Day humble about his amazing track record

Mat Day’s is another of the APG stalwarts and his harness racing youngsters are always among the top priced lots of the APG Sydney Yearling Sale. The respected Goulburn breeder has topped the sale twice in the last eight years and finished in the top five most other years. 

He hit the big time in 2016 when his stunning Somebeachsomewhere colt from Bettorthanyou sold for $120,000, $15,000 more than his nearest rival. 

The handsome chestnut was named Sicario and went on to win $590,000 in stakes. 

He took out top gong again in 2022 when his American Ideal – Perfect Penny colt was sold for $120,000. 

He races as Humble and has really blossomed in the US, winning eight straight since being exported in September.  

He has earnt $150,000 with the potential of a lot more to come. 

In 2021, he sold Captain Ritchie for $65,000. The Captaintreacherous colt won the $150,000 APG 2YO final at Menangle in 2022 and has banked $159,000 to date. 

He sold Captains Queen (1.51.6, $200k) for $95,000 (4th top price) in 2020. Jilliby Jacksparrow (1.53.6, $129K) sold for $75,000 in the same sale. 

The previous year, he put his best filly through the Sydney ring. The youngster, who raced as Anntonia (1.49.8, $411K), was a bargain buy at $90,000 and dominated filly classics in Victoria in the early 2020s. 

So what is the secret to producing elite youngsters and to keep doing it year after year? 

 We asked the great man himself. 

“I study the bloodlines. I study the pedigrees really closely and a try to keep a good band of broodmares,” Day said. 

“I bought quite a few mares but we have started to keep a few of the fillies bred from our better mares. 

“The foals have to be reared well. They have to be fed right, like you would feed a good athlete that was coming along. 

“They get bone supplements and I get a pellet made up with everything they need. And we feed a lot of clover hay here. 

“I follow each and every horse that we sell and I get a real buzz out of their success. The track results are much more important to me than the sale results.” 

Day had a serious quad bike accident in 2020 and relies heavily on family, especially his fiancé Jannine Thompson. 

“Jannine she is my backbone in every way. She looks after me great after my accident and works like a trooper with all the horses as well as having her 9 to 5 property manager job,” Day said. 

He will offer 11 youngsters at the 2025 Sydney Yearling Sale on February 19.  

He said it was a good even draft but he was keen to see how the King Of Swing yearlings were viewed. 

King Of Swing (1.47.9, $3.4M) finished his career with a crushing win in the 2022 $1 million Miracle Mile. He won 44 races and it is his first crop that is going through the sales ring this year. 

Day has three King Of Swing yearlings in the sale. 

“As a stallion, I can’t see how he can miss. He is very, very well bred and he won Group 1 races from start through to the end of his career. He ran his best races outside the leader and he was lightning quick.” 

Day also has yearlings by Sweet Lou, Always B Miki, Captain Crunch, Tall Dark Stranger and Bettors Wish in the sale. 

He said Lot 254, a colt by Always B Miki from 100 percent producer Aqui A Mi Lado was an impressive youngster. 

The colt’s third dam is superstar mare Under Cover Lover (1.51.8, $864K), who won the NS Sires Stakes as a 2YO and three Oaks finals at 3. 

“He is a brother to (10-time winner) Jilliby Jacksparrow and he is a classy looking colt,” Day said. “On type, he would be hard to beat in any show ring.” 

“Always B Miki had a big season in 2024, so I am hopeful they will be sought after this year.” 

For full details of Mat Day’s offerings or any other yearlings in the 2025 Sydney Yearling Sale please visit APG’s Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today! 

From APG Ltd