West Australian breeder Steve Johnson had a particularly successful night at Gloucester Park on July 12, commonly referred to as a ‘red letter night’ in the horse racing industry, when three winners of the program were bred by Johnson and led by West Australia’s star pacer Never Ending.

The other winners on the night were Otis (by Sweet Lou) and the two-year-old Sebastian James (Captain Crunch).

Never Ending added the Winter Cup to his resume of 15 wins, including eight at Group level with two placings from 19 starts for $606,275 in stakes.

Never Ending, who was purchased for $75,000 at the Australian Pacing Gold sale in Perth in 2021 by leading sire Sweet Lou out of the Die Laughing mare Endless Journey,

Never Ending’s third dam is the former Tasmanian top liner Stormy Port, a horse of great repute who won the Tasmanian Golden Slipper and the Victorian Sapling Stakes as a two-year-old before returning to win the Tasmanian Guineas at three.

Born in Victoria, Steve Johnson’s introduction to breeding came when he purchased a mare named Tilga Park, a daughter of the Inter Dominion heat winner Double Adios, who was Steve’s introduction to breeding. She left four winners, including a fine race mare in Cap Sensitive, who began her career in Victoria. When Steve relocated to Western Australia, Cap Sensitive came across the Nullarbor with him. The mare was successful at Gloucester Park and the old Richmond Raceway, Fremantle. 

Never Ending is a horse that rates up there with David Hercules as the best horse Johnson has bred.  David Hercules, a true champion, won 39 races – including 13 at Group level – and $1,263,159 stakes and was named WA Horse of the Year and 3YO of the Year.