New Claiborne stallion JOHANNES receivedhigh accolades this week when the Paulick Report’s Joe Nevills named him to the Second Team of his All-Value Sire Team Rookie selections.
A Grade 1 winning son of Nyquist who won six graded stakes overall, the stallion retired as the highest earning son of his sire. According to Nevills, JOHANNES ticks multiple boxes as a Grade 1 winner from a proven sireline who also has a strong physical behind him. While his best running came on turf, Nevills also believes there is dirt opportunity for the stallion.
“However, his sire was all-dirt during his on-track career, his dam did her best running on the main track, including a listed stakes placing, and there is plenty of dirt black type further down his page. It would probably be best to lean into his turf history, but it might not be all he can do at stud,” he said.
“And, if that isn’t enough, just go take a look at him. What immediately drew me to Johannes was his power from behind. He’s not a towering monster as one might expect from a horse whose sire and broodmare sire are both big, bulky specimens, but all of that strength manifested itself in his rump and hind leg. Johannes’ trips to the winner’s circle often came courtesy of a driving move in the last quarter mile, and it’s not hard to see where that dig comes from.”
In fact, when Nevills saw JOHANNES his mind went to a prolific Claiborne sire in superstar stallion WAR FRONT. That stallion started at a similar stud fee when standing for $12,500 compared to JOHANNES’ $10,000.
“Their pedigree link is extremely distant, but I think of fellow Claiborne resident WAR FRONT when I look at Johannes in the flesh. Both are on the compact but powerful side, highlighted by a hind end that’s given a closing kick to generations. Both have necks that tie into their shoulders in a way that gives them high head carriage, and both are by sires known for getting a diverse sampling of high-end runners,” Nevills explained.
Read all his thoughts on JOHANNES and why he put him on the team here.