“If he was in a pub, you would walk around him rather than front up to him,” Johnson chuckles.
“He is a big upstanding sort of animal and he wants to be the boss.
“He has bitten me a little bit over the years and I have seen him get a jockey by the arm and drag her around a bit.
“On race day, Saturday, you won’t get near him – no-one will.
“He is big and robust and he knows when race day is and he gets even more big and bold.”
Johnson says Fab’s Cowboy’s personality is the reason why apprentice jockeys have generally had the most success on him.
The young riders let the modern day racing marvel and renowned carrot lover have his way during races.
But if a senior rider takes the reins and tries to boss Fab’s Cowboy, the legendary bush horse is likely to hit the brakes.
“It is better getting more inexperienced jockeys to ride him as he likes to keep everything in his corner,” Johnson said.
“He likes to take charge of the jockey, so I always try to put apprentices on him.
“Once senior jockeys try to stand over him, he simply won’t go.”
Record-breaking Fab’s Cowboy will be lining up for his 159th and final start and trying to score his 55th win when racing at Longreach on Saturday in his last stand before retirement.
While he will have a good retirement home at Living Legends in Victoria, Johnson will have a personal sense of sadness and miss his great equine mate terribly.
He says Fab’s Cowboy’s emergence on the racetrack in 2015 coincided with the rise of Johnson Racing, which is now based in Barcaldine in the Queensland bush.
“I will be sad,” Johnson says.
“Every morning when I walk out he looks at me, and I will miss riding him every day.
“Johnson Racing has got bigger and bigger and when our stable really got going, it was probably centred around him.
“I consider him a friend and everything will certainly be different when he isn’t here.
“I don’t think anyone in the bush will ever get a horse to Living Legends again.”
As Fab’s Cowboy’s resume started to grow and he surged past the modern-day winning record by another Australian racehorse, Walk Cool, Johnson and his wife Mel have had to deal with increasing media interest.
This week, they have received dozens of requests for interviews from print, digital and broadcast media.
“There has been a lot of interest but, after Saturday, people will probably forget about us,” Johnson said.
“I’m not sure what I will do Saturday night, I will probably come home with the horse.
“When he was a young horse he was still growing and it took us a while to get him going because he kept going a bit shin sore.
“But since then he has just been great.”
Horse racing: Watch the last five wins of bush galloper Fab’s Cowboy ahead of his 159th and final race.
Fab’s Cowboy has had 158 starts but long before he lined up for his debut, farmer and part-owner Paul Currin was helping to wean the immature youngster when near disaster struck.
“I handled him when he would have been less than six months old, the horse got a little bit stressed as he was pig-headed,” Currin remembers.
“He threw himself over on a side, he didn’t hit his head but he was motionless.
“I went over and checked if he was OK and if he was alive and he did not flinch.
“I thought I had killed the horse.”
Fab’s Cowboy certainly had an eventful start to life because that incident happened months after he almost died on his first day on earth in 52 degree heat.
Paul Currin’s uncle, the late trainer, owner and breeder Fabian Currin, was the man who bred Fab’s Cowboy in outback Julia Creek.
But if Paul Currin had his way in the early days, Fab’s Cowboy would never have had the chance to become a record-breaking star of the bush.
“I tried to convince Fabian that the horse wasn’t worth racing because his constitution was so poor, I simply didn’t think he wasn’t going to be able to handle any stress,” Currin said.
“I thought it was even going to be worse if we raced him.
“I almost convinced Fabian not to worry about racing him.
“But Fabian looked at him in the paddock and said he was a good mover and so he stuck by him.”
READ: Fab’s Cowboy’s amazing birth: ‘There were 8 legs instead of 4’
Fab’s Cowboy will be ridden by four-kilogram claiming apprentice Shakira Bailey in the “Farewell Fab’s Cowboy – Birdcage Sprint Open Plate (1200m)” on the dirt track at Longreach on Saturday.
Bailey is a former Victorian who has ridden in 20 races and scored her only career winner at Gympie last week.
