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.

Local, interstate and overseas buyers converged on Sydney for a positive opening day to the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale snapping up 124 of Australasia’s finest bred and conformed young thoroughbreds.