Waterfall Farms has purchased world grand championship contender The Titan, who has been renamed Watch It Now. The 5-year-old stallion will remain in training with Jimmy McConnell (pictured) but will be shown in the amateur division by Bill Johnson. (Photo by Jack Greene) [Click to enlarge]

World Grand Champion Walking Horse contender The Titan will be moving into the amateur ranks after Waterfall Farms recently purchased the horse from Neal Holland, Bob Kilgore and Joe Martin.

And he has a new name.

"Mr. Johnson has a horse named The Titleist already, which sounds similar to The Titan," said David Williams of Waterfall Farms. "With that in mind, we are going to rename him Watch It Now. The initials are W.I.N. Now, if that's not pressure to win, I don't know what is."

Williams confirmed the sale did not set a record, but would not disclose the purchase price.

"It put a dent in us," said Williams. "It wasn't record breaking, but it was record bending."

Johnson has had his eyes focused on The Titan for a while and tried to purchase him after the Trainers' Show a couple months ago, Williams said.

"Bill was looking for a horse he could show easily, and a horse that would do well in our breeding program in the future," said Williams.

Pedigree was also an important consideration and with his sire being The Skywatch and his mother being the daughter of Pride's Jubilee Star, everything about the horse lined up perfectly with Johnson's desires.

Williams said so far this year horse sales have been terrific, with a lot of young horses selling over the winter and many seasoned horses selling this spring.

"There have been more horses selling for high figures this year than I've seen in a while," he said, stating that 1997 was the last year he can remember seeing horses sell so well. "And my prediction is that this year will repeat or exceed what we saw in 1997."

With a new name and new division, Johnson's latest acquisition will remain in training with Jimmy McConnell. Williams said, as of right now, Johnson plans to show the 5-year-old stallion in the amateur division at The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in August.

"He is an excellent horse and he fit everything Bill was looking for," said Johnson.