Bailey, who is apprenticed to Barry Lockwood in Brisbane, is a former barrel racer (rodeo event) and her claim will reduce Fab’s Cowboy’s weight from 62.5kg to 58.5kg.
Fab’s Cowboy’s trainer Bevan “Billy Johnson” has always maintained the 12-year-old warhorse races better for inexperienced jockeys.
Ahead of 12-year-old Fab’s Cowboy’s farewell run, Paul Currin’s cousin Liz (also a part-owner) remembers a sliding doors moment before the horse was even born.
Fab’s Cowboy’s was sired by Greenwood Lake and his dam is the Fabian Currin-owned Real Live Woman, who was due to be served by a stallion called Top Mark.
Liz Currin takes up the story.
“Dad worked on a mail run and I got a call from someone who said the mare was ready to go, but Top Mark had just died,” Currin recalls.
“Because he was free I said we would take him, I knew nothing about the horse.
“So Fab’s Cowboy was meant to be a Top Mark.
“If he was a Top Mark, we might not be having this conversation.”
Australian racing rules state horses must retire when they turn 13 so Fab’s Cowboy’s race at 4.15pm at Longreach on Saturday will be his last of an extraordinary career which has netted a record-breaking 54 wins and more than $440,000 in prizemoney.
The scene after Fab’s Cowboy’s farewell runThis wasn’t about winning or a fairytale finish.
It was about giving the racing public and the fans of Fab’s Cowboy a chance to say goodbye to the adored bush legend as he had his 159th and final race start.
Fab’s Cowboy was his usual feisty self when he turned up on course at Longreach, putting on a display to show his rivals who was boss as he stretched his legs near the tie-up stalls.
The 12-year-old soon settled down and waited for several hours for his retirement race, the aptly named Farewell Fab’s Cowboy Sprint Open Plate.
The outback bookmakers in the Longreach betting ring put him up $10 in his last race before compulsory retirement and a new life at Living Legends in Melbourne.
Fab’s Cowboy finished in seventh place and was beaten six and a half lengths in the farewell race named after him.
The race was won by $1.85 favourite The Hanger Cat, trained by Scone trainer Brett Cavanough, with the four-year-old gelding which is a third of Fab’s Cowboy’s age making it five wins in a row in the Queensland bush.
One man breathing a sigh of relief was Longreach Club president and race caller Andrew Watts who did a “Singo” and vowed to shout the bar on track if Fab’s Cowboy won.
Fab’s Cowboy’s trainer Bevan “Billy” Johnson is a superstitious man and was wearing his special undies with a pink band, which have brought him luck in the past.
Johnson wasn’t delighted with the Longreach dirt track, saying it was just about impossible to make ground from back in the field.
But he was satisfied that his horse, with more wins than any other in the modern era, got through his final race happy and healthy.
“He’s sound, he just has a little bit of skin off his nose because he had one bound at the barriers and cut his lip a bit,” Johnson said.
“He’s been a great horse and I will be sad to lose him. There’s plenty of emotions right now.”
Fab’s Cowboy’s part-owners Paul and Liz Currin were guests of honour at Longreach and there could have been one final amazing twist in the tale.
The 12-year-old warhorse’s last race was due to be run at 4.15pm but was moved forward 15 minutes during race day because of the threat of rain in the area.
“I was actually hoping the rain would come and he could race tomorrow and continue this amazing story for another day,” Currin quipped.
“The fairytale never happened for him but had a good run midfield and I’m happy with that.”
Bailey is a rookie rider who has only had one previous race win and she admitted she was a bundle of nerves pre-race.
“Wow, that was an experience,” Bailey said.
“I guess I can say that I was a part of history.
“I was so nervous beforehand.”
With his grand, record-breaking racing career behind him, Fab’s Cowboy will be bound for a new life at the Living Legends horse retirement property in Victoria.
