Bloodstock agent Johnson issues Melbourne Cup Warning
Group 1-winning stayer set for Makybe Diva return on way to spring majors
Agent Will Johnson will be paying close attention to the Makybe Diva Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) with his stayer Warning (Declaration Of War) on the path towards the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) while also monitoring important bloodstock sales in the northern hemisphere.
The now Australian-based Johnson, who previously forged his career as an agent in the UK under the guidance of the respected Hubie de Burgh, was instrumental in the purchase of the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Warning as a yearling and wisely chose to keep a share in the gelding.
He rewarded Johnson’s faith by winning last year’s Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) at Flemington and raced four times at Group 1 level in Sydney and Adelaide during the autumn behind horses such as Shadow Hero (Pierro), Castelvecchio (Dundeel), Quick Thinker (So You Think) and Russian Camelot (Camelot).
Warning will again clash with his four-year-old peers Quick Thinker, Dalasan (Dalakhani) and Makybe Diva Stakes favourite Russian Camelot in the Flemington weight for age race on Saturday, but Johnson was not expecting him to be causing an upset.
Johnson said Warning had been given two grass gallops and jump–outs at Mornington to prepare him for his spring return.
“I was speaking to Sam Freedman earlier in the week and he said that he might be carrying a little bit more surplus (weight) than what you normally would going into a first-up run, which is probably a sign that he’s developed and matured and maintained that good baseline through the spell,” Johnson said yesterday.
“Although the first Tuesday in November is around the corner, he’s got quite a few kilometres to get into his legs, so I am sure Anthony and Sam will know exactly how to program him so that he is coming into form around then.”
Johnson is hopeful that Warning, who was handed 53 kilograms for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups when weights were released on Tuesday, can improve on his autumn form and loom as a genuine chance at Flemington in a race that is expected to be light on international horses.
“Coming to Sydney, his first three runs there, he was never far off them and he was hitting the line behind those horses with quite lofty reputations,” he said.
“If you go back and watch the ride in the (Australian) Derby – and I don’t want to be too unkind to the jockey (Tommy Berry) who has to make split-second decisions – the horse just had to do too much, too early and the race was over before it had begun.
“From there, he went to Adelaide and acquitted himself well but, probably off a few hard runs, by the time he got the (South Australian) Derby he might just have been running on tired legs (when third).”
Billy Egan will ride Warning, a $41 chance, from barrier nine in Saturday’s Makybe Diva.
Johnson on market watch
Operating within the constraints of Covid-19, Johnson’s bloodstock agency has still been active, brokering deals for Group 1-winning mares Amphitrite (Sebring) and Seabrook (Hinchinbrook) to be sent to Japan while also negotiating for horses to be bought and sold in Europe and the US.
“Everyone’s had to adapt to the situation that’s presented itself. One door closes on travelling internationally, another one opens domestically,” he said.
“It’s been a very fruitful sales season with Darby Racing securing 27 yearlings from the Classic (sale) up until recently and a handful of them are looking to be at the trials in the next couple of weeks which is exciting.
“(Covid-19) probably hasn’t slowed down international transactions or purchases, either, and there’s been a few broodmares that I’ve been able to purchase that are heading to Japan and to America.
“There’s also been a few deals done in Europe through Hubie. It’s more about utilising my contacts through my trips overseas to ensure business is done. With technology, photos and videos being up to scratch and a guy like Hubie being able to inspect a horse for me, the lines of business are still open.”
While unlikely to feature on the buyers’ sheet at Arqana in France or at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland in the US in the coming days, the young agent will have more than a passing interest in the results.
“It’s probably not normally my market, but I’m more interested in the depths of the sales,” he said.
“Goffs Doncaster was a long way off the pace compared to previous years, so I am more interested to see how the market holds up in Europe and America.
“I am sure the top-end will, but the middle to bottom end is very important and hopefully for all consignors in those jurisdictions, the market holds up as resilient as we’ve seen that it can be in difficult times.”