Foal resuscitation part of the job

Respected studmaster Mick Holtam has been involved in the harness industry since he was a teenager but he still gets emotional when his favourite yearlings go through the sale ring. 

Holtham started out with Graham Weir’s Adios Stud in the 1980s, did a stint as studmaster at Roydon Lodge in NZ and was the in charge of the Royalstar Stud when it was at its biggest. 

He now runs Allwood Stud and will present a huge draft of 34 yearlings at the 2025 APG Perth Yearling Sale on March 2. 

“I do it for the love of the horses. It’s a passion and I always get attached to the youngsters,” Holtham said. 

“I have a real soft spot for a horse called Back In Twenty. He was born at 3am in the pouring rain. 

“My wife came out to help and we got him out. But he stopped breathing and we had to do mouth to mouth and heart massage to revive him. 

“We worked on him for 20 minutes before he took a breath and gave a little whinny. That is why we called him Back In Twenty. 

“I still get a rush when that horse races.” 

Back In Twenty has had 128 starts and earnt $192,000. He has raced successfully in four different states – WA, NSW, Qld and South Australia. 

Holtham has a soft spot for a colt from last year’s crop because of his troubled birth. “He had a few issues and I had to bring him in from the paddock in a wheelbarrow,” he said. 

“We had to tend to him for a couple of days before he and the mare where able to go back out. 

“It is always emotional after the sale, to see the yearlings go. You want to fetch a good price and for them to do well after. Sometimes there are a few tears.” 

Holtham said the logistics of taking a big draft of yearlings to the sale was a challenge but it was a well-planned operation. 

“They come in for six weeks. They are walked every second day and lunged the other,” he said. 

“They are taught to load on the float. We put a lot of work into them to make sure they are easy to handle when buyers take them home. 

“The temperaments of our horses have become a selling point. 

“We do photos and videos, everything is available for potential buyers to see. 

“It is all planned down to the transport and the amount of feed we need to take.” 

Holtham said he was really happy with the Fly Like An Eagle yearlings this year. Allwood will offer 19 yearlings by the much underrated sire. 

The handsome NZ bred stallion has 206 foals of racing age (3YO and older) for 106 winners of more than $5 million in stakes. 

“He has a great record and he’s done it with limited numbers and not many elite mares,” Holtham said. 

“This year’s crop are exceptional. They are all athletic and have great attitudes.  

“There could be an exceptional 2YO among this lot and they are eligible for double Westbred bonuses. 

“The Our Citation colt (Lot 381) really catches the eye and the Allamerican Queen colt (Lot 396) is very athletic. 

“Check out his movement in the video (available at the online catalogue, APG website) and you will see he will be a 2YO. 

“The last filly in the sale Lot 477, a grand daughter of good broodmare Appaloosa) who has strong bloodlines and is worth sticking around for. 

“And it will be the last chance to buy youngsters by (deceased stallion) Rocknroll World.” 

Allwood Stud will offer 10 yearlings by the ill-fated Rocknroll World, who has produced 46 winners from two crops of racing age. 

Allwood Stud yearlings are available for inspection by appointment. Contact the stud for information. 

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

From APG Ltd