Not too many hit a bullseye when they first pick up a dart, but John Fung won’t ever forget his initial foray into the world of yearling sales.
Attending the September sale at Keeneland (where, I kid you not, there are over 4,000 yearlings on offer), a Gun Runner filly caught his eye. Actually, a few of the Gun Runners did.
And, yes, to be fair, there are probably not many multiple Champion sires whose progeny don’t catch your eye, but in tandem with experienced bloodstock agent, Dermot Farrington, John put the finger up for the Gun Runner out of stakes winner, Alexandria, winning out with a bid of US$275,000.
Naming the filly, Kilby Girl, and placing her with former champion jockey and leading trainer, Wesley Ward, said filly finished midfield in her only start at two, but resumed a couple of weeks back with a resounding victory at Turfway Park.
Sure, it’s early days but, for the record, the top priced Gun Runner out of September ’24 – Silver Shot at US$2.2 million – has had three runs to date, each of them unplaced.
It’s probably pointless to say, but the bug has well and truly bit and 24-year-old John has put a law degree on hold and is based full-time in Australia, working for TFI International, which is owned by his father Tony Fung.
Tony is, of course, well known in industry circles down under as the owner of leading Queensland thoroughbred nursery, Aquis Farm, along with several other commercial interests operated from his Gold Coast base.
Indeed, John spent considerable time at Aquis learning the ropes from the ground up (or perhaps more appropriately, the straw up).
John has also since been involved with the purchase of several yearlings on behalf of TFI and is quick to credit prominent bloodstock agent, James Harron, with helping to chart the learning curve.
John and James were particularly active on the Gold Coast, purchasing a dozen yearlings – including three 7-figure lots – and also opened the shoulders at this week’s Melbourne Premier, paying $290,000 for an Extreme Choice filly.
Undoubtedly vendors will be keeping a keen eye out for the pair next month at the Easter Yearling Sale.
While John already has a run on the board so to speak, you quickly get the impression he’s not keen to not to push his own barrow and stresses that working in with James and the likes of trainer, Michael Freedman, is paramount to any success.
When asked about the difference between US yearlings and local types, he noted that the former tend to show more “toughness”, which he believes is important given they predominantly race on dirt.
John similarly believes that Australian bloodlines could benefit from further North American outcrosses, while acknowledging that American-bred mares are already performing extremely well in Australia. He has particularly high hopes for Aquis’ import, Officiating.
Officiating is a multiple Group winner in the US by the prolific Group 1 producer, Blame, from an outstanding NH black type family and, significantly, offers a complete outcross to Danehill.
Covering large books of mares in his first two seasons at stud, the first Officiating foals will be up for grabs at yearling sales in 2027.
However, John’s focus remains firmly on the present. While he will continue inspecting yearlings over the coming months, his immediate attention is on an exciting group of young horses this season.
Fireball, winner of the Inglis Millennium, and Breeders’ Plate victor Incognito headline his two-year-old team, while talented three-year-old Decorum is building toward significant autumn targets of his own.
Tony Fung raced 2020 Golden Slipper winner Farnan, and with two genuine juveniles in contention, the family once again finds itself dreaming of success in the world’s richest two-year-old race, the Golden Slipper Stakes.
“The Golden Slipper is the race everyone wants to win,” John said. “To have two genuine prospects heading toward it is incredibly special. TFI know what it takes to win one, and to be back in this position again means a great deal to us.”