The Charisma of Fab’s Cowboy:
Fab’s Cowboy exemplifies what makes a racehorse stand out. Horses like him don’t just capture attention because of their impressive physical attributes or their performance on the track; it’s their charisma and presence that truly win hearts. Fab’s Cowboy likely combines a strong pedigree with a winning personality, making him a crowd favorite. His achievements on the racetrack, coupled with his striking appearance and engaging demeanor, create a story that resonates with fans and potential owners alike. When a horse like Fab’s Cowboy performs well and displays a winning spirit, he becomes more than just a racehorse—he becomes a symbol of excitement and aspiration for racing enthusiasts.
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Kurrinda Bloodstock understands that not everyone can afford the full price of owning a racehorse, which is why they make racehorse ownership accessible through shares. They offer a fantastic opportunity for both new and seasoned owners to get involved in the thrilling world of horse racing. By breaking down the cost into manageable shares, Kurrinda Bloodstock allows individuals to own a piece of promising racehorses like Fab’s Cowboy without the financial strain of full ownership.
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The value of Kurrinda Bloodstock’s approach is in its accessibility. They focus on making racehorse ownership affordable, which democratizes the experience and invites more people to be a part of the excitement. Their pricing structures are designed to be inclusive, providing entry points for various budgets while ensuring that all owners receive a meaningful share of the racing experience.
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In summary, horses like Fab’s Cowboy capture hearts with their extraordinary charm and racing prowess, while Kurrinda Bloodstock opens doors for more people to join in the excitement of racehorse ownership. Their dedication to affordable, transparent, and enjoyable ownership experiences makes them a standout choice for anyone looking to be part of the thrilling world of horse racing.
https://kbloodstock.com.au/our-horses/tagaloa-x-jasmine-wind/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F07Qza1EHc
This Filly is by Yulong Stud’s exciting young sire Tagaloa and out of the Sebring mare Jasmine Wind. Tagaloa was an impressive winner of the 2 year old Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at 1200m.
A race with a rich history for producing top class stallions including Redoute’s Choice, Extreme Choice and Written By.
This Fillies dam Jasmine Wind has a pedigree littered with black type being a sister to no less than three individual stakes performers and is a from a family we know quite well.
Tagaloa has been heavily supported by the industry with some of the best judges around securing them.
This Filly was one of the best moving fillies at the Magic Millions Adelaide sale, she is a very athletic individual, well balanced and covers the ground with ease.
She oozed class and showed a fantastic attitude throughout, we quickly zone in on her as the filly of the sale.
This Filly will be trained by Mitch Freedman Racing. Mitch is one of the hottest up and coming trainers in Australia with the likes of Group 1 performers Attrition and Skybird.
This filly will be trained out of the state of the art Ballarat facilities and will have every chance.
This Filly is eligible for the lucrative Magic Millions race series and VOBIS bonus scheme.
Could this filly be a future star?
Cosmic Force X Miss Marilyn Colt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBt772ReHjw
This Colt is by Newgate Farm’s exciting first season sire Cosmic Force, already doing a great job with only a handful of runners so far.
Producing 3 individual Stakes horses including the Blue Diamond Prelude Group 3 runner up Stay Focused and Inglis Nursery runner up Beer Baron.
His dam Miss Marilyn a winner at 1100m is a half sister to the illustrious Group 1 The Galaxy sprint winning earner of over $1.7 million Mistegic and Stakes winner of no less than 11 individual wins Rightson.
This Colt was a real standout for us at the sale from the moment we laid eyes on him we knew we were bringing him home.
He ticked a lot of boxes for us he moved effortlessly, is so well balanced and oozed class. Every time we saw him he just came out and paraded like the utmost professional.
He was presented at the Inglis Classic sale and comes off the Boutique nursery Riverstone Lodge an upbringing that will see him have every chance for success on the track.
He will be trained by Nathan Doyle in Newcastle where he will get every chance.
This Colt is eligible for the lucrative Inglis race series and BOBS bonus scheme.
PO Box 3105
Thornton NSW 2322
1300 587 746
office@kbloodstock.com.au
