By Bren O'Brien
Having the top lot at last year's Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale was a huge boost for Rushton Park, but for David and Kayley Johnson, the success of their stock is more about where they end up than what price they get at the sales.
The sale-topping Fastnet Rock filly from the 2018 sale, now named Avon River, was one of only two horses Godolphin bought at the Melbourne sale and she has proven to be a great ambassador for Rushton Park, running second at her first two starts behind quality horses Hightail (Written Tycoon) and Accession (Brazen Beau) before finishing fourth in the recent Inglis Millennium.
"It was fantastic. It is pleasing to have her in such a good stable," Kayley Johnson told TDN AusNZ.
"All reports from Godolphin is that she certainly looks up to stakes ability." - Kayley Johnson
Avon River as a yearling
"She's already had a few starts and has done well. All reports from Godolphin is that she certainly looks up to stakes ability. Fingers crossed. We’ve got a few good ones running around at the moment, so it’s good for our brand."
The hectic sales season doesn’t allow anyone to rest on their laurels and Rushton Park was quickly in the mix on Day 1 of this year's Melbourne sale, selling Lot 2, an Epaulette colt by stakes-winning Unbridled Ambience (USA) (Unbridled Time {USA}) for $100,000 to McEvoy Mitchell Racing.
He was the first of 13 of Rushton Park's draft to go under the hammer this week, with a Rubick colt, Lot 107, passed in short of her $45,000 reserve later on Sunday.
The Johnsons have taken an approach of diversity to the draft, with 12 different sires represented and Epaulette the only one with two, with the other colt to be offered as Lot 306 on Monday.
Something for everyone
The 'something for everyone' approach is important to Rushton Park, with a focus on meeting a diverse buying bench.
"We've got a lot of trainers' horses in our draft, horses that will appeal to people from good families." - Kayley Johnson
"There's a lot of people who have got the top lots in their eyes. We've got a lot of trainers' horses in our draft, horses that will appeal to people from good families, that will go on with it on the track for them," Kayley said.
"Most of our draft is VOBIS eligible, that it really important down here in Victoria."
Rushton Park parading for Monty Roberts earlier this week at Oaklands
Timing helps Dundeel colt
The Rushton Park yearling which Johnson feels has most appeal to the market is Lot 350, the colt by Dundeel (NZ) out of Nouvelle Again (Von Costa De Hero).
The sire is having a fantastic run at the moment with six stakes winners in just his second season, including G1 Cape Derby winner Atyaab in South Africa.
Castelvecchio's win in the Inglis Millennium was also significant in that it was a first win in one of the rich marquee 2-year-old races by one of Dundeel's progeny.
With the boom on Dundeel, who is third in the second season sires' list, Johnson said there is some additional confidence on Lot 350.
"He's a lovely colt, a really nice mover and a very active going style of horse." - Kayley Johnson
"He's a lovely colt, a really nice mover and a very active going style of horse. He looks like a real racehorse. He's the first foal out of the mare and I think there's a lot of improvement left in him," she said.
The expectation is that the colt would make an ideal 3-year-old type,
Lot 350 Dundeel (NZ) x Nouvelle Again
Nouvelle Again is a half-sister to Power Of Khan (General Nediym), who was a stakes winner in Malaysia, out of the stakes-placed Flurry's Gem (Perugino {USA}). That's the family of Happy Trails (Good Journey) and Danish Twist (Dane Shadow), Royal Sash (Royal Academy {USA}) and Sabatini (Street Cry {Ire}).
Lot 449, a Wandjina colt out of Group 3 winner Shylight (Lago Delight), is another one which Johnson feels should be popular, especially with the trade market.
Sale quality impresses
Johnson feels the overall quality of the Melbourne sale has improved with the reduction in the size of Book 1 from 564 to 514.
"I feel like there is a bit more depth in catalogue than there has been in previous sales. There has been a little bit of pain further north in terms of the market, but I think with the depth, the feeling is a little bit more positive and our inspections have been fairly solid, I think that is a good sign," she said.
