Skip to main navigation Skip to main content

APG Sale feeds best racing in Australasia

23 January 2020

Share this page

Share on a platform

Or copy the page link

By Duane Ranger

Dean Baring of Australian Pacing Gold and Harnessbred.com believes Queensland provides the best harness racing in Australasia and for that reason is calling on Queenslanders to support Sunday’s APG Yearling Sale at Albion Park.

“The breeders in this state have been amazing, the way these yearlings have been turned is a credit to their connections, makes me proud to be a Queenslander.

“Many people believe the best racing in the southern hemisphere is in Queensland. The QBRED scheme is a huge incentive as well, I share this view.

“We are really hoping that Queensland owners, trainers and drivers come forward and support this Sale. Nothing would please us more than a Queenslander winning the $100,000 Group One in August, 2021.

“We have let too many good QBRED like Muscle Factory, Park Life, Arts Treasure and Expensive Ego head south,” Baring said.

He said 36 yearlings would be eligible for the $100,000 Group 2yo Sales final next year.

“This crop of APG eligible going forward horse will compete for more than $400,000 in stakes as two, three, and 4year-olds.

“APG yearlings have also dominated the Horse-of-the-Year Awards, and we can’t see this changing,” Baring said.

Even though there were 17 lots passed in (12 at $10,000 or more), APG Sales Manager David Boydell, said he was happy with last year’s Sale saying the average price passed $20,000 ($20,500 approx) for first time in Sales history.

“Growth sales were also up by 10-per cent as well, so that was heartening. We also had a few interstate buyers as well. Tim Butt got three and David Morris paid $40,000 for one. That helped a great deal.

“The top price of $55,000 is right up there with our top prices over the years. It’s also heartening to see a first-time sire like Captaintreacherous do so well,” Boydell said.

Butt paid $55,000 for the  good-looking Art Major – Empty Promises colt bay colt. That was $15,000 more than the second top lots - Lots 15, an Art Major – Empty Promises bay colt; and 34, a Heston Blue Chip – Our Secret Victory colt, who both fetched $40,000.

A full brother to that Art Major – Empty Pronmises bay colt will be the first yearling up for grabs on Sunday.

I’ve been asked to try an identify the 4 lots that will top the sale this coming Sunday, (the 26th of January, starting at noon) at Albion Park. While this task is possibly setting myself up to miss the mark, I will give it my best shot.

Lot 36 – It’s really difficult to imagine this colt not finishing the day as the sales topper. Many people would subscribe to the theory, that he and his half- brother, the QLD super star, Colt Thirty One are from one of the strongest and modern families available in this country. With a career to date of 56-35-9-3 and stakes of $825,756 this 3 time Gr.1 winner must give his younger brother by American Ideal an massive boost towards ending the day on top.

Lot 1 - Will be snapping at the heels of Colt Thirty One’s little brother. This very strong looking colt is by North Americas dominate sire of the past two seasons, Captaintreacherous. When you add in his sensational $700,000 winning N4, mare, Forever Gold, this Colt ticks so many boxes.

Lot 14 – This dazzling looking Colt, which is the first ever, Always B Miki to go through a yearling sale in this country, will get serious activity once he walks into the ring. Miki’s first crop of yearlings went through the NA sales and the results were staggering. While I don’t know Wayne Comferford, he should be congratulated for the way this colt has been turned out.

Lot 7 - Is a Somebeachsomewhere Colt out of a Bettor’s Delight mare from the U303, that will also have his preparers remarkably busy on sales day. The team at Burwood are genuinely upbeat about this Colt’s future. Somebeachsomewhere was a game changer in NA and his performance numbers here in AUS are also very strong.

The connections of Lot 4 may feel like I’ve got the list above incorrect. The outstanding looking brother of the $433,000 winning mare Sally Fletcher is a perfect example of what a champion yearling prospect should look like. A Rocknroll Dance’s progeny have been on fire as of late, and astute followers of breeding trends would know that his best offspring in the main have come from Abercrombie line broodmares. This Colt, along with his sister, Sally Fletcher ($433,000 winner to date) are out of an Artiscape mare, just like his best son, the $828,333 winning Lost In Time.

Lot 8 – The Betting Line Colt out of Making Gold the dam of Forever Gold $700,000 is also strongly in the mix for a top 4 finish as is Lot 31 another great looking Colt by Always B Miki.

With just 37 yearlings that can possibly contest Albion Park’s $100,000 Gr.1 2yo Brisbane Sales Race in August of 2021, add to this, that both $50,000 2yo finals are separated for colts and fillies. Qld could just be the perfect place to race APG eligible horses in the years to come.

The Brisbane APG Sale offers more bang for your buck than any other sale in this country and gives harness racing participants a wonderful opportunity to kick off the 2020 year with a real bang.

Please note, we will have online and telephone bidding options available if you are unable to attend.

John Coffey has personally inspected pretty much all of the Brisbane yearlings and will be pleased to answer any questions that you may have on the individuals featuring in the sale. John can be contacted on 0418 500 211.

Louise Toulmin is available on (03) 5275 1999 or e-mail her at louiset@apgold.com.au and she’ll be pleased to assist you with your pre-sale bidding approvals or to answer any other questions that you may have.