The connections of Fear The Yankee (including owner Rachael Benns) after her 2YO Vicbred final win.
The 2025 APG Melbourne Yearling Sale on February 2 features some exceptional young talent from vendors showcasing a single lot.
Here’s the first of a two-part feature featuring some of the quality yearlings that will go under the hammer.
Lot 4
We kick off with a trotting colt by leading sire Majestic Son from dual Group 1 winning two-year-old Fear The Yankee (Tr 1.57.3, $106K).
Fear The Yankee (Yankee Spider) had a sensational juvenile season, winning three of her five starts – including the 2YO trot fillies Vicbred final and the Vicbred Platinum Classic.
The Majestic Son-Yankee Spider dam cross has already produced 3YO trotting colt Breeders Crown (G1) winner Cover Of Darkness (Tr 1.55.1, $114K), who was unbeaten in his first eight starts as a three-year-old.
Fear The Yankee’s dam, Whatta Tussle, produced six fillies in a row. The first four are all winners, including Whattalottafray (Tr 1.58.9, $23K).
Majestic Son has been a leading sire for more than a decade in Australia. He has sired more than 220 winners of $14 million in stakes.
The colt will be offered by Rachael Benns, who owned Fear The Yankee during her race career.
Lot 12
A filly by Huntsville from 2YO winner Ideally Say Yes (1.58, $28K), who won a heat of the APG sales classic as a juvenile and a heat of the 4YO Platinum series from just 10 starts.
This filly is from the family of Australian broodmare of the year Sokys Number, who produced WA Pacing winner Saab (1.57.1, $577K) and WA Derby winner Talladega (1.57.6, $411K).
It is also a prolific filly family, including 4YO Vicbred mares final winner Saabella (1.59.2, $205K), WA Oaks winner Sports Package (1.56.9, $151K) and Tasmanian Oaks winner Nickle Miss (1.56.6, $66K).
Huntsville youngsters have earnt almost $8 million in stakes in the US this season. He is second on the 2YO sires table and 4th on the 3YO list.
The charge is lead by his star son Legendary Hanover (1.46.4, $900K), who was Canadian 2YO colt of the year in 2023 and won the Meadowlands Pace in 2024.
Huntsville averages $45,000 per starter in Australia, led by Rising Sun winner Whisper A Secret (1.50.7, $455K).
Lot 19
Is a filly by exciting French trotting stallion Classic Connection from 3YO winner Majestic Pinevale.
This youngster is from a brilliant family that is littered with outstanding fillies.
Her dam is a half sister to Sassy Pinevale (Tr 157.6, $176K) who took out a Cranbourne Trotters Cup (G2) on the way to 17 lifetime wins. She produced Group 3 winning mare Electrojet (1.57.3, $100K).
Third dam, Sure Thing, produced champion filly Galleons Paradise, who was 2YO and 3YO NZ trotter of the year. She took out the Victoria Trotters Derby and Victoria Trotters Oaks as a 3YO.
Galleons Paradise is the dam of Group 3 winning mare Majestic Ali (Tr 2.3.8, $117K).
Classic Connection’s first crop of Australian two-year-olds will hit the track in 2025.
Lot 20
This colt, by boom sire Always B Miki, is the first foal of the young Rocknroll Heaven mare Malarndirri, who is a half sister to crack 2YO Border Patrol (1.50.6, $875K) and top flight US 3YO Chasin Racin (1.51, $769K).
Border Patrol won seven races as a juvenile and was runner-up in the Vicbred and Breeders Crown finals.
As a 3YO, he won the NZ Derby and NZ Emerald Stakes. He still holds the 1609m NZ race record for three-year-olds.
Chasin Racin was bred in the US. He had an exceptional 3YO year, winning five races. He was a consistent placegetter in elite company, including the Hoosier Cup, Battle Of Brandywine and heats of the Meadowlands Pace, North America Cup and Adios Stake.
Malarndirri’s dam, Contrapan (by Artsplace), won $113,000 on US tracks and was imported to Australia in the early 2000s.
Three of Always B Miki’s top four earners – Tricky Miki ($545K), Mister Smartee ($440K) and Fate Awaits ($394K) in Australia are out of mares by Artsplace stallions.
The other, Aardies Express ($463K), is by Rocknroll Hanover. This looks like a really potent cross.
Lot 22
A chestnut filly by multiple Group 1 winner Vincent from tough race mare Manthadee (1.54.6, $101K).
Manthadee won four of her first six starts as a 3YO before finishing fifth to champion fillies Tell Me Tales ($360K) and Petacular ($456K) in the Vicbred 3YO fillies final after winning a heat.
This filly is from the family of Gold Share Victorian Navy Cup winner (1.57.8, $237K). NSW Carousel winner Our White Knight (1.51.7, $334K) and Redcliffe Cup victor Jack In Flight (1.54.1, $216K).
Vincent’s top two earners in Australia are fillies – 2024 WA Oaks runner-up Turn The Page (1.56.2, $212K) and 2YO Westbred fillies winner and WA Golden Slipper runner-up Reinette (1.56.2, $187K).
NZ bred filly Twist Little Girl has earnt $120,000 and has a winning time of 1.50.7.
Lot 25
A colt by Victorian cult hero Ride High from eight-time winner Melinka (1.56.3, $60K).
This colt is from the family of exceptional 4YO Chilli Palmer (1.51.5, $290K), who was bred in NZ and campaigned in six Australian states during his career.
The son of Elsu won 10 of his first 14 starts in three different states, including the Group 1 $125,000 4YO Classic in WA, the (G3) Geelong Cup and 4YO Bonanaza (G3).
He went on to win the Gawler Cup in Adelaide and the 4&5 Championship in Brisbane.
This is also the family of Westbred final winner Patrickthepirana (1.48.8, $640K), who has won 22 races in America.
Lot 29
A filly by US superstar sire Downbytheseaside from speedy NZ bred mare My Bettor Lady (1.53.7, $60K), a winner of 10 races.
The cross of Downbytheseaside over Bettors Delight mares has already produced Victoria Oaks winner Coastal Babe (1.56.2, $360K) and WA Oaks runner-up Atlantic Gem (1.56.4, $91K) in 2024. It has also left Perth APG Classic winner The Bettor Side.
My Bettor Lady is a full sister to two outstanding racehorses, Best Shot (1.58.1, $219K) and My Casino Bell (1.55.2, $152K).
As a 2YO and 3YO, My Casino Belle was placed in multiple Group 1 features, including the Breeders Crown final, Qld Oaks and Qld Derby.
This is the family of champion US racehorse and sire Albert Albert and has a multitude of quality fillies throughout the pedigree, including Mistletoe Shalee winner Lisheen (1.52.8, $511K) and dual NSW Breeders Challenge placegetter Sky Blu (1.52.8, $105K).
Four of Downbytheseaside’s top six earners in Australia are fillies, including top stake earner Aardiebytheseaside (1.53.6, $484K).
Smart NZ 3Y0 colt Triple G (1.56.5, $120K) is out of Lislass, who is from My Bettor Lady’s family.
For full details of all the entries the 2025 Melbourne Yearling Sale please visit our Online Sales Catalogue.
