Better the devil you know?

VENDORS and breeders in New South Wales and Victoria face a diabolically difficult decision…who do they trust to sell their yearling in 2021?

Australian Pacing Gold has been around for 30 years specialising in standardbred yearling sales.

That’s not to say they don’t have their own demons to manage, which has led to a number of discontented clients advocating for a new sales company.

Nutrien Equine is that new player – part of a big multi-national company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

APG’s model has always been to advertise its futurity race purses before their summer sales; Nutrien is suggesting a minimum amount which may be increased depending on the success of the sales.

APG likes to think of itself as a ‘national’ company with sales in the four leading harness racing jurisdictions around Australia – Nutrien is offering a single sale in Melbourne.

Both companies have opened to nominations but uncertainty exists around whether Nutrien has received official approval for its sale and race series.

Nutrien’s media only refers to ‘in principle’ approval while there is no detail about the date and venue for their race series.

One prominent Victorian vendor, who asked not to be named, told us that he welcomed competition in the yearling marketplace.

When asked about where he would be sending his draft is 2021, he answered:

“The new company looks attractive, but there are a lot of questions still unanswered about the sale and the series and the prizemoney. For me that’s too many risks. I’ll be sticking with the devil I know.”

• APG Media