Cover image courtesy of Arqana
William Johnson of William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) has enjoyed plenty of success sourcing international gallopers, particularly for the Sydney-based training duo Peter and Paul Snowden.
Johnson and the Snowdens combined to win the $2 million The Five Diamonds with the imported progressive galloper Unspoken (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) and Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) claimed his second G1 Doomben Cup victory this year.
Gallery: Some of the imported purchases William Johnson has had recent success with, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
With such results, it is not surprising Johnson is eager to source more imported gallopers from the horses in training sales. With the 2023 Arqana Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Johnson feels he’s found two nice horses capable of competing for Australia’s rich prizemoney.
Consistent Kod
Teaming up with Snowden Racing, Johnson first signed for Lot 422 Vintage Kod (Ire), a son of Kodiac (GB), for €96,000 (AU$167,900) when offered by his trainer Gianluca Bietolini. The 3-year-old gelding has raced 13 times, winning three races in France from 1400 to 1600 metres.
Vintage Kod was originally a €135,000 (AU$236,200) purchase by Hubert Guy Bloodstock from the 2021 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale. He is the third foal from the Pour Moi (Ire) mare Engage (Ire), who has been represented in Australia by the winning Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Angel (Fr) (Fastnet Rock).
Lot 422 - Vintage Kod (Ire) was purchased for €96,000 (AU$167,900) by William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) and Snowden Racing | Image courtesy of Arqana
The gelding is related to the stakes winners Pollara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Stormina (USA) (Gulch {USA) and the multiple Group 1 winner Silasol (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). Vintage Kod is also from the family of the outstanding Solemia (Ire) (Poliglote {GB}), who claimed the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and earned the achievement of the Champion Older Female Stayer in France.
Vintage Kod’s pedigree is not entirely foreign to Australasia. Further back in the family sees the G2 Royal S. winner Needle And Thread (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Savile Row (NZ).
Johnson told The Thoroughbred Report about purchasing Vintage Kod, “We’ve had a bit of luck buying seven to eight-furlong horses that we feel might get over a little further.
William Johnson | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It’s been such a challenging year to buy in terms of price, but Vintage Kod met the criteria of running consistently all year. He has the ability, and he hits the line as if he tries hard, which is very important when you’re buying a horse to come down to Australia. You want to try and make sure that the horse has a good attitude and a willingness to win.
“Vintage Kod is out of a mare by Pour Moi, who won the Epsom Derby and from a family that gets over a bit more ground. So, whilst his profile is a bit shorter and sharper overseas, it’s not to say he can’t get a bit further and at the price, I thought he was very good value.
“Vintage Kod met the criteria of running consistently all year. He has the ability, and he hits the line as if he tries hard, which is very important when you’re buying a horse to come down to Australia...” - William Johnson
“If he goes the right way in Australia and wins a couple of Saturday races, the owners are already in front.”
Aga Khan galloper heading to Australia
The second of the Johnson and Snowden Racing purchases was Lot 428 Behtar (Fr), a son of the late Kitten’s Joy (USA) from the draft of Aga Khan Studs for €62,000 (AU$108,500). Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the 4-year-old has won twice from 2650 to 2700 metres and was third in the Listed Prix Arcangues.
Behtar is the first foal from the Dansili (GB) mare Behnasa (Fr), who is a daughter of Behkara (Ire) (Kris {GB}), a victress of the G2 Prix Hubert de Chaudenay and placed in the G1 Prix Royal Oak. Behnasa’s half-brother Behkabad (Fr) was a high-class galloper winning the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and the G2 Prix Niel. He also finished third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf and fourth in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Lot 428 - Behtar (Fr) was purchased for €62,000 (AU$108,500) by William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) and Snowden Racing | Image courtesy of Arqana
Behtar’s third dam Behera (Ire), a daughter of the great Mill Reef (USA), was crowned the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in Europe, winning the G1 Prix Saint-Alary and placing in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. At the same time, this is the extended family of the Australian-bred La Danseuse Rogue (Manhattan Rain), a victress of the Listed Lightning S. and placegetter in the G3 Red Roses S. and the G3 Northwood Plume S.
“Kitten’s Joy has been the leading North American sire on the turf for quite some time. He gets a horse that really handles fast ground, and going into the onset of a drought, one suspects the tracks are going to be firmer, and Behtar handles those tracks,” Johnson told The Thoroughbred Report.
“He runs well on the all-weather and firmer ground. Bethar often gets back in his race and runs on and can run a sectional. Having spent a bit of time seeing the way they train in Chantilly, I felt both these horses would suit the change of training to the way Peter and Paul Snowden train and campaign a horse.
“Having spent a bit of time seeing the way they train in Chantilly, I felt both these horses (Lot 422 & 428) would suit the change of training to the way Peter and Paul Snowden train and campaign a horse.” - William Johnson
“I’ve spent many a morning there and seeing how they do a slow and fast work day, and you get a feel for what will work in Sydney. I thought Behtar was consistent and will be well-placed in Australia.”
Johnson also added a bit of insight into how he makes his selections at the international sales.
“I’ve followed both these horses throughout the year and enjoy watching French Racing. The Aga Khan raced Behtar, so he was firmly on the radar.
Paul and Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Then you spend a few days on the catalogue, but the vetting is significant. We get an opinion from the stable vet in Australia and then a vet on the ground. So you’ve got to cross-reference the two opinions from the vet to ensure the owners we are buying a horse that is sound for racing in Australia.”
On a busy day at Arqana, Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) at €380,000 ($632,623) topped proceedings, one of two six-figure purchases on the day by Wathnan Racing. Blandford Bloodstock agent Stuart Boman signed for the gelding on behalf of his colleague Richard Brown. Boman signed for six horses on the day, four of which are heading to Australia for a variety of trainers, including Annabel Neasham and Charlotte Littlefield.
A clearance rate of 83% appeared to be a decent enough statistic but this was actually markedly down from this session last year when 94% of the horses were sold. On Monday, 169 horses found new homes, with the figures up in all other sectors.
