Scoring Up

The changing landscape of Australia’s harness racing yearling sales has prompted two experienced industry figures to develop a new sale and race series with a distinctly Australian focus.

Following Australian Pacing Gold’s decision to move away from live yearling sales, and the more recent announcement that the long-running Redcliffe Yearling Sale will not be conducted in 2027, former APG employees John Coffey and Lance Holberton are behind plans for a new yearling sale at Shepparton.

The proposed sale, scheduled for February or March 2027, would be restricted to the progeny of colonial-bred pacing stallions and conducted at Kialla Raceway in conjunction with the Shepparton Harness Racing Club.

Coffey, a highly respected bloodstock figure and long-time advocate for locally bred stallions, believes Australian-bred sires deserve greater recognition and opportunity.

He has consistently pointed to statistics showing that the progeny of colonial-bred stallions can compete successfully alongside those by the high-profile shuttle and imported sires that dominate many of Australia’s major yearling sales.

The numbers also suggest there is a substantial market available.

In 2025, a total of 712 pacing foals — approximately 33 per cent of Australia’s pacing foal crop — were sired by colonial-bred stallions. Those foals will be eligible to be offered as yearlings at sales around Australia in 2027.

The organisers are aiming to attract a catalogue of between 70 and 80 yearlings for the inaugural Shepparton sale.

An important part of the concept will be making the sale accessible to smaller breeders and vendors.

With plans for a cheaper entry fee and lower sales commission than those associated with the major sales companies, Coffey and Holberton hope the Shepparton sale can provide another avenue for vendors whose yearlings can sometimes struggle for attention in the larger mainstream catalogues.

The timing could also prove attractive to Victorian buyers holding $5,000 Vicbred vouchers, which must be used by May 2027.

Adding further appeal to the concept is a proposed sales race series exclusively for eligible horses offered through the inaugural sale.

One option being considered is a $100,000 race, incorporating a preferential barrier draw for fillies. Alternatively, separate $60,000 races for colts and geldings and for fillies could be staged.

The final format remains subject to approval from Harness Racing Victoria.

Funding for the sales race or races is proposed to come from a combination of sustaining payments, sales company commission, sponsorship and HRV’s base prizemoney allocation for a metropolitan meeting.

Under the proposed timetable, heats or preludes would be conducted in late 2028, culminating with the final or finals on Shepparton Cup Night in January 2029.

The concept has already received the full support of the Shepparton Harness Racing Club, providing an important foundation as Coffey and Holberton work towards establishing the new sale.

At a time when Australia’s traditional live yearling sale landscape is undergoing significant change, the Shepparton proposal offers something different — a sale specifically designed to showcase the progeny of Australian and New Zealand-bred stallions while providing smaller breeders and buyers with another affordable avenue into the yearling market.

If successful, it could also provide an important promotional platform for colonial-bred stallions and demonstrate that locally bred sires still have a significant role to play in the future of Australian harness racing.

_{^{Source: Stats & Information obtained from Peter Wharton story on Harnesslink}}