Melbourne sale to showcase first crop sires

The Nutrien Equine Melbourne Yearling Sale is always a great showcase for first season harness racing sires and this year’s group of freshman sires – both North American and colonial bred – is one of the best ever.

The North America Cup winner Captain Crunch has a strong representation with 20 entries offered by a wide range of vendors.

Last year’s leading USA rookie sire Stay Hungry has six entries, McWicked, the richest stallion of all-time, and world champion Lather Up (1:46) have three lots each, while a trio of top flight Australian performers in Soho Tribeca (11 lots), Poster Boy (8) and The Storm Inside (7) are well represented.

Pastor Stephen, a younger brother to champion trotting sire Father Patrick, has three entries from his initial crop.

Many of the world’s leading sires are represented at the sale, including Bettor’s Delight (14 lots), Captaintreacherous (6), Art Major (25), American Ideal (16), Always B Miki (16), Rock N Roll Heaven (10), Somebeachsomewhere (3), Sweet Lou (8), A Rocknroll Dance (9) and the trotters Father Patrick (12), Majestic Son (5), Love You (3) and Quaker Jet (7).

Exciting, young sires with multiple representation include Betting Line (5 lots), Downbytheseaside (4), Vincent (6), Jilliby Kung Fu (5), Lazarus (2) and the trotters Volstead (27), Southwind Frank (6), What The Hill (3) and Aldebaran Eagle (5).

A yearling parade will be held at 12noon on Saturday, April 1 and the sales company will provide complimentary food and refreshments while prospective purchasers peruse the expansive offerings.

The auction comprising 304 lots will get underway at 11am on Sunday, April 2, with the second session starting at 12noon on Monday, April 3.

Sales graduates are eligible for the Nutrien Equine Sales Classics with guaranteed $175,000 finals for two-year-old pacing colts/geldings and fillies, $100,000 finals for three-year-old pacing colts/geldings and fillies, $62,500 finals for two-year-old trotting colts/geldings and fillies and $125,000 finals for three-year-old trotting colts/geldings and fillies.

They are also eligible for Vicbred, Vicbred Platinum, Breeders Crown, NSW Breeders Challenge, Bathurst Gold Crown, QBred, Southern Cross, Tasbred and Need For Speed.

The yearling parade and sale will be livestreamed on www.nutrienequine.com.au

For further information phone Mark Barton 0419 488 256 or Gemma Smallmon 0447 356 549.

Champion sire Captaintreacherous (Empire Stallions) had a red-letter weekend siring important classic winners on both sides of the Tasman.

‘The Captain’ provided the quinella pair, Lux Aeterna and Eye Believe, in the $150,000 Bathurst Gold Tiara, and the winners of the $150,000 Gold Crown (Chart Topper) and the $100,000 Gold Chalice in Bainbridge.

At Auckland, Captaintreacherous left the winners of the $83,700 Northern Oaks (Millwood Nike) and the Delightful Lady 2YO Fillies Classic (Treacherous Love).

Captaintreacherous has three colts and three fillies nominated for the Nutrien Equine Melbourne Yearling Sale.

Former cups king Guaranteed was credited with his first black type performer from his initial crop when Pas Guarantee emerged successful in the $35,000 Echuca Pacing Cup.

A four-year-old gelding, Pas Guarantee was bred and is raced by Rochester couple Mark and Sue-Ellen Thompson, who also bred and part-owned Guaranteed, now standing at Mary Helen Pearce’s Eldarin Park stud near Bendigo.

Shesawish, the convincing end-to-end winner of the $50,000 Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic for three-year-old trotting fillies at Melton, certainly has a lot to live up to on the score of blood.

She’s a daughter of Wishing Stone, a winner in elite company in America and Europe, and the Sundon mare Shesasundon, by Sundon from Yankee Princess, by Muscles Yankee from Maori Princess, and thus a member of the celebrated Maori Miss tribe.

Shesawish, who has won three of her five starts, was bred and is owned by Malcolm and Joan Shaw and Louise Pangrazio, the wife of trainer Neville Pangrazio.

by Peter Wharton, for Harness Racing Victoria