Nev Ismaili with his handsome Dancin Lou colt
Werribee horseman Nev Ismaili hit the jackpot almost immediately as a breeder, producing grand circuit campaigner Our Uncle Sam more than a decade ago.
Our Uncle Sam (1.53.3, $717K) was foaled in 2013 and raced for seven seasons. He won a swag of country cups and free-for-alls.
He was a tough grand circuit campaigner, finishing runner-up to Tiger Tara in the 2019 AG Hunter Cup and King Of Swing the following year.
Ismaili has produced a string of winners since but not that elusive second grand circuit winner.
Ismaili’s Ashdon Valley Racing will offer two outstanding youngsters in the 2025 APG Ipswich Yearling Sale on February 9, both with all-American bloodlines.
Ismaili said it was his first foray into the Queensland sale as a vendor and he was looking forward to it.
“I had a return service for A RocknrollDDance, as he was based in Queensland, he was eligible for QBred races,” Ismaili said.
“So I decided to breed a couple more to QBred eligible stallions. It’s a lucrative scheme and I thought I would give it a go.
“I have bought a yearling or two from the Qld yearling sales in previous years.”
Lot 102 is a colt by exciting new sire Dancin Lou from good NZ-bred race mare Chrissy Styx (1.58.7, $53K), who comes from the maternal family of Meadowlands Pace winner and legendary sire Fake Left.
Chrissy Styx, by champion broodmare sire Christian Cullen, is the dam of smart Tasmanian youngster Sports Illustrator (2.00.1, $66K), who was placed in the Tas Golden Slipper.
She is a full sister to outstanding race mare Candy Styx (1.51.2, $201K), winner of 16 races in the US.
She is a three-quarter sister to Pot Black (1.50.3, $353K), who had a handful of starts in NZ before going on to win 25 races on US tracks.
Another half sister Clare De Lune produced Auckland Cup winner Lincoln Royal (1.54, $663K).
Dancin Lou (1.47.8, $1.1M), a handsome son of all-conquering stallion Sweet Lou, won a Breeders Crown final in the US.
His first Australian crop of 22 foals turned two in 2025.
“The Dancing Lou colt is a bit of a handful but he is a quick learner and I really like him,” Ismaili said. “Looks like he will just get up and run.”
Lot 130 is a filly by A Rocknroll Dance from Ruthless Bay, who traces back to American bred mare Natalia Lobell, the ancestress to a swag of star pacers including dual WA Pacing Cup winner My Hard Copy (1.51.6, $1.2M) and Run Oneover (1.50.8, $627K).
This filly’s dam Wineglass Bay (by Safely Kept) is a half sister to champion youngster Manifold Bay (1.58.1, $538K), who won the multiple Group 1 races, including the Chariots Of Fire and the WA Golden Nugget.
Manifold Bay is also by Safely Kept. It is the family of champion pacer Adios Vic.
A Rocknroll Dance has sired winners of more than $17 million in Australia and he is becoming highly sought after in the breeding barn, which could give this filly residual value after racing.
A Rocknroll Dance is the broodmare sire of superstar US 3YO Confederate (1.46.2, $2.1M) and another star 3YO Cannibal (1.48.2, $785K) – both were booked out in America in the first stud season.
“The Rocknroll Dance filly is from the first horse I ever bought,” Ismaili said.
“She looks like a racy type and is very sensible filly. She is the second live foal from the mare.
“The mare (Ruthless Bay) hasn’t had much luck with her foals. I kept the Sportswriter colt from her and he is just gone out for a spell.
“Rebecca Bartley train's him and really likes him.”
For full details of these or any other yearlings in the 2025 Ipswich Yearling Sale please visit APG’s Online Sales Catalogueor Register as a Buyer today!
