by Peter Wharton

Victoria, Australia — Reigning Victorian Sire of the Year and USA Hall of Fame member Somebeachsomewhere was the overriding factor of the Melbourne leg of the Australian Pacing Gold sale held at Oaklands Junction on Sunday (Feb. 7).

Somebeachsomewhere was the sire of both the top-priced colt and filly and was the leading overall sire on average price.

Lot 172, the full brother to 2015 2-year-old of the Year Our Waikiki Beach, who is unbeaten in 14 appearances, was the sale topper at A$150,000. Bred by Fusinato Bloodstock, comprising Greg, Jack and Kath Fusinato, and prepared by Debbie Quinlan, the colt is out of a 1:59 Bettor’s Delight mare, Cyclone Betty.

The top-priced filly was Lot 137, the daughter of the 1:57.5, A$114,488 winning Art Major mare Art Shadow, who fetched A$125,000, the third highest price of the day. The filly was bred, raised and prepared for the sale by the Judd family’s Benstud Standardbreds, Katunga, Victoria.

Four Somebeachsomewhere fillies realized A$60,000 or more, while all five colts fetched at least A$50,000.

The 12 Somebeachsomewhere yearlings sold on Sunday totaled A$745,000, an average of A$62,083, almost A$34,000 higher than the sale average.

The five colts averaged out at A$70,000 (sale average A$31,204), while the seven fillies averaged A$56,428 (sale average A$24,457).

There is sure to be great interest on Feb. 27 at the Australian Pacing Gold Sale in Sydney, New South Wales, where there are 11 Somebeachsomewhere colts and two yearling fillies catalogued to sell.