Another Century For Johnston

Middleham trainer Mark Johnston registered his 100th win of the season after Marias Magic claimed the Chisholm Bookmakers Handicap at Newcastle.

Despite being driven along with two furlongs remaining, Kevin Darley´s mount dug deep and fended off Tomasino´s late surge to score by a short head at odds of 14-1.

Johnston, who made it 99 for the term when Lightning Affair took the opening EBF Saltwell Signs Maiden Stakes, has now saddled a century of domestic winners for the 12th consecutive campaign.

'I´m absolutely thrilled to have reached the 100 mark,' he said. 'It´s been another good season.

'Obviously there´s more important things in a racing year but we´ll all be devastated when we don´t reach that target.

'But we´ve done it again and that´s great.

'I think we´ve got there about two or three weeks earlier than last season so that also shows things are going well.

'It´s not only me who deserves the credit because we´ve got a superb team who all know their targets.

'This achievement is as much for them as it is me.'

(C) PA Sport