Working their large Queensland property Lindsay and Mary Vagg, figured they needed a hobby.
After spotting some standardbred fillies for sale, the couple decided harness racing could be the answer.
Rather than concentrate on the racetrack, however, the Vaggs’ focus on was breeding, so they purchased some daughters of Fake Left.
More than two decades later those two-year-olds have become magnificent foundations mares, with one of their descendants topping last year’s Australian Pacing Gold Brisbane Sale.
“It all started out as a hobby,” Lindsay said.
“Some Fake Left two-year-olds came on market so we bought them.
“Both had tendon problems but were well-bred so we thought give it a go and breed from them.
“But the first yearling we took to the sale was a rig which didn’t sell at $5000 so we took him back home again.”
Initially disappointed the son of Perfect Art didn’t sell, the Vaggs soon realised it was a blessing in disguised.
Racing as I Am Sam, the pacer won the APG Final as a three-year-old before eventually being retired with a bankroll of $531,702.
“I Am Sam got us involved a bit more,” Lindsay said.
“A lot of the progeny we have are out of his sisters and are descendants of the foundation mares.
“We’ve expanded out broodmare numbers over the years and have some very nicely-bred yearlings in Sunday’s APG Sale in Brisbane.”
The first Vagg offering is Lot 10 – a colt by A Rocknroll Dance from Pretentious Lombo, which has a perfect record from three starters.
An unraced mare from top producer Mister Maiden, Pretentious Lombo is a half-sister to champion pacer Lombo Pocket Watch.
Also by A Rocknroll Dance, Lot 13 is the next Vagg entry – a filly from the same maternal line as Christian Cullen.
Moving forward to Lot 38, the Vaggs will be represented by a stunning black colt by Betting Line from Exclusif.
“He will make a nice compact two-year-old,” Vagg said.
“He is medium size but muscular.”
Rounding out the Vagg crew is a trotting bred filly which is by Centurion Atm from Joyces Image and will enter the ring as Lot 47.
The couple also prepared Lots 45 and 52 for their daughter Kristie and son-in-law Julian Norrish.
This APG Brisbane Sale - set down for Sunday at noon - has a serious pot of gold ($400,000) in local prize money on offer.
On top of this is an amazing incentive scheme for QBRED eligible horses, which sees a first-win bonus set at $12,000 at any age regardless of how many interstate wins they may have had, and a further $7,500 cash bonus for their first Queensland win in a subsequent season.
Please contact Linda Graham on 0428 955 998 via email and she’ll be pleased to assist you with your online registrations, pre- bidding sale approvals or to answer any other questions that you may have on your travel and accommodation needs.
