Rookie WA sale vendor from top trotting family

Canning Vale livestock agent and hobby breeder Phil Petricevich, who will make his debut as a vendor at the Australian Pacing Gold sale at Magic Millions, Perth on Sunday, March 3, is a third generation harness racing participant. 

“My grandfather Frank was a successful trainer in the 1930’s and my dad Joe won four Group One’s,” Phil said. 

Among his father’s major victories were the 1961 WA Pacing Cup and 1958 WA Derby with Beau Travis, the 1964 WA Derby with Rising Scott and the 1967 Fremantle Cup with Coneeda, who finished runner-up to Binshaw in the 1967 Inter Dominion Final  at Gloucester Park. 

Phil, who has also dabbled in training, bought the Bettor’s Delight mare Niyarra, the dam of the APG sale yearling, almost by chance. 

“I have been an independent livestock agent for about 12 years and Mike Howie was a client of mine,” Phil said. “I asked Mike one day would he mind if I brought my 95 year-old dad out to his farm to give him a bit of an outing.

“I was thinking that Mike would have only one or two yearlings to show us, but when we got there he had the whole team out!” he continues. “Dad picked out this filly and wanted to bid on her at the sale but I told him that you are not doing that and so I bought her instead.” 

Phil shelled out $40,000 for the filly. 

Phil and his father were attracted to the filly mainly by her pedigree. She was a half-sister to the WA Derby and multiple cups winner Handsandwheels ($706,264), the WA Sales Classic winner Rock Me Over ($398,839) and the Group 1 placegetter Maddy White, dam of the Group 2 winner Star Of Diamonds ($201,308). 

“Dad said that down the track if you want to breed from her she should make a great broodmare,” Phil said. 

Petricevich trained Niyarra for about six months before she fractured a leg in a trial at Byford.  

“I retired her and put her to stud,” he said.   

Her first foal is All At Once, a well put together filly by the champion sire American Ideal listed as Lot 505 in the Perth sale catalogue. 

“This is the first one I’ve ever taken to the sales,” Phil stated. 

“Niyarra’s got a colt foal at foot by Rock N Roll Heaven, the sire of Rock Me Over, and is in foal to Sweet Lou. 

“I’ve got two for the sales next year, one out of this mare and the other from Cuvee Riche, who is a half-sister to the Oaks winner Dodolicious ($501,041).  

“She’s got a colt foal by Rock N Roll Heaven as well. 

“I’ve always liked the horses and it’s a bit of a hobby for me as I start to look for retirement from my work,” he said.  

For full details of all 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