Over the years they have contested numerous big-time races when going to town, with former stable star Shadoways running second in a Group One on Derby Day in 2006 before he went on to win a Group One race in Adelaide two years later.
“I think there was 140,000 people there that day at Derby Day,” Mick said.
“And then Melbourne Cup day in 2015, Precious Gem ran second the following day.
“Oaks Day, we won the greys’ race three times with Shadowmaker, Shadowpark and Theresnothinglycra.”
Mick said having a horse such as Shadoways come November was always a thrill.
“To have a horse like him was very exciting every time you went to the races,” Mick said.
“He’d get back and fly home at the end.”
But with a stable full of young horses still learning the caper, Mick said it would be really exciting to have a couple running at their home track of Echuca on Melbourne Cup day.
“There is a lot of unnamed young ones that are coming along quite well,“ he said.
“They’ve got to go along to the trials, but in their trackwork they are working well.
Mick said the hope was to have three of the stable’s up-and-comers feature at Echuca.
Very Shamus could be going for win number two in the BM58 Handicap over 1000m while Lika Mosh and Rock’n’Roll Heart are nominated for maiden plates.
“There are 111 horses going for the maiden over 1200m, so you cross your fingers and hope you can get a run,” Mick said.
Lika Mosh, out of Pentax Plate winner Theresnothinglycra, will be aiming to break her maiden in start number six after banking two thirds and a fourth.
“She’s coming along good; she’s just learning how to race properly,” Mick said.
“Two starts back she over-raced with the blinkers on and on the last start she jumped and settled back and worked to the line quite strongly.
“She’s getting better all the time and learning how to settle and finish the race off.”
The Johnstones’ biggest earner, Pravro, who won the Shadoways Sprint at Echuca back in March, is also back in work and aiming for an early December run.
“We’ve given him a short spell and brought him back and should be ready to run in December,” Mick said.
The Johnstones will take Bon Shadow to Kilmore on Friday for the BM58 Handicap over 1212m after his win at Donald earlier this month.
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