The results of the heats of the Nutrien Sales Classic at Ballarat on Thursday night provided a timely boost for the Nutrien Equine Melbourne Yearling Sale at Inglis Oaklands Junction on Sunday.

The Captaintreacherous filly Miss Australiana, the runaway winner of the second two-year-old fillies’ heat, has a half-brother by leading first crop sire Stay Hungry in the sale as Lot 198.

Their dam, Bettor Downunder, won 13 races and $134,067 in stakes including the Argent 3YO Classic and Ararat Pacing Cup. He is the first of the two-prong consignment of Ballarat breeder-trainer Wayne Ronan, who is also offering a Tall Dark Stranger colt out of Helens In Paradise, a half-sister to Bettor Downunder. He is listed as Lot 243.

Captaintreacherous has seven entries in sale – three colts and four fillies. They are Lots 163, 181, 241, 253, 320, 352 and 356.

Poster Boy, the sire of the winners of both heats for two-year-old colts and geldings in The Highlight Reel and Cigano, will be represented by two colts and four fillies at the auction. They are Lots 220, 336, 340, 344, 351 and 359.

The Highlight Reel and Cigano, who are both owned and trained by Clayton Tonkin and driven by Mark Pitt, led throughout for clear-cut victories.

The most impressive winner on the night was the debutante Ivseenheavenslight, who took out the first division for two-year-old fillies. The Bettor’s Delight filly galloped soon after the start, losing a conservative 30 metres.

After tacking onto the tail of the five-horse field at the end of the first lap, Ivseenheavenslight was tipped three-wide at the 500 metre mark and quickly rounded up her rivals.

Bred by Bruce and Vicki Edward, of Durham Park Standardbreds, the filly provided the first leg of a winning double for the Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock ownership groups. They also own Miss Australiana.

Interestingly, three of the four heat winners carried the blood of champion sire Bettor’s Delight. The Woodlands Stud flagship has 10 entries in the sale – six colts and four fillies – they being Lots 178, 182, 192, 196, 232, 258, 305, 306, 312 and 314.

The $250,000 Finals of the Nutrien Equine Classic will be run over 2150 metres at Melton on April 20.