Site crafted and built by Kick Collective
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, by Chris Roots
Perth owner Gary Johnson was been in couch stadium for the past year as Haut Brion Her has emerged as one of the country’s best sprinters, so he is excited to be back on track as she attempts to become a group 1 winner in the Galaxy at Rosehill tomorrow.
″The last time I saw her race was when she won the Blazer Stakes in Melbourne in 2019,″ Johnson said. ″There has been a lot of cheering from the couch since but I’m not going to miss Saturday.″
It has been a measured approach with Haut Brion Her by trainer Chris Waller, since her fifth place behind Classique Legend in The Everest and runner-up finish in the Yes Yes Yes Stakes with an eye to getting her a group 1 victory, and the plan has been to go to The Galaxy first up.
″Her owners have been very patient playing the waiting game and I think we have the right race for on the weekend,″ Waller said. ″Horses need to have a break but it has been like waiting for Christmas with her.″ Johnson is ready to unwrap his present at Rosehill tomorrow and already has an eye to The Everest.
″She is a fitter and better horse this time in is what Chris is telling me, which is exciting. I have looked at her trials and she has just done everything right,″ he said. ″If she does that on Saturday, I don’t think we will have any trouble getting into the Everest this year.″
Johnson has invested a lot of faith in the daughter of Zoustar after breeding her and having to wait for her to overcome an injury setback after the Blazer victory.
″She nearly went to the sales. I had a meeting with Pauline Liston from Three Bridges and she said, ‘this is the best one we have bred’ and I said, ‘what the hell are we selling her for then’ Johnson recalled.
″Unfortunately, her mum One In A Million went through a fence after having her, like the good ones do, so she is the only one we got.′
It was last Sydney spring where Haut Brion Her showed she can match with the guns of sprinting and Johnson once again backed her ability.
AdvertisementAfter winning the Sheraco Stakes, Haut Brion Her was considered an outside chance of a place in The Everest and, when the opportunity came in the week of the race, Johnson bought Chris Waller’s $600,000 slot.
″We were negotiating and there was a bit of trading going on and I just said, ‘how about I buy the slot’,″ Johnson said. ″That what we did, and she needed to run in the first five to show a profit and she did.
″Then she ran second to Gytrash in the Yes Yes Yes Stakes and we knew we had a really good horse.
″I have been waiting for her to come back since. It is exciting.″