Rachael Micallef saw pacers being worked on the beach of Winnererremy Bay in Mona Vale when she was a little girl. She was hooked from that moment.
“My Nan used to live at the bay where the Ilsleys, Gleesons, Freemans and others trained each day,” Micallef said.
“I was only around eight years old when I started venturing down during the school holidays and weekends and found myself working for Mike Ilsley when I first left school.
“Needless to say he was my idol. I was fortunate enough to start out (in the 1980s) with horses like Paleface Bubble (1.57.9, $505K), Over Active (1.57.9, $130K) and Earth Station (1.54.7. $271K).
“I then met my husband David during work experience and as they say the rest is history.
“We have two children. Luke, who has no interest in the horses but is always around the farm carrying out maintenance, and Blake who is now an accomplished driver and has won 350 races.”
Micallef said they had been breeding yearlings for sale for about 30 years.
Their best horse was grand circuit campaigner Ultimate Art (1.50.3, $621K), who raced at elite level throughout his career and won numerous Group 1 features.
The Modern Art colt won five of his first seven 2YO starts including the 2012 Bathurst Gold Crown final.
He came back in top form as a 3YO, winning four of his first five starts. He finished third in the NSW Derby and fourth in the Queensland Derby.
At four, he won the NSW stallions Breeders Challenge final and a heat of the 2015 Interdominion the following year.
In 2016, he had a run of eight straight wins at Albion Park before finishing close up in grand circuit features the Blacks A Fake and the Sunshine Sprint.
“Ultimate Art, who was raced by Michael Formosa, is the best so far. Smooth Buzz (1.53.2, $128K) and Christy (1.59.4, $87K) were also good winners,” Micallef said.
“We have eight mares in foal this year. We try and stick to this number.”
The Micallefs will offer four yearlings at the 2025 APG Sydney Yearling Sale, one colt and three fillies.
The colt, Lot 209, is by Stay Hungry out of 3YO winner Foxy Patron, who is a half sister to nine winners including Fifth Edition (1.53.9, $152K), Jackson Street (1.56.6, $150K) and Angelas Dream (1.75.2, $118K).
The colt is closely related to smart filly Sugar Rush (P21.56.6, $48K), who finished runner-up in the 2YO fillies Sunshine Stars final last season.
They are both by Stay Hungry from half sisters Foxy Patron and Angelas Image (1.57.5, $74K).
“The Stay Hungry colt and McWicked - Opal filly, Lot 236, are both lovely types from young mares and are for genuine sale,” Micallef said
“The colt is the first foal from Foxy Patron, who only had two starts. She won her first start but her career was cut short after her second race start.
“He is a real athletic colt who has a wonderful family behind him.
“We purchased his grandam Angela Patron from New Zealand some years ago. She had 13 foals for 10 winners, eight in 2.00 or better and four of them were winners of over $100,000.
“The McWicked filly is the second foal from Opal, who we purchased as a race mare in NZ and raced before her career was cut short due to injury.
“We have retained the first foal now named Opal by the Seaside, who has had one trial and is currently having a short let up prior to her 2yo campaign.
“She is an athletic type of filly with the breeding she has behind her. We have no reason to doubt the ability she could have.
“Opal's dam Instrumental NZ has a beautiful family behind her having 14 foals, 14 raced for 12 winners.”
For full details of these or any other yearlings in the 2025 Sydney Yearling Sale please visit APG’s Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today!
