News

Aussie Breeder Celebrates Hong Kong Derby Triumph

16th Mar 2015

Breednet - by Tara Madgwick - Monday, 16 March 2015

Anybody that has ever bred a Group I winner knows how special it is.

The joy and sense of achievement that comes from breeding a Group I winner is something that Bylong Park Thoroughbreds owner Richard Johnston has achieved twice previously with star Fastnet Rock fillies Mosheen and Driefontein, but that didn’t dampen his enthusiasm when watching the Hong Kong Derby HK Gr 1 at Sha Tin on Sunday evening.

Four year-old Choisir gelding Luger, was bred and sold by Mr Johnston’s Bylong Park Thoroughbreds at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where he made $260,000 to the bid of renowned bloodstock agent John Foote.

Sent straight to Hong Kong, Luger was an immediate hit finishing second as a two year -old in a griffin race over 1000 metres before winning handsomely at his second start over 1400 metres.

He’s scarcely put a foot wrong since and despite trying 2000 metres for the first time in the Derby and enduring a torrid run from a wide gate, Luger still proved too good in scoring by three-quarters of a length.

"I was watching it last night in the living room with my two dogs and I was cheering so hard, they ran out the doggie door!” revealed Richard Johnston.

"I had to offer them chicken necks to get them back inside. My excitement was all too much for them!”

Luger is a full brother to former slick sprinter Psychologist, both of them bred from the unraced Danzero mare Miss Conception.

"We bought her at the Magic Millions as a yearling and there’s a bit of a story to that,” recalled Johnston.

"She was offered by Reavill Stud and I saw she was out of Prefer an Angel, which I liked and she was a nice enough filly, but she was Lot 666 and after a few drinks I thought, that’s ‘the mark of the beast’ and decided to buy her.”

Mr Johnston outlaid $80,000 for the filly, but it was not long after that she was revealed as a roarer and that spelled the end of any thought of a racing career.

Retained as a broodmare, Miss Conception has proven her talents in the breeding arena and has now had four foals to race and all are winners, the two by Choisir being far and away the best of the quartet.

"We knew the mating to Choisir would produce a double cross (3 x 3) of Danehill, which might be a bit risky, but for this mare it’s worked amazingly well,” said Johnston.

"Psychologist and Luger are both big strong, robust types with ability to match.

"I had my doubts as to whether Luger would run a strong 2000 metres, but in the end he did it well and covered ground. He might even get further.”

Miss Conception has a yearling filly and colt foal to follow by Choisir, but missed to the sire last spring so will not have a foal next year.

"The filly is a big strong girl but needs time, so we’ll retain her to race and the colt we would be expecting to send to the sales in 2016,” Johnston said.

The only recent foal produced by Miss Conception that is not by Choisir is her two year-old colt American Ensign, who is by Choisir’s best son Starspangledbanner.

"He passed in at the sales last year so we decided to keep him and send him to Danny Williams at Goulburn,” Johnston said.

"He really liked the colt, but the horse injured a sesamoid so is now undergoing rehabilitation treatment. The prognosis is good, so we’re still hopeful about him.”

For a comparatively small breeding operation to produce three Group I winners such as Mosheen, Driefontein and Luger is quite an achievement, so their select draft of three for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale is sure to attract attention.

Headlining the draft is Lot 213, the full sister to Mosheen by Fastnet Rock from Sumehra, while Lot 341, a Snitzel colt from stakes-placed Coast to the Post and Lot 580, a Hinchinbrook colt from blue-blooded Munhro round out the trio.

"I’m heading up to the farm next week and will be interested to see how they’ve progressed with three weeks to go to the sale,” said Johnston.

Watch this space for yearling images from Bylong Park Thoroughbreds!