Just days after records were broken at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the harness racing code now get their chance to buy the next star of the track at the Bundall complex.
Australian Pacing Gold’s Gold Coast Sale for 2023 will be held this Sunday with an impressive line-up of 36 lots showcasing the finest quality yearlings that Queensland and Australasia has to offer.
The Bundall complex has been a hive of activity in recent weeks with the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale gross soaring to a new Southern Hemisphere yearling sale record of over $243 million.
While the harness sale will not eclipse those numbers, there is significant interest and excitement about the lots that are on offer this Sunday.
The 36 lots will be the only horses eligible to compete in the APG Gold Two-year-old Final – which is worth $150,000 - in 2024.
Racing Queensland's Senior Harness Racing Manager David Brick is looking forward to seeing a large number of QBRED horses go under the hammer on Sunday.
“Racing Queensland is pleased to once again support and partner with APG for their Sales and Race series,” Brick said.
“It’s particularly pleasing to see over 95% of the lots for sale on Sunday are QBRED.
“We look forward to having representatives on site on Sunday to discuss the progression on the Queensland harness racing industry and our wonderful QBRED scheme.
“With the new Queensland Harness Centre on the horizon there is no better time to invest in Queensland harness industry.”
Australian Pacing Gold’s Client Services and Accounts Manager Anthony Essex says the yearlings being offered are from the best standardbred stallions.
“We are down on numbers compared to previous years but we are absolutely confident we will bounce back next year,” Essex said.
“Because of that, this would be the year to buy.
“I believe this year is the best to buy a horse because the numbers are low.
“With the $150,000 on offer in the Sales race Final, it is a pot of gold at the end there.
“It is a great chance for owners to get this prize money.
“There is a limited number of yearlings on offer but the potential for massive returns are there for the race series winner.”
Of the 36 lots on offer, Essex anticipates the nine progeny from McWicked will have great interest in them.
“We are excited about the McWicked lots, we feel we have some really good McWicked lots on offer,” Essex said.
“We have nine of those.
“He has a very good line-up, this year.”
The APG Board Chairman - Robert Marshall – will be on the Gold Coast for Sunday’s sales, travelling up from New South Wales for the occasion.
The sale commences at 2pm at the Magic Millions Sales Complex in Bundall on Sunday afternoon.