The ownership consortium headed up by ABR Bloodstock and Summit Bloodstock made a clean sweep of the heats of our Melbourne Sales Graduate Series for two-year-olds at Bendigo on Wednesday night.
Loucasso, a well developed colt by Sweet Lou, notched his third success from four starts when he blitzed his rivals in the males’ heat, despite starting from the outside gate behind the mobile and racing wide throughout. He averaged a career-best 1:54.8 rating for 1650 metres.
Thirty minutes later the debutante Degarmea Teale (by Captain Crunch) sat parked throughout before outstaying her opposition to effortlessly win the fillies’ division. She rated a sparkling 1:53.7 for 1650 metres, the final two quarters in 27.9 and 27.8.
The pair will likely start at cramped odds in their respective $150,000 APG Gold Bullion Finals at Melton on May 25.
Both trained by leading horseman Emma Stewart are products of our Sydney sale in 2024.
Loucasso was bought for $40,000 and Degarmea Teale changed hands for $30,000.
“We bought 22 yearlings last year and 30 this year,” ABR Bloodstock principal Aaron Bain said. “We got for each State’s Series of Australian Pacing Gold.”
Bain said that the ownership group totals 42. The consortium includes legendary North American trainer Ron Burke, his stable mainstay Mark Weaver and prominent Florida owner Jeff Berger.
The heat winners Loucasso and Degarmea Teale are both in the top shelf from a breeding standpoint.
Bred by Goulburn breeder Matt Day, Loucasso is out of the successful Art Major mare Our Little Artist, whose dam Saved A Corka, a SA Oaks winner, left 10 winners including the Group winners Aspiring Artist, Major Exclusive and Rap Artist.
Degarmea Teale, bred by the Grubb family of Warwick Farm, is out of the unraced Rise To The Top, a granddaughter of the champion racemare of the 1990’s, Whitby’s Miss Penny.
Rise To The Top is a half-sister to nine sub 2:00 performers including a fine racemare in Ima Spicey Lombo, whose 24 successes included the Australian Pacing Championship, Queensland Oaks, NSW Pink Bonnet and the WA Empress Stakes.
From APG Media
