From reject to Group 1 glory 

Southbrook breeders Lindsay and Mary Vagg bought a couple of young standardbred mares to start a hobby breeding operation and were catapulted into grand circuit harness racing almost immediately. 

They bought two daughters of super sire Fake Left in the early 2000s and one of the first foals they bred was star pacer I Am Sam, who banked more than $530,000 and finished second to Mr Feelgood in the 2009 AG Hunter Cup. 

The Vaggs had tried to sell the son of Perfect Art at the Brisbane yearling sale but didn’t get a suitable bid. 

I Am Sam had immediate success on the track. He won five two 2YO races and finished third in the Group 1 $300,000 Brisbane APG final. 

He won six of his first eight 3YO starts, including the Group 1 APG 3YO final, and notched placings in the Victoria Derby, NSW Derby and Australian Derby. 

His success continued into open class ranks where he won a swag of Group races and country cups and a heat of the 2009 Gold Coast Interdominion series, beating superstar Smoken Up. 

The Vaggs have bred a lot of smart horses in the ensuring two decades, including Bettor Bet Black (1.51.6, $445K), Pinup Boy (1.55.2, $155K), My Ultimate Levi (1.55.6, $151K) and outstanding trotter Victree Hill (Tr1.58.9, $178K). 

They will offer two well bred youngsters at the 2025 APG Ipswich Yearling Sale on February 9. 

Lot 117 is a colt by exciting new stallion Cattlewash from good producer Mardys Victree, who has already left five winners, including Qbred 2YO and 3YO colts final runner-up Rock with Sam (1.51.1, $242K).  

Rock With Sam was unplaced just twice in 11 starts as a 2YO. He won twice and finished second in the Group 1 Qbred final and third in the Group 2 APG final. 

He won his first two starts as a 3YO and finished the season with a sixth in the Queensland Derby. He went on and raced in grand circuit and open class features. 

This colt’s dam is a half sister to the dam of Brisbane 2YO APG final winner My Ultimate Levi (1.55.6, $151K) and Australian Gold Bullion heat winner Lochinvar Jewells. 

Lot 124 is a filly by boom sire Captain Crunch from winning Christian Cullen mare Pacific Cullen (1.55.5, $29K), who won the consolation of the Bathurst Gold Tiara as a 2YO. 

Pacific Cullen has already produced good youngster Vin Number (1.57.7, $55K), who won seven races as a 3YO. 

This filly’s dam is a half sister to NSW 3YO colts Breeders Challenge final placegetter Ideal Legacy (1.53.2, $236K), who went on to win 28 races on US tracks. 

Third dam, La Saint, won the Group 1 NSW 3YO fillies Sires Stakes and left 10 winners, including iron horse Saint William (1.51.2, $798K), who won 64 races, and NSW 2YO colts Breeders Challenge final winner No Ah Saint (1.54.3, $232K). 

Captain Crunch sired 22 2YO winners from his first Australian crop in 2024. Three of his top five earners are fillies. 

The cross of Captain Crunch over a Christian Cullen mare has already produced two-time 2YO winner Captains Creek (1.58.9, $15K). 

For full details of Patrician Parks entries and all yearlings in the 2025 Melbourne Yearling Sale please visit our Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today! 

From APG Ltd