Published by Racing Post – 29 June 2026
Written by Tom Peacock
Such a United Nations effort was involved in the Windsor Castle victory of King Of Cloughan that about the only thing missing would have been Secretary-General Antonio Guterres leading the colt back through the crowds at Royal Ascot.
Joseph O’Brien’s runner, who only just had enough road left in the race to steam through the stands’ side group under Billy Loughnane to finish half a length in front, was Irish-bred at the historic Norelands Stud in County Kilkenny on behalf of his Japanese breeder, Hiroyuki Nagata.
The St Mark’s Basilica-sired youngster is the first foal out of useful US import Mystic Eyes, who was sourced by Australian bloodstock agent Will Johnson.
“I’d met Mr Nagata in Japan quite a few years ago and he’d expressed an interest in finding a mare to try to breed from,” explained Johnson. “Jes Sikura, who is the son of John Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale, has always been keeping me in mind for mares for Australia.
“When this one came across the table she was a dual winner at two, as well as a stakes winner at two at Belmont, and she was by Maclean’s Music, who is the sire of a lot of fast horses, as we saw with Bacio winning with that massive figure for Wesley Ward later in the week at Royal Ascot.
“At the time, I was looking for a mare for Australia and I showed her to Mr Nagata with a view of either taking her there or to Europe. He said he wanted to breed a Classic style of horse, so I thought let’s go with Europe.
“The McCalmonts at Norelands are good friends in Ireland, so I sent her across to Harry, Hamish and [stud manager] Matt Gilsenan and put forward St Mark’s Basilica, thinking more as an owner-breeder who would be racing the horse in his own colours.”
King Of Cloughan ended up heading to Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Sale, where he was knocked down to O’Brien’s Carriganog Racing for €110,000.
He was a maiden from two previous starts before this illustrious Listed victory, but turned out to have the most impressive form imaginable as his three-quarter-length conqueror at Leopardstown was Nola Soul, who won the Chesham Stakes the day after the Windsor Castle.
Johnson continued: “He was a nice first foal who was slightly on the smaller side, and the communication and thought process was why don’t we sell the first foal and see thereafter what we get.
“He was a good-moving and well-proportioned horse who was just your typical first foal. Joseph bought him, and Hamish tipped me off that the stable quite liked him on his debut before he ran second to the Justify of Craig Bernick’s [Nola Soul].
“In hindsight, he probably shouldn’t have been 33-1 for the Windsor Castle, certainly if you’d swapped the days around with the Chesham. It was somewhat of a surprise, but a gutsy win and he’d have been close to being unlucky had he been held up any more times.”
Johnson jokes that there is “about a degree of separation” in the whole story. Coolmore’s dual Classic and Dewhurst winner St Mark’s Basilica was bred at Norelands by Bob Scarborough, another Australian who is a friend of the family.
“It sort of defines Royal Ascot that you can have an Australian agent buy a horse in America, ship it to Ireland, then land a big race during Royal Ascot week,” he said. “It encompasses what we’re all trying to do, to compete at the highest level in every jurisdiction, so it was a great day for all.”
The result has huge implications for the next of Mystic Eyes’ progeny.
“I remember seeing St Mark’s as a yearling – he was such a gorgeous-looking horse – and the physical mating made sense,” said Johnson.
“St Mark’s has probably kicked on a bit since King Of Cloughan sold, with the likes of Diamond Necklace and Thesecretadversary. Off the back of the physical, we went back to St Mark’s and we’ve got a full-brother that we’re going to offer at the Goffs Orby Sale in the Norelands draft.
“The mare didn’t get in foal last year; we sent her to Starman, to no avail, on southern hemisphere time. She’s now in foal to Sioux Nation. We got lucky with one at Ascot over six furlongs, so who knows. We might be able to get a two-year who starts even earlier!”
Johnson must have been about the only one of his compatriots involved in the racing industry not to have been in Berkshire as, with a baby at home, he was attempting to maintain some form of domestic harmony.
The former assistant to Roger Varian, who went on to work for leading international agent Hubie de Burgh before striking out on his own with WJ Bloodstock in 2019, has fond memories of British racing.
“I was sad not to be there first-hand to experience it, but it’s nice in regard to playing a small role in connecting the dots,” he said. “My business is trying to get those results for clients, so I was very pleased for Mr Nagata.
“He’s got a lot of different business interests and a couple of mares in Japan. I think this is his first foray into international breeding, so he’s found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”
Johnson had another chance to wake up his household in the middle of the night as he bought Overpass along with Darby Racing for just A$75,000 (£39,000/€45,000) as an Inglis yearling. Bjorn Baker’s multimillionaire was swamped for third in the King Charles III Stakes.
“It was nearly a really big week,” said Johnson ruefully.
However, the international business continues to flourish. Johnson has established a link with the Yoshida family’s Northern Farm, Japan’s dominant breeding force, in sourcing broodmares, as well as success along the more established path for an Antipodean using their European expertise.
“I tend to gravitate more to an international flavour in a pedigree,” he said. “When I do buy horses, I try to utilise my experiences in that way.
“I’ve gone for some milers to bring down here and I had a bit of luck with a French horse, Huetor, who won two Group 1s, and Old Flame won a seven-furlong Group 2.
“I’ve found the last couple of years that, with a weak Australian dollar and the strength of the European market, it’s been hard to buy them at value, but our dollar is on the improve and hopefully this year we can secure a few more horses for down under.”