APG Melbourne Sale - Sunday 7th February

APG Yearling 2021
Wed 20 Jan 2021, 9:25 am

The APG Melbourne Sale scheduled for Sunday February 7 is building into something extremely important for the sport going forward within that state. With $600,000 of local prize money on offer for just 56 colts and 45 fillies (pacing lots), the opportunities for VIC investors in Harness Racing right now has never been better.  There’s no better way to move on from the challenges of 2020 than participating and  celebrating at this wonderful event.

This is the sale that showcases the finest quality yearlings the sport has to offer, and this selection should excite those looking to invest in the world of Harness Racing.

The quality of this exceptional catalogue is on display from the very first lots. Let’s take a look at some more great early examples:

 

Lot 211 - Rock N Roll Heaven – Illustrator – Artiscape.

Heavens average earnings per starter sits at a very healthy $43,657 and when you look at his top 6 all-time leading money earners, it’s clear a click has developed with broodmare sires  from the Adios line (through Abercrombie ) - quite astonishing really.  Divine Caroline winner of $959,588 -  Rodeo Rock $$726,452 – Soto $617,115 are out of mares ( just like Lot 211) who are by broodmare sires from the Adios line (through Abercrombie ).

 

Lot 212 - Captaintreacherous – Indigo Breeze – Falcon Seelster

There is no hotter stallion in the sport of Harness Racing right now than Captaintreacherous . His 2YO & 3YO’s had an outstanding year in North America and he won “The leading money winning sire for 3YO’s”  by the length of the straight (a margin of more than $1.7 million over the 2nd placed sire). The late Bob McArdle’s words are still ringing in my ears - if you want to bred a champion, put Direct Scooter line stallion’s over Falcon mares, and this is what the very accomplished breeder has done here.  Like the above, Treacherous’ top earner Captain Crunch, winner of $1,725,495, is from a mare sired by an Adios line through a Bret Hanover stallion. Also of note is that this colt comes from the very successful N34 family. Other family members are:

Elsu     N34   $2,030,796
Tintin In America   N34      $906,422
Crombie    N34      $786,845
De Lovely   N34      $613,355


Lot 214 - Rock N Roll Heaven – Insidious Charm – Sportswriter

The same principals apply here as Lot 211 - Sportswriter is also from the Adios line (through Abercrombie ). While Sportswriter mares have just started their broodmare careers, the early signs are very clear on what sire lines they are working with ie Meadow line stallions (through Western Ideal, just like Heaven ) and Direct Scooter stallions are clear winners with Sportswriter mares.


Lot 215 - Huntsville – Jasmine Sheffield – Badlands Hanover.

The first crop of Huntsville went through the Lexington yearling sale in  2020 and to be frank they were a smash hit. Huntsville average an amazing  $62,143 for his progeny ( 3rd leading sire om averages behind Somebeach & Treacherous) and outsold Always B Miki, Bettors Delight and a host of other very good stallions. Huntsville sire ( Somebeachsomewhere) had a massive appetite for the Meadow Skipper Line mares - especially through Western Hanover, who accounts for 4 of his top 7 all-time best.  The Somebeachsomewhere over Badlands Hanover mares ( just like the dam of Lot 215 ) have also been a smash hit. Four examples of this are:

Limelight Beach   $1,370,324
Manhattan Beach     $808,462
Semi Tough     $607,133
Momas Got A Gun     $509,844


Lot 219 - Bettors Delight – Life Inthefastlane – Life sign

Bettor’s Delight is being promoted as “ harness racing’s relentless juggernaut” in the breeding shed.  No stallion has cast a bigger shadow over the breeding scene like Bettor’s Delight.  Age has not diminished his influence on the race track and in the breeding barn as his progeny continue to break records and he is now impacting as a broodmare sire”. This is hard to dispute. Bettor’s Delight has an excellent record when bred to the Adios line (through Abercrombie). Below illustrates just how good the Bettors, Life Sign cross has been. 

Bettors Edge    $2,211,211 Spring Wind Life Sign
Domethatagain   $1,167,275  Road Sign Life Sign
Up Front Kellie Jo   $1,016,944  Lifes Highway Life Sign
Jake Of Diamonds      $648,647 Orchid Island  Life Sign
Sir Jillian Z Tam      $641,151 In For Life Life Sign

 

Lot 220 - Betting Line – Lots A Blue – Courage Under Fire.

Betting Line at 3, won 14 of 15 starts with wins in the North American Cup, the Carl Milstein Memorial and the Battle of the Brandywine (where he posted his career best time of 1:47.2f).  This helped him to go on to be crowned 2016 Canadian All-age Horse of the Year and North American 3YO Pacing Colt of the Year.  Most active Harness Racing folk would understand how Betting Line’s sire (Bettors Delight) has done over mares sired by Direct Scooter stallions. Both Lazarus, the super star winner of $4,125,988 and Chicago Bull winner of $2,308.843 are bred this way. As a broodmare sire, Courage Under Fire best 2 have been by Meadow Skipper line stallions through Cam Fella:

Ameretto   $545,019 by Million Dollar Cam
Miss You   $304,310 by Betterthancheddar.


Please note, we will have online and telephone bidding options available if you are unable to attend. John Coffey will be inspecting all of the Melbourne yearlings on sales weekend, and will be pleased to answer any questions that you may have on the individuals featuring in the sale, or to bid on your behalf.  John can be contacted on 0418 500 211.

It’s also important to note that the Sale follows APTS at Oaklands Junction, Sunday, 7 February 2021.

Please phone Kathleen Harris - 0429 066 663 or e-mail her at  kathleen@apgold.com.au and she’ll be pleased to assist you with your online registrations, pre-sale bidding approvals or to answer any other questions that you may have on your travel and accommodation needs.