and my injuries, but it is good to be back around them now.”