Johnson Houghton Reaches Milestone

Were Eve Johnson Houghton even considering resting on her laurels, it seems likely that the former governor of Woodway Stables would have something to say about it. Nonetheless, there is permissible satisfaction at reaching a total of 50 winners and counting for the year, a total which the trainer suspects is higher than any achieved by her acclaimed father Fulke.

“I think he is quietly proud,” she admitted. “I don't quite know what Dad's best year was but there was less racing and it wasn't year-round so it's not really that comparable. It was only March to November. He had better horses as well. He had Group 1 horses, he had Ribocco, Ribero, Rose Bowl, Ile de Bourbon, Double Form. They just didn't race them as often then, either. It was a completely different era.”

It is safe to say Johnson Houghton was born into the industry. Her pioneering grandmother Helen took over the Oxfordshire stable from her husband Gordon and won the 1956 2000 Guineas S. with Gilles de Retz before it transferred to her son Fulke. His daughter, who began with a 'normal' working life in London before helping the late John Hills, returned to Woodway in 1999 and was assistant during the time of the yard's last major flag-bearer, G1 Dewhurst S. winner Tout Seul (Ire) (Ali Royal {Ire}).

Since 2007, the filial positions were reversed and Eve has been in charge, jumping from a general tally around the 20s until a previous record 41 in 2016.

“I was a bit worried because we had a really good year last year and I thought some of my handicappers might [be] too high in the ratings and it would be hard, but either they have gone on again or I've had more that have stepped into the breach,” she said. “I thought they could be alright but we didn't have a winner from November until April. I know that's the off-season but it's still quite a long time. So we were thinking 'oh dear' and then when they started luckily they kept going. There's been no secret. It's just good teamwork and a nice team of horses who have been happy and healthy.”

Brightest among them has been Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}), who took a valuable sales race the previous autumn and returned to his best at the same time of year in the £112,000 totescoop6 Challenge Cup at Ascot. The colt, due to go in this week's Listed Hyde S. at Kempton as a possible sighter for the All-Weather finals, is as embedded in the fabric of the stable as his trainer as the sixth generation down from Sirnelta (Fr) (Sir Tor {GB}).

Said Johnson Houghton, “Dad bought Sirnelta for Lord Leverhulme to send to Hot Grove. They had a couple of foals and he wanted to sell her, so Dad bought her back and she was a fantastic foundation mare. I thought Accidental Agent had bags of pace and I entered him in the Commonwealth Cup at the beginning of the year but he was disappointing at the start, he's a big horse and I think his strength hadn't caught up with him. We gave him time and he must've been a good thing off 85 at Kempton in September. He's a good seven-furlong, miler. Mum bred him and he's a first foal with little black-type. If he can go and win a listed race, then you've got that in the bag and you can go and do what you want.”

“There's a Champs Elysees yearling filly which we're keeping and a Due Diligence foal which will be sold this time next year,” she said.

Ably supporting have been “Bold Lad” H. winner Ice Age (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}) and veteran What About Carlo (Fr) (Creachadoir {Ire}). Heading the next generation is Caiya (GB) (Casamento {Ire}) and Magnolia Springs (Ire) (Shamardal), who was certainly not disgraced as beaten favourite for the Listed Radley S. at Newbury.

“She was having a lovely time on the outside, then she had to go between horses and she just didn't know enough,” the trainer said. “She'll be alright. She's gone a bit leggy now so she's gone away for a break.”

The winners are being recognised by support from clients.

“I will be pretty much full for next year–you always have some going in and out, but I've got 70 boxes and don't plan to build any more,” she said. “I don't want to hundreds and hundreds. The quality has gone up and It's enough for my very small brain as I like to know my horses, I like to be quite hands-on, and I like to enjoy it.”

Johnson Houghton's best performers this season are not by household-name stallions and she has continued to search outside the box during the sales.

“I work with Anthony Bromley of Highflyer and we bought quite a few in Book 1 but not for Book 1 prices,” she explained. “I don't know if anyone really has an edge but I don't mind a cold stallion, especially a proven one. Oasis Dream, they were giving them away. Dutch Art too. For some reason the market had gone off them. I'm not someone who has got to have the most fashionable ones; if they're good, I'm happy to buy them.”

Johnson Houghton's private grass gallops are regarded as among the finest in the country and her strategy is something of a mix of the old and the new.

“Some things have had to change because of the staff situation and obviously we've got horse walkers and all sorts of modern things,” she said. “I train basically the same as Dad, but we've adapted and become more modern in our outlook, probably. But they still go out for a good hour a day, they still warm up and cool down. That's the basics of an athlete–Usain Bolt wouldn't go out and just sprint.”

“The vets stuff has all moved on too,” she continued. “The diagnosis of things is much better, which can be good or bad. Before it would be more like 'chuck it in its box for a few weeks and it'll be alright' and it would come out and be ok. Now you have to spend a lot of money for them to tell you to put it in its box for six weeks and it'll be ok.”

Several fixtures, though, are unchanged at Woodway Stables.

“Dad comes out for two or three lots in the car and he's an extra pair of eyes and ears,” she explained. “He's not very sound or very good up and downhill at Tatts anymore, but he'll sit by the ring and go 'yes, no, yes, no'. My head lad William Reddy is brilliant. He's been with us 50 years–he started off aged 14 straight from school, his dad worked here as well, and he did Rose Bowl and Ile de Bourbon. He doesn't miss anything, and the rest of the team are really good. I'm really lucky. Because we're a bit out of the centre, people come here and they either last six months or a lifetime.”