Australian Pacing Gold have added a new yearling sale to their roster this year in South Australia, bringing their nationwide total to five States.

Attracting an entry of more than 360 youngsters for 2025, I had the chance to chat with new APG General Manager Anthony Essex to get his thoughts on the upcoming sales season.

"We're incredibly excited to kick off the 2025 sales season,” Essex said. “As the industry would have seen, 2023 and 2024 were restructuring years for APG but now we have our full new team in place and are all systems go!

“We are doing a real push to be ahead of the game with our yearling information to get that in front of buyers. Pedigrees have already begun to go out for approval and the calibre of the horses entered this year is incredible".

The 2025 sales season will kick off at Melbourne on February 2, followed by Brisbane (February 9), Sydney (February 16), Perth (March 2) and Adelaide (March 23).

One question that is always on people’s minds in the lead-up to the sale is entry numbers.

When asked about this Essex replied: “As I am sure most are aware, sale numbers are ever changing but here is a snapshot of where we are - the Melbourne sale has 64 entries, Brisbane (43), Sydney (56), Perth (176) and Adelaide (26) .”

“The quality of the entries is what has us really excited this year. We have a terrific representation of some of the leading sires in Australia and New Zealand.”

Downbytheseaside has the largest entry with 25 lots, Fly Like An Eagle has 23, Always B Miki (22), Sweet Lou (19), American Ideal (18), Stay Hungry (18), Captain Crunch (16) and Huntsville (15). Champion sire Art Major is also in the mix with 10 entries.

“We also have a great mix coming from some stallions who will have their first progeny coming through the ring in 2025. As much as we all love to see yearlings that come out of the big sires, it’s the new up-and-comers that keep our industry moving forward,” Essex said.

First season sires with good representation include King Of Swing (14), Century Farroh (4), Dancin Lou (4) and Cattlewash (3).

I asked Anthony for any final thoughts on the 2025 season.

"2025 is shaping up to be a real buyer's market at APG,” he said. “With the current market our vendors have really refined what they are selling, which I think can be seen in the quality of this year’s catalogue. With high quality yearlings that are for genuine sale and the chance of scoring big in the APG Race series, it’s a real win-win for buyers."

“Unfortunately, we have seen too much prizemoney being dropped from the Industry over 2023 and 2024. That is why I think it is important that APG has committed to having separate race series and prizemoney for each State, including the addition of SA.

“APG is the longest established yearling sales company in Australia, and we are only still here because of the support shown to us by breeders, buyers and the industry as a whole. It is critical for us to give that support back.”

Vendors who missed out on lodging their entries online can still contact APG representatives John Coffey and Lance Holberton to enter their yearling.

 

Maryborough breeder-owners Len and Irene Parker landed a feature double at Kilmore with close relatives Major Moth (Kilmore Pacing Cup) and Meteor Moth (Reg Withers 3YO Classic)

Promising filly Soho Playgirl credited his sire Soho Tribeca with his eighth individual winner from his first crop when she saluted at Cobram on Monday

Trotting yearlings outperformed their pacing cousins at the opening session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale in Kentucky. Trotters brought the five highest prices at the sale headed up by the Walner filly Rani Hanover, who fetched a staggering $925,000, a record for a trotting filly sold at auction

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.