A total of 436 yearlings have been nominated across four states for the 2024 Australian Pacing Gold yearling sale.

The large increase in the overall entry coincides with Melbourne and Sydney returning to the APG sales arena after a one-year hiatus.

The Melbourne sale, which will be held on February 4, has attracted 120 entries.

Gold Coast, which kicks off the sales round on January 28, has 80 nominations, the Sydney auction on February 25 has 96 and the Perth sale scheduled for March 3 has 140.

All yearlings will be eligible to compete for $1.3 million in prizemoney in the 2025 APG race series.

The quality of the entries is outstanding in all states with most of the leading stallions having large representation. Art Major has 21 entries, American Ideal 19, Always B Miki 21, Bettor’s Delight 9, Captain Crunch 20, Captaintreacherous 8, Downbytheseaside 19, Sweet Lou 30 and Stay Hungry 8.

First-season sires in Bettor’s Wish, Tall Dark Stranger, Capt Midnight, Ride High and Captain Ahab are represented at the sale along with over 70 yearlings by colonial bred stallions.

One of the most attractive entries for the Melbourne sale is the Bettor’s Delight three-quarter brother-in-blood to Queensland pacing sensation Leap To Fame.

Some other high profile pacing yearlings being offered at Oaklands Junction include a brother to 2YO Colt of the Year Follow The Stars, an Art Major half-brother to newly-crowned Vicbred champion Sahara Breeze, a Captain Crunch half-brother to four-time Group 1 winner Heaven Rocks, a Sweet Lou filly from the Australian Oaks winner Shake It Mama, a Captain Crunch half-brother to the outstanding juvenile The Storm Inside, a Captaintreacherous colt out of Madison Louise ($114,016) and a Sweet Lou filly out of Bronski Gorgeous ($210,622).

In the trotting section, there’s a Love You colt out of a half-sister to the Inter Dominion champion Just Believe, a colt by the French superstar Bold Eagle from a half-sister to four $100,000 winners and a Love You filly out of the Aged Trotting Mare of the Year Miss Warbucks.

“We are delighted to receive strong support from the breeders from all four states. There are yearlings by all the major stallions, a nice sprinkling by the first-season sires and also a strong representation from our home grown stallions,” APG sales consultant John Coffey said.

“There is something to cater for all buyers whether you have $10,000 or $100,000 to spend.

“You can buy from APG with confidence, evidenced by six of the 10 runners in the recent Eureka race being APG graduates.”

Alabar Bloodstock stallion Vincent had a red-letter weekend with three of his first crop scoring important wins.

Turn The Page became his eighth stakes winner when she took out the Group 3 Dainty’s Daughter Classic at Gloucester Park, Victoria Derby aspirant The Real Sherlock was a convincing winner at Melton and Twist Little Girl won in a career-best 1:50.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Canada.

Turn The Page and Twist Little Girl were both bred by Alabar.

Aldebaran Park bred the quinella pair, Keayang Ignite and Aldebaran Keepa, in the Irvin Howard Memorial Trot at Melton.

The Always A Virgin mare Lovelist left feature race winners in consecutive weeks at Melton.

Both by Captaintreacherous, Petracca won the $150,000 Vicbred Super Series 3YO Final and his older sister Treachery captured the Tailamade Lombo.

When the American Ideal three-year-old filly Ynobe Dakota emerged successful at the Melton midweek meeting, she credited her dam Indigenous with her 11th individual winner.

Indigenous, an Oaks and Gold Chalice winner, has been bred by John and Christine Yeomans, who trained and raced her.

Have Victorian breeding news for The Forum? Email whartonp@bigpond.net.au

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.