Starting youngsters: ‘I think he’s going to be the next big thing’

Cover image courtesy of Evergreen Stud

Johnny Butler has spent most of his life educating young horses and has worked with some of the most experienced and highly respected pre-race educators in the industry. They include the late Rick Worthington, Greg Bennett, Tim Boland and Blair Richardson.

In April this year, Butler joined Tony Bott’s Evergreen Stud, a 500-acre property at Heatherbrae, which is situated on prime river flats fronting the Hunter River.

Butler, who has educated some elite-level performers, such as Dance Hero (Danzero), Global Glamour (Star Witness), Anwaar (Secret Savings {USA}), Shoals (Fastnet Rock), calls a spade a spade but doesn’t hand out compliments for fun. So, when he says he believes The Autumn Sun is going to be “the next big thing”, one should sit up and take notice.

Adding further credence to his view, Butler assisted Worthington in educating The Autumn Sun at Danric Lodge before the horse went on to win eight of his nine starts, including five Group 1s, in what was a short but brilliant career on the track.

“I had a lot of time with him (The Autumn Sun) back at Rick Worthington’s. His progeny are the spitting image of him, especially the colts,” Butler, who was born and raised in Warrah in the Hunter region of New South Wales, told TDN AusNZ.

“Their attitude and application towards being a racehorse… to me they feel like they’re going to be the next Zoustars coming through. I put him right up there with Zoustar and I Am Invincible. Obviously, they have the runs on the board, but I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t make it as a sire.

“They are very professional, very easy to deal with, straightforward and happy to do what you ask them to do. They enjoy their work.

“If you take them onto the track for the fifth time, it’s like they’ve been there 100 times.

“They’re a standout of what a thoroughbred racehorse, for a breaker, should be.”

Ones to watch

Butler was fortunate enough to work with a number of youngsters by Arrowfield Stud resident The Autumn Sun, who stands at a fee of $66,000 (inc GST) and had 102 foals in his first crop.

Several of the stallion’s progeny impressed Butler, including a chestnut filly from Cleanup (Dehere {USA}), a two-time winner and the dam of Group 1 victress Nettoyer (Sebring). Group 1 winner Kinshasa No Kiseki and Group 3 winner She’s Clean (Redoute’s Choice) are also members of this family. Offered by Vinery Stud at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the filly was knocked down to Yes Bloodstock Pty Ltd/Group1 Bloodstock (FBAA) for $400,000.

“She was a real standout for me, I really liked the way she went about everything,” Butler said.

“She has a nice pedigree and I reckon she will have the ability to match.”

Another of The Autumn Sun’s progeny from his first crop to excite Butler is a colt out of Miss Dodwell (Falbrav {Ire}), which has been named Matusalem and is with Chris Waller. The colt was a member of the Arrowfield Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Chris Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock for $500,000.

Matusalem is a half-brother to Group winners Spill The Beans and Kenedna (Not A Single Doubt), and closely related to stakes winners Blab (Flying Spur) and Yammer (Bellotto {USA}).

“He was really impressive, this colt,” said Butler.

“I enjoyed working with him and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he does on the track. He seems to have good ability.”

Butler bullish about Justify

While The Autumn Sun was the pick of the bunch of new sires, Butler was taken with the progeny he worked with by Coolmore unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify (USA), who shuttled to Australia and had 96 foals in his first crop.

“I’m a big fan of the Justifys', I really, really like them,” Butler commented.

“He’s was a star on the track and he’s a very exciting stallion.

“The progeny I worked with are very, very nice horses.

“The (Justify) colts are very strong, very good-boned, very correct and forward towards their work. And they’re intelligent horses," said Butler

“I’m not 100 per cent convinced they’re going to be early, but I believe they will make nice 3-year-olds.”

Butler pointed to a colt that was a member of the Evergreen Stud Farm draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt, which has been named Just Immortal, is out of Grade 1 winner Black Mamba (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}) and sold for $150,000 to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds.

“He is a lovely type with a great attitude,” Butler explained.

Of the fillies, Butler said the daughter of dual Group 1 victress Global Glamour was an eye-catcher.

Offered by Coolmore at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she was purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $900,000.

“What I particularly liked about her is the fact she is very strong, looks early and what you want them to look like,” he said.

“Despite being a different colour, she is very much like her mum.”

Grunt colt looks the goods

Yulong resident Grunt (NZ), who stands for $13,750 (inc GST), had 146 foals in his first crop and Butler only worked with a select few but liked what he saw.

One of Grunt’s progeny that Butler has high hopes for is a colt from Argentinian Gold (Husson {Arg}). The colt is a grandson of Listed winner The Golden Dane (Danehill {USA}) and is related to stakes winners Presina (Prego {Ire}) and Seto Flowerian (Bellotto {USA}).

Offered by Yulong, he made $80,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott buying.

“He’s a lovely colt, very happy and straightforward to work with,” Butler said.

“He is nice and strong and good-boned.”