By John Holloway
Budding bloodstock agent Will Johnson’s pedigree goes back to his great-grandfather breeding one of the best sprinters ever produced in Australia, the champion chestnut Vain.
The Victorian-based Johnson worked at Lindsay Park in his teens and then for Robert Smerdon in Melbourne.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden (pictured) have had great success since teaming up with Will Johnson.Credit:Getty
In 2015 his career took a huge change when he moved to England to work for trainer Roger Varion, which was followed by a stint with famed agent Hubie de Burgh. Johnson returned to Australia in 2019 with de Burgh, who travels to most of Australia’s major sales, and he has a career as a bloodstock agent high on his agenda.
Last year Johnson linked up with Peter and Paul Snowden to assist in their quest of selecting yearlings and tried horses. The trio had immediate group 1 success with Doomben Cup winner Huetor as well as another winner, Old Flame.
The Snowdens lined up on a full-time basis with Johnson and the team were able to strike gold at the Magic Millions when Johnson bid on behalf of the Snowdens with Jason Stenning, who is the man behind the Trilogy operation entering the syndicate.
Trilogy is one of the four major identities behind the massive syndicate arranged by Newgate’s Henry Field and has the China Horse Club and Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock group.
Will was ecstatic when entrusted with the bidding of their lone buy on Tuesday when paying the second top price of the session – $1.25 million – for the Snitzel half sister to Russian Conquest, which contests Saturday’s $2million 3YO Magic Millions Guineas.
“She was easily my pick of the catalogue,” Johnson said. “I rated her very highly. My previous highest bloodstock purchase was $440,000 and the excitement of the bidding on the filly – it was surely a moment to remember when the auctioneers gavel went down.”
The first two days of selling on the Gold Coast were astronomical with over $94 million changing hands.
A filly by Zoustar from Solar Charged (Lot 399), which is the full sister to champion filly Sunlight, created a new Magic Millions record of $2.6million.
