The Victorian breeding industry continues to be the market leader in the country and the proof in the pudding was there for all to see on the $1 million Nutrien Sales Classic night at Wagga on Saturday.
Six of the eight Final winners – including all four trotting deciders – were bred by breeders from south of the border.
Kahula, a filly owned by Ballarat breeders Bruce and Vicki Edward, started the ball rolling when she soundly trounced her rivals in the $200,000 final for two-year-old fillies. By the siring colossus Bettor’s Delight, she is the second foal of the dual Vicbred champion Kualoa.
Thirty minutes later, Smack Bang Bart, who was bred by Benstud Standardbreds, completed a clean sweep for Victorians in the two-year-old pacing division when he led from end-to-end in the $200,000 colts and geldings’ Final.
A half-brother to nine winners including the millionaire pacer Expensive Ego, the Rock N Roll Heaven colt was purchased for $50,000 by Gary and Courtney Barton at the Nutrien Melbourne Yearling Sale in 2025.
The undefeated Verbici, an Orlando Vici gelding bred by Louise Toulmin’s Oakbank Estate, anchored the Victorian monopoly of the trotting section when he scored a commanding victory in the $75,000 final for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Bought for $75,000 at last year’s Melbourne sale, the gelding is the second foal of the race-winning Verbier, a Dream Vacation mare from the imported American mare Let’s Be Happy.
Bumper Crop, a two-year-old filly by On A Streak, and one of the first progeny of the Cantab Hall horse, came from midfield to score a runaway success in her $75,000 division.
A $30,000 yearling buy, Bumper Crop was bred by Mary Driscoll, a sister of the multiple Victorian Breeder of the Year Pat Driscoll, and is out of the dual Vicbred Final winner Kinvara Sue.
Aldebaran Ada, a filly by the French sire Brillantissime, outsprinted her rivals to capture the $125,000 decider for three-year-old trotting fillies. The second foal of the Muscle Hill mare Aldebaran Aliza, she was bred by Aldebaran Park boss Duncan McPherson, Caleb Lewis, Stephen Hunt, Mick Fryar and the late Colin Hair.
She was knocked down for $25,000 at the 2024 Melbourne Yearling Sale.
Meanwhile, the three-year-old gelding Munny The Munster, who was bred and is owned by Dean and Blanche Poole, of Rhiannon Park, completed the Victorian rout of the trotting classics when he annihilated the opposition in his $125,000 division.
A multiple Group placegetter, he’s a Love You half-brother to the Group 1 victors and 2YO Trotting Filly of the Year award winners Banglez (2020) and Just A Bit Touchy (2021).
Interestingly, the winners of all four trotting classics were by stallions who were part of the Yabby Dam Farms’ sire roster at Ballarat.
- Aldebaran Park purchased a yearling filly named Aldebaran Nicole Swe, a product of the 2023 Elitlopp winner Hohneck, from the Menhammar Stud draft at the Elite Sale in Sweden on Friday
- Talented three-year-old filly Isthistherealife, who was bred and is raced by Western District identities Terry and David Lewis, made it two wins from three starts in the Kaye Matthews Tribute at Stawell
- Kath McIntosh, the principal of Llowalong Farms, bred the Melton trotting winner Shezalover, a four-year-old daughter of resident stallion Pastor Stephen
