Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It was a bid of 300,000gns (AU$612,000) that secured the well-related Just Fine at the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, McKeever teaming with Waterhouse Bott Racing on the hunt for horses suitable for Australia's premier staying contests.
From a family which had already enjoyed success in Australia, Just Fine being out of a half-sister to Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), the son of Sea The Stars (Ire) looked a nice fit for Australian racing though it is more on form and type that McKeever makes his recommendations on.
Just Fine (Ire) when sold through the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“There are a few things we take into consideration, such as stride patterns, and Gai doesn't like them small. So, I look for good-looking, strong horses with improvement in them,” McKeever said.
“Everything fit with Just Fine, he was a beautiful sort and not heavily raced.”
“There are a few things we take into consideration, such as stride patterns, and Gai (Waterhouse) doesn't like them small. So, I look for good-looking, strong horses with improvement in them.” - Johnny McKeever
At the time the Sir Michael Stoute-trained, royally owned gelding had raced on 14 occasions and was a last start winner, too good on pace in a one and a quarter mile contest at Leicester.
Royal connections
Also a two-time winner at Sandown, the first winner raced by His Majesty King Charles III, had not been tried in stakes company but his new connections were quick to try him against the better horses.
With punters expecting the 1600 metres to prove too short for Just Fine on his Australian debut at Randwick in early September last year, the bay was sent out at double-figure odds but after showing early pace from a wide gate he was impressive racing away to a 2.75l victory.
Johnny McKeever | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Adrian Bott was a happy man that day, telling the media that Just Fine “had really settled in well since joining our stable. He has been quite sharp in his trials, so we were expecting him to run a very good race today. He is a progressive horse, and he should be able to get out over further.”
Straight up to the 2000 metres of the G3 Kingston Town S. at his next outing, Just Fine overcame another tricky gate to sit second, taking over at the 400 metres and again finding plenty to win by 1.75l.
Bott was even happier after that effort, noting that “it was a great performance on debut here over the mile and he gave an indication we thought he'd do that going over a little bit further.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“But to do it up in this grade with the pressure and the shape of the race; and to win in that fashion, he is certainly some really encouraging signs, he has come a long way very quickly.”
Odds-on win in The Metropolitan
On the strength of those two wins Just Fine was sent out an odds-on favourite in the Metropolitan and whilst his margin was not a big one, he did set a new track record of 2.26.11. Game in second placing was fellow import and Tattersalls graduate Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathanial {Ire}).
Spelled after a disappointing run in the G1 Caulfield S. in which he was also favourite, Just Fine was below his best in two autumn outings and was again given time. Better at his first two spring runs, he relished the step up to 2520 metres at Flemington and was always travelling well in the lead for Jordan Childs.
Which certainly had Gai Waterhouse delighted; in a memorable interview with Jason Richardson the always effervescent trainer reporting that “I said to Jordan, 'You do a Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott ride', and didn't he ride him a treat?! It was such a joy to watch, I can't tell you what a kick I got out of that.
“He is a lovely horse, and he looked so good today, I knew once he got into a rhythm that they just wouldn't catch him.”
In winning the Bart Cummings, Just Fine secured a place in the G1 Melbourne Cup and whilst McKeever has his doubts about the 7-year-old being a true two miler, he is happy to see him run in the big one.
Ticket to the Cup
“It is absolutely brilliant; he got his ticket into the Cup and if nothing else his tons of micro-owners will have a dream day out!”
“It is absolutely brilliant; he (Just Fine) got his ticket into the (Melbourne) Cup and if nothing else his tons of micro-owners will have a dream day out!” - Johnny McKeever
Whilst Just Fine's pedigree is not completely stout; his dam a three-time winner over 1600 metres and 1700 metres out of the Listed-winning miler Firth Of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) who also produced the Joint Champion Older Miler Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), McKeever is not scared off by stamina laden pedigrees.
“I don't mind a proper European staying pedigree,” he said. “As you know that those horses will genuinely stay whilst not many Australian horses are bred that way.”
Quite the advantage in our staying contests.
Just Fine (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
McKeever finds it ironic that Australian owners are so keen to win the longer distance events whilst concentrating on earlier coming sprinting types when breeding.
“That is one of the most amazing things about the Australian racing industry, and I can't see it changing much.”
Though he does think that there is one stallion who has shuttled to Australia who may prove a good source of stamina in the future.
A fan of Too Darn Hot
That horse being Darley's Too Darn Hot (GB) whose daughter Too Darn Discreet is highly favoured in G1 VRC Oaks markets on the back of her smart win in Saturday's G2 Edward Manifold S.
Too Darn Hot (GB) | Standing at Dalham Hall Stud
“I think he will be a game changer,” McKeever enthused about Too Darn Hot. “He has a proper pedigree with staying blood but can get sharp, early comers.”
“He has surprised a lot of people up here with his 2-year-olds,” he said of the young stallion who he describes as “a very good-looking horse with a bit more scope than his sire.”
“I think he really fits the mould for Australia,” he said, noting that whilst Too Darn Hot's best form was over 1400 metres and 1600 metres, he is out of the wonderful mare Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).
