Atworthy Park, which is owned by the Riverina-based Johnson family, is synonymous with greatness in harness racing.
Golden Reign, who was bred by Atworthy founder the late Les Johnson and his wife Rhonda, was the best horse ever bred and raised by the family. He won 28 races and $1.1 million in stakes including the Inter Dominion, Victoria Cup, SA Pacing Cup, Australian and Victoria Derbies and the Australian Pacing Gold.
The triple Vicbred and dual Breeders Crown champion Maajida, Shineonucrazydiamond, a winner in 1:50 in America, Fiamma (Breeders Crown 4YO), the Listed winner Two Times Bettor and last season’s outstanding two-year-old The Highlight Reel are among other top performers bred by the Johnson clan.
Following the passing of Les three years ago, his three sons Steve, Ian and Gary and grandson Lachlan vowed to continue their father and grandfather’s legacy for horse breeding.
As a result the family’s broodmare herd has grown to 16 and they’re offering nine yearlings at various sales for themselves and clients this year.
The Atworthy Park Group has nominated three superbly bred and reared youngsters – two fillies and a colt – for the Australian Pacing Gold sale at Warwick Farm on Sunday, February 16.
The first to enter the ring will be Lot 213, a bay filly by the world’s richest pacing entire McWicked ($5.1 million), whose oldest Australian crop are now three-year-olds and include the Breeders Crown winner Mac Bon and the Group placegetters Walter Warlock and Wicked Susan.
On her dam’s side, the filly belongs to a family chockfull of ‘black type’ performers. Her dam, Habanero, ranks as a Rocknroll Hanover half-sister to the dual Inter Dominion Final placegetter Flaming Flutter 1:49.2 ($899,341), Fiamma, Two Times Bettor and to the dam of last year’s NZ Derby winner We Walk By Faith.
“She’s a magnificent individual who just loves to work,” Steve Johnson said.
The other filly is Lot 244, a bay by the leading sire Sweet Lou out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Pippa Maguire (1:56.1), and thus bred on the same cross as Cantfindabettorman, Sweet Bella, Virgil and Aladdin.
Pippa Maguire is a sibling to five sub 2:00 performers including the Listed winner Zach Maguire ($398,081), the multiple Group placegetter and sire Lord Zin Zan (1:49.6) and the Group 3 winner Jack Farthing ($232,997).
Further back in her pedigree are top horses the calibre of Catch A Wave, Tintin In America, Elsu, De Lovely and Motoring Magic.
“You can’t fault her. She looks like a real racehorse,” Steve said.
“She’s the only filly at the sale who is eligible for the NZ Sires Stakes and the Nevele R Fillies Series.”
The lone colt from the Atworthy Park draft, Lot 246, is the product of Sweet Lou and the 1:58 Betting Line mare Rinaaz, a daughter of the prized matron Arterial Way.
Arterial Way (by Art Major) left eight foals for six winners – all inside 2:00 – and three $100,000 earners headed up by the 10-time Group winner and Australian 2YO Filly of the Year Maajida ($684,518) and the Bathurst Gold Chalice victor Lifeonthebeach ($256,103).
A Captaintreacherous three-year-old filly from Arterial Way named Judaala is unraced but she is showing huge potential with Emma Stewart.
Nathan Street and New York Fashion, both NSW Breeders Challenge winners, and the APG Gold Bullion winner Chicago Bart are among other members of this fine family.
“He’s a standout,” Steve stated.
For full details of these or any other yearlings in the 2025 Sydney Yearling Sale please visit APG’s Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today!
