Sydney APG Yearlings Sales Review: 3 of 7

Our next instalment of the sales circuit is the APG Sydney edition held back on the 26^th of February.

With 201 Lots catalogue by a total of 31 different sires on behalf of 67 consignors and 34 preparers

Melanie and Ben Settree not only were the preparers of the new Australian sales topper, Lot 368  the Bettors Delight colt that sold for $245,000 they also had the biggest team of 29 yearlings under their management from the weekend. The Settree’s along with the entire team from Brooklyn Lodge are great people to have at the sales, while they are extremely professional at their trade, they also are fun people to work with. Getting Ladbrokes to sponsor some outfits for Melanie next year is on my to do list.

Another couple of preparers need to be mentioned, the first is Mat Day. For people that know him well, they will understand what l mean when l say he is a “Different Unit”. Mat prides himself on doing the best possible job for his clients and the yearlings under his control. You won’t see Mat Day siting under the old oak tree biding on his horses, he is a seller, 100% of the horses he prep for the sales found a new home. When he tells people, “this horse is here to be sold”, he means it, and buyers are really supporting this approach. Don’t get me wrong he still presents his horse in an immaculate manner, breeds form only strong dam families and invests heavily into the stallions the market wants.

The same can be said be Jackie Gibson (not the “Different Unit” part ) and her team from Success Stud. Jackie’s yearlings are easy to handle and they have a real glow about them as they walk into the ring. I love interviewing Jackie, I only have to ask 1 or 2 questions and 5 minutes later we have some of the best footage seen on APG TV. That being said, she is banned from APG TV  unless she can help me organise her mum, Mary, to join me for a chat next year on camera. I think she will be a smash hit, just like Jackie.

The Sydney sale had 13 yearlings that walked into the sales ring and sell without sending in their photos for the online guide. Without going over old ground, they got the same shocking result as the Melbourne vendors did that didn’t get around to doing their photos. This time the group averaged a distressing $16,206 worse off per yearling. I don’t know what else APG can do to get this message through to its vendors, put simply, they are giving money away by not making the effort to this done.

Below is the list of yearlings that sold without photos

Harness Racing NSW must be congratulated for moving the Miracle Mile back to a Saturday night meeting. With the following races offered, it was a fantastic evening before Sydney’s big sale day.

Slingsby Holdings Miracle Mile Drivers Invitational (Group 2) $52,000

Lexus Of Macarthur Lady Drivers Invitational (Group 2) $52,000

HQ Insurance NSW Oaks ( Group 1) $200,000

Macarthur Square Ladyship Mile (Group 1) $203,000

Wards Accounting NSW Derby (Group1 ) $200,000

Bohemia Crystal Free For All ( Group 1) $100,000

Ainsworth Game Technology Miracle Mile (Group 1) $750,000

Australian Pacing Gold Trotters Cup (Group 1) $54,000

Sky Racing Carnival Of Miracles Stakes ( Group 2 ) $51,000

The top 5 Stallion list in Sydney had a very different look, in comparison to the Melbourne sale

(please note I’ve only reviewed stallions with 3 or more sold lots on the day)

Now the commercial value (in APG Sydney future sales ) of yearlings, by some of the remaining stallions listed below, may need questioning going forward. How is it that Sportswriter can average $23,388 in Melbourne, yet in Sydney these lots came in more than $12,000 worse off ?

Stallion owners who are always quick to point out a race win of an offspring by their sire, must also examine and track how the people who have supported their stallions are traveling. It’s not always a great outcome.

Now selling yearlings is a much harder task than people would imagine. Put simply, it’s not all about the stallion. The things that l believe really contribute to getting a fair return at the sales for the breeder are:

1. Strength of the Dam and her Family.
2. Yearling type, the way it moves, its confirmation, constitution and attitude.
3. Sires value in the market place.
4. The power, strength and the history of the cross between the sires profile and that of the Dams profile.
5. The skill, trust, experience, reputation and the history of both the breeder and the preparer. What is the total package on offer?
6. The promotion of the yearling, how strong is the network of the seller and how the enquires are handle?
7. Eligibilities.

• A Rocknroll Dance   $12,416
• Artistic Fella           $8,333
• Auckland Reactor    $13,333
• Caribbean Blaster   $8,200
• Million Dollar Cam   $18,300
• Roll With Joe          $13,777
• Sportswriter           $11,083
• Western Terror      $15,600

l thought Million Dollar Cam’s connections should be happy with the above result. I’m still lost at people under valuing Western Terror and l hate to say this, but Roll With Joe better pull his socks up, both on and off the track, otherwise fans like myself will be left very embarrassed and disappointed.

Please see below the complete list of all 149 yearlings sold at this sale.

With a clearance rate of 80% and a sales average of $24,859 this is not the greatest result, especially after l called Melbourne the best sales event in Australasia; Given the efforts of HRNSW to put those major races on that weekend and the hard work of the staff at APG. I was expecting stronger support from the buyers to show up and invest in the product that these breeders (and preparers) work so hard to produce in NSW.

I’m also factoring in a completely different looking stallion roaster in this sale, compared to Melbourne. So with all that in the mix, it’s an B+ sales event from me this year.

With a much bigger consignment next year of Somebeachsomewhere yearlings, plus a few less of the non-preforming sires progeny and the addition of a brand new selling facility, don’t be surprised if the 2018 Sydney results looks far stronger than this years.  

Perth will be the next sale under review.

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

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