“I think he (Too Darn Hot) will be a game changer. I think he really fits the mould for Australia.” - Johnny McKeever
Her sire was a globe-trotting multiple Group 1 winner who shone over 2000 metres and 2400 metres and her best form was also over trips. Meanwhile her other two stakes winners (both full siblings to Too Darn Hot); Lah Ti Dar (GB) and So Mi Dar (GB) did good things at 10 furlongs and above.
Lots of competition
No doubt then that McKeever will have his eye on Too Darn Hot's tried progeny at future sales though has found that finding the right horse for Australia has been getting tougher.
“They are not cheap, there is lots of competition now with all the main stables after them,” he said, noting that he is up against the likes of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald and Chris Waller whilst the bigger buyers also step up.
“There were lots of Australians at The Arc Sale on the weekend, but they were mostly blown out of the water by the big multinationals,” he said.
Gai Waterhouse, he continued, showed foresight getting in early at such sales with Glencadam Gold (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) one example, that Metropolitan H. winner purchased by McKeever for 135,000gns (AU$275,400) at the 2011 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
Glencadam Gold (Ire), purchased by McKeever and Waterhouse in 2011 | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Gai got in early, it wasn't quite so hard then (in 2011) but buying a European stayer is much more fashionable now.”
Whilst McKeever has Australian buyers in the back of his mind when inspecting horses at the major Northern Hemisphere yearling sales, he said that the older horse market is of much more appeal.
“Our yearlings don't look as ready as what Australian buyers are used to,” he said, adding that “Australians in particular love an individual, it is getting more that way up here, but we still give pedigree a bit more credence.”
“We may have a few nibbles, but the yearlings will probably end up being too expensive, we are better buying tried horses for Australian racing.”
“We may have a few nibbles (at the yearling sales), but the yearlings will probably end up being too expensive, we are better buying tried horses for Australian racing.” - Johnny McKeever
An inexact science
Whilst McKeever boasts an excellent record of finding the right horses for Australia, he did note that it is an inexact science.
“You can check everything, but you can't actually tell how a horse will react to being in Australia.”
Where things are done a bit differently, such as the breaks Australian horses have from their campaigns; “Australian horses are spelled which we don't do here,” he said.
Just Fine is part of a good recent run for McKeever purchased horses with the G2 Tramway H. winner Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) another nice pick up.
Purchased for 300,000gns (AU$612,000) at last year's Autumn sale, the 6-year-old has since run very good races in the 7 Stakes and the G1 Epsom H.
Also showing plenty of potential is Alalcance (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Making her local debut at Warwick Farm a few weeks ago, the regally bred 5-year-old mare was out of the placings in several trials before resuming over 2140 metres, always travelling well for Nash Rawiller, pleading Adrian Bott with her 3.75l victory.
“We will see more of this mare in the autumn,” he said. “We just wanted to get her acclimatised this campaign, get her seasoned and conditioned. I think she'll keep improving when she gets out in trip. She’s obviously a real staying type of mare.
“We actually bought her at a broodmare sale,” McKeever said. “But she was eligible to keep racing.”
A huge pedigree
“She has a huge pedigree,” he said, of Alalcance who shares the same grandam; the triple Group 1 winner Albanova (GB) (Alzao {USA}) as the champion mare Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Watching on from the UK was her breeder, Lanwades Stud's Kirsten Rausing who was also pleased by a recent easy Sandown win recorded by another relation in Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}).
“It is a family that just keeps giving,” Rausing said.
McKeever, who teamed with the stable to purchase Alalcance for 240,000gns (AU$489,600) at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale, was happy to buy a daughter of Mastercraftsman (Ire), noting that “we have had a lot of success with his progeny for Australian buyers.”
Alalcance (GB) when offered through the Tattersalls December Mares Sale | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Such as the four-time Group winner Military Mission (Ire) who won for his owners over $1.4 million in stakes.
“He did extremely well for a relatively cheap horse,” McKeever said of the gelding who was purchased for £170,000 (AU$330,300) at the 2021 Goffs Ireland London Sale.
McKeever will be back in action at this year's Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, one from which he also purchased for Waterhouse and Bott the G1 Sydney Cup winners Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) (250,000gns {AU$510,000} in 2018) and The Offer (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) (200,000gns {AU$408,000} in 2012).
And another one may make his Australian debut at Rosehill on Saturday, last year's 575,000gns (AU$1.17 million) purchase Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) nominated for a BM88 contest over 2000 metres. Also in the entries for that race is the promising 280,000gns (AU$571,200) 2023 purchase Bear On The Loose (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) who kicked off his local career with a win at Rosehill in late June.
Balance Play (Ire) when offered at the 2023 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The Waterhouse and Bott stable have published an online guide to their “2024 Stayers Package,” one which notes that “sourcing horses from abroad has proven to be a recipe for success for Tulloch Lodge.”
McKeever pointed out that a major advantage of buying tried horses is that they tend to be “mature and ready” for their staying campaigns, something the stable's literature also pointed out, adding the impressive statistics for the Tattersalls Autumn Sale; 13 winners of 21 Australian Group 1 races going through that sales ring.
