March 2022
Welcome to a brief update from WJB in a season that has been anything but summery along the east coast of Australia. As this edition goes to print, our thoughts are with those families affected by the terrible flooding and we hope the water levels and rain subside.
With the yearling sales season in full swing, it is pleasing to share some racetrack results from yearlings purchased in 2020, the first year buying independently as William Johnson Bloodstock.
OVERPASS ADDS THE INGLIS SPRINT TO HIS GROWING CV
Overpass(Vancouver) was impressive when adding the $750,000 Inglis Sprint to his resume at Flemington on Saturday.
Having taken out the G2 Expressway Stakes first up this preparation, he has continued to progress nicely from the promise shown in his two-year-old season.
Trained by Bjorn Baker, Overpass was a $75,000 yearling purchase by WJB in conjunction with Darby Racing at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale (Round Two) from the Corumbene Stud draft.
Overpass has now won five races from twelve starts and has amassed $792,400 in prizemoney and is Vancouver’s highest earner who was recently sold to stand at Woodside Park in Victoria.
MIDWEST EXTENDS PICKET FENCE TO FIVE
Midwest (Zoustar) has gone to another level since going under the knife for the ‘ultimate gear change’ and is providing connections with plenty of reasons to get trackside each start.
Having shown enough promise to debut in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview as a two-year-old, he has now won his last five starts and netted just shy of his $200,000 purchase price.
The flashy chestnut has shown an abundance of speed and looks a Moonee Valley specialist where he has won his last two starts and is likely to go for win number six in two weeks’ time.
Congratulations to a great group of owners who are enjoying the fruits of some excellent placement by Anthony and Sam Freedman and their talented team at home.
YEARLING SALES SEASON WELL UNDER WAY
No sooner had the brandy butter been removed from the Christmas table than the gavel fell for the first lot on the Gold Coast at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January.
Now through the first three major sales for the year, much in line with property prices, the yearling market is up between 10-15% year on year.
Fuelled by a robust and growing prizemoney pool in part due to increased gambling turnover, the inability to travel internationally has left ample discretionary income to be spent on thoroughbreds.
Thus far, WJB in conjunction with Snowden Racing have secured eight yearlings for the year heading into the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in early April.
It is the first year WJB has purchased yearlings for Peter and Paul Snowden.
Interestingly, the stable has won 14 of the last 60 individual Group One two-year-old races, so it is a fantastic opportunity to be associated with one of the leading stables.
GET IN TOUCH FOR OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
CHANNEL SEVEN EXPLORES THE ROLE OF A BLOODSTOCK AGENT
At the recent Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Channel 7 joined WJB on the sales complex to inspect yearlings and help educate viewers at home about the role of a bloodstock agent.
With Channel 7 now broadcasting free-to-air racing almost every Saturday of the year, short documentaries such as this one give viewers are more holistic understanding of the industry.
We hope you have enjoyed this short update and look forward to seeing you at a sales complex or racecourse, somewhere around the globe!