Prolific New Zealand buyer Tim Butt only came to the Ladbrokes APG Yearling Sales at Albion Park today (Sunday) for one reason.

And at 1.45pm the now-New South Wales based horseman went away from the 44-lot sale a very happy man.

Prior to the 12pm start, Lot 16 was being dubbed as the likely sales topper – and sure enough the son of Captaintreacherous and Forever Gold (by Famous Forever) didn’t let his clever followers down.

Butt paid $55,000 for the good-looking bay colt. That was $15,000 more than the second top lots - Lots 15, an Art Major – Empty Promises colt; and 34, a Heston Blue Chip – Our Secret Victory colt, who both fetched $40,000.

“I came specifically to buy Lot 16 and I had my eye on another couple as well,” Butt said. I like to shop early,” he added.

Butt also paid $36,000 for Lot 32, a Roll With Joe – Save Me Christian bay filly.

Even though there were 17 lots passed in (12 at $10,000 or more), APG Sales Manager David Boydell, said he was happy saying the average price passed $20,000 ($20,500 approx) for first time in Sales history.

“Growth sales were also up by 10-per cent as well, so that was heartening. We also had a few interstate buyers as well. Tim Butt got three and David Morris paid $40,000 for one. That helped a great deal.

“The top price of $55,000 is right up there with our top prices over the years. It’s also heartening to see a first-time sire like Captaintreacherous do so well,” Boydell said.

“It was a shame some owners had unrealistic reserves on their horses,” he added.

There were four Lots of over $30,000 that were passed including Lot 19, a Mach Three – Joy To Behold filly, that was sent home at $47,500.

Egmont Park Stud manager, Peter Bell, who prepared the Sales topper on behalf of M. T. Cole and B. Watson, said the son of Captaintreacherous was the best of the four colts presented by EPS.

“He was out stand-out. All the credit must go to Luke Miller who did most of the hard yards. He presented him real well. He’s a real nice colt and we half-expected that price. He has the bloodlines to go with it.

“He also has a lovely nature and is real easy to handle. He looked good as a baby and he’s just getting stronger and stronger. It will be sad to see him go,” Bell said.

The colt’s mother, Inter Dominion heat winner, Forever Gold, was better than average winning two Group Ones and $700,593.

The Sale was further boosted when Muscle Factory won last night’s Group One $200,000 Victoria Derby at Melton's Tabcorp Park.

His reserve of $12,000 was not met at the 2017 Brisbane Sale, but he was later sold privately.

That son of Roll With Joe and Malena (by Jeremes Jet) has now won seven of his 12 starts and $260,255 in purses.

Extensive results from today’s Sale can be viewed at this link:

http://www.apgold.com.au/yearling-sales/sales-results/2019-sales-results/brisbane/

The remaining three Ladbrokes APG Yearling Sales are at Melbourne on Sunday February 3 at Oakland’s Junction starting at 11am; at Sydney on Sunday March 3 at Warwick Farm at 11am; and at Perth on Sunday March 10 at the State Equestrian Centre starting at 1pm.

Story and Photo by Duane Ranger