Micallef family draft one of their best ever 

Monteagle (near Young) couple David and Rachael Micallef have been selling yearlings at the NSW sales for more than 25 years. 

The hard working South West Slopes horsepeople, who also run a busy racing stable, will parade eight yearlings at the Australian Pacing Gold Sydney Sale at Warwick Farm on Sunday, February 25. 

“We’re very happy with this year’s draft,” David said. “They are all very well grown and mature and good types. They are out of good mares including some mares that have just come off the racetrack.   

“Most of them are out of strong families. 

“We’re hoping that they sell well on the way they look, their breeding and the families behind them.” 

The first of the Micallef draft is Lot 305, a bay colt by the world champion racehorse and emerging sire Downbytheseaside and the first foal out of the 1:54 mare Barbie Mattgregor NZ. 

The colt’s grand dam My Barbie Doll NZ (by In The Pocket) has a 100 perfect record at stud with nine winners from nine foals to race including the WA Golden Slipper placegetter Mister Ardee ($368,815). 

“He’s a good style of colt,” David said. 

Lot 313, a bay colt by the USA Breeders Crown champion and siring sensation Stay Hungry, should attract plenty of interest. 

The striking colt is out of the Art Major mare Chalondra (1:56.6), a half-sister to the dual Inter Dominion champion and Horse of the Year Beautide ($2.1million) and the Tasmanian Sires Stakes champion Ashkalini, dam of the former Australian two-year-old mile record holder Ignatius 1:48.6 ($803,307). 

“He’s a thick set colt with good shoulders and neck. He’s very strong,” David stated.      

The third colt from the Micallef entry is Lot 387, by the champion juvenile sire Art Major and the first foal of Tact Bess NZ, who went 1:54.5 and earned $73,000. 

Tact Bess, who won 11 races, is a half-sister to five in 2:00 including the Group 1 NZ winner Tact Lizzie, dam of the Victoria 4YO Bonanza winner Tact Tate ($512,109), and to the dam of the Group 2 NSW winner Tact Hayley’s Delight ($300,736). 

“He’s very long in the barrel and a good style of horse from a great NZ family,” David said. 

The sole filly from the Micallef family is Lot 371, a bay filly by Downbytheseaside from the Art Major mare Pin Up Pony NZ, the dam of two winners from three to race and a member of the prized Black Watch family. 

David Micallef is particularly excited about the prospect of Lot 353, an Always B Miki colt owned by Brisbane bloodstock agent Stu Valentine, trading as Advanced Standardbreds. 

The colt is a half-brother to the exported Millwood Bonnie ($442,245) and the Bathurst Tiara heat winner Millwood Daisy, being out of Mach Three’s triple Oaks winner Millwood Meg NZ ($336,795). 

 “He’s a typical ‘Miki’, a good sized colt with a good temperament. He’s a racy looking bloke,” David said. 

The colt should also attract attention from the other side of the ‘ditch’, being eligible for the NZ Sires’ Stakes. 

The Micallef’s son Blake, who has piloted 290 winners and the winners of $2.4million, is represented at the sale by Lot 363, a lovely roan American Ideal filly from Our Apachee Miss, whose first foal is the NSW Breeders Challenge Western Region winner Smooth Buzz. 

“She’s a really well put together filly. The first foal out of her Steve Turnbull has got a good opinion of,” David stated. 

The Micallef team is also preparing two youngsters for well-known Leeton horseman Reece Maguire. 

The pick of the duo is Lot 360, a neat, compact American Ideal filly from the 1:49.4 mare My Double Dream NZ ($669,881), a winner of 29 races in NZ and North America and dam of four winners from five starters including the $170,000 USA winner Double Your Bet. 

The other half of the Maguire entry is Lot 316, a racy looking Always B Miki colt out of the multiple Group placegetter Covert Beauty ($107,620), dam of the dual Albion Park winner Captivante. 

For full details and catalogued yearlings in the 2024 Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sales please visit our Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer now.

From APG Ltd