Additional entries add to top end at APG Sale
WHEN the 2021 APG catalogue went to press last year, Debra Lewis was of the opinion her participation in Perth’s February 28 sale was going to be more relaxed than usual.
Lewis, the principle and stud master of Hollywood Park, put her polish on 36 horses to go under the hammer in the previous three sale editions.
This year there was just three, lots 411, 451 and 500, all on behalf of long time client Adda Equine, but unfortunately that number fell away to two with the withdrawal of a well bred Huntsville colt (lot 411).
However, an association spanning just three weeks in 2013 is shaping as the catalyst for her to be as active as ever.
“Nowitzki spelled here with us when he came over for the four year old classics many years ago,” Lewis said.
“He went on and won two of the big three including the Golden Nugget so I guess everybody did their job pretty well.”
Some eight years later, the same connections, Reibey Farm, have again called on Lewis when two of its Sydney sale draft transferred to the Perth sale.
Lot 683 (refer to Sydney Catalogue – will enter the Perth Sales ring as Lot 495A), the only Art Major filly in the sale, and lot 708 (refer to Sydney Catalogue – will enter the Perth Sales ring as Lot 405A), one of only two American Ideal colts, will be amongst the star attractions on sales day with quality pedigrees that according to Lewis is matched equally with “quality horseflesh”.
“The filly is a three quarter sister to Miss Sangrial and Sangue Reale who are both well-known group winners in Perth, while the colt is out of a group one placed Art Major mare who is from one of the best families in the country.
“The mare, Priceless Gem, is a 100 per cent per cent producer and has already left a sale topping colt in Sydney,” Lewis said. “I know my sale day got very busy the day these two arrived.
“On pedigree they sit in the upper echelon at any sale so there is no doubt anyone who is looking to buy at the top end of the market will be wanting to get them out of the box, and they will love what they see.”
High praise given Lewis has become one of the premier conditioners in the fast growing WA sales landscape and has prepared two of the past four Sales Classic winners, Play The Boys in 2017, and Talks Up A Storm last season.
“The quality of horse presented here is improving every year and i think it’s a great thing that eastern state breeders are so confident in our local industry they are wanting to sell them over here,” Lewis said.
“The new format of the APG race series is great for WA buyers because we no longer have to travel east to try and get some of the massive money that was available for graduates.
“Along with the Perth Sales Classic races and the RWWA bonus and sires stakes schemes, its easy to see why the depth of the sale and with it the average prices have taken some dramatic leaps in recent years,” she said.
Lewis’s two Reibey Farm entries aren’t the only additional entries for buyers to look forward to in Perth, with KTC Bloodstock also having an additional entry (Lot 438A), a Foreclosure colt out of the former Perth Sales Classic race favourite, Cap In Hand, who in turn is a half-sister to last year’s very smart two-year old, Robbie Rocket.
When asked about the late entry, Kody Charles explained “I actually part own this colt with a client, who is the managing owner. I thought that he’d entered the colt in the sale but it turns out that he hadn’t. It was a bit of a scramble when the catalogue came out and I saw that the colt was missing, but APG were really helpful and were able to quickly slot him in as a supplementary entry.
“He’s a lovely colt, so I’m sure that he’ll attract plenty of interest on sales day even though he missed the main catalogue.”
With 103 lots set to enter the Magic Millions Sales Complex ring, the Perth sale will be looking to continue on the excellent results achieved at the two eastern state APG sales this year, which has seen APG’s Brisbane and Melbourne sales achieve a combined pacing sale average of a very healthy $27,576 with an unbelievable clearance in excess of 91 per cent.
- APG Media