Born:
0000-00-00 - Victoria Australia Currently Residing: Louisville Kentucky USA Grandfather William Samuel Cox founded Moonee Valley Racing Club in Victoria in 1882. The W.S. Carlton Draught Cox Plate, one of the most prestigious races in Australia, has raced annually since 1922. Notes: Murray Johnson started his career in the Scone area of Hunter Valley; worked at the Irish National Stud; immigrated to US in 1982 and started working for Carl Nafzger. He also worked for trainers like Shug McGaughey, Charlie Whittingha m and Bart Cummings. He moved to the West Coast to become assistant trainer of John Gosden. |
| Johnson registered his first win as trainer in California with Green Alligator in the 1991 California Derby. Later, he moved his stable to Kentucky in 1991. His Perfect Drift brought many successes including Stephen Foster Handicap, Hawthorne Gold Cup in 2003 and won five of eight starts as a 4-year-old in the same year. Perfect Drift also won seven graded stakes such as Washington Park Handicap twice and the Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap. Perfect Drift made record five appearances in the Breeders̢۪ Cup Classic; his third-place finish in 2005 was his best showing. Johnson̢۪s other winners are Laura's Pistolette, April Gator, Wudantunoit, Sabona's Beau, Sherzacat, Dash of Salt, Debit My Account, Nantucky, K.C. Blues, Lil Pushlet, Dawnelo, Mr. Wonderful and Wedded Bliss. |