Lot 106 colt getting close up and personal with Vic Donohue
In her younger days Margaret Donohue helped raise bear cubs. A few decades on, she has the biggest draft in the Ipswich sale and still likes to push boundaries.
Respected breeder Margaret Donohue has never been afraid to try something new – she was in the first wave of reinswomen in the 1970s and worked at a lion park for a decade, where she wrangled exotic animals.
So, it is no surprise she is keen to be a part of the first APG yearling sale at Ipswich racecourse on February 9.
Donohue has viewed the facility and believes it will be a great venue for buyers and sellers. She will offer 12 yearlings at the sale.
“I represented Queensland three times in national ladies races. The first was in South Australia when I was 16,” Donohue said.
“Later, I got a job at Bullens Lion Park. I helped care for a whole range of animals, elephants, bears and lions.
“We even did a cockatoo show. It was a great experience. I guess most people can’t say they have sat on a lion.
“I have been to the Ipswich venue. It has a good stall area and great viewing for buyers. It is level and offers a good area for parading the yearlings. I really hope it is a success and can continue into the future.”
Donohue is from a harness racing family and has been involved with horses for most of her life.
She and her husband started with an agistment centre, which developed into a commercial breeding enterprise. They stood 10 or 11 stallions over the years including outstanding sire Speed King who sired winners of more than $7 million in stakes.
Monarch Farm has produced several smart 2YO winners, including Paleface Adios Classic winner Hold Onto Ya Bling (1.52.7, $95k) and Brisbane APG 2YO colts final winner Balboa Rock (1.56.1, $129k).
The Peace Maker (1.57.4, $108K) was another brilliant youngster from the Donohue program. The Speed King colt won 10 of his first 14 starts in the mid-1990s, including the $50,000 Nursery Pace at Albion Park.
Donohue believed the Monarch Farm draft was a strong offering but said there were two or three youngsters who stood out.
“The Roccavaldina colt by Huntsville is an impressive type,” she said. “He is a full brother in blood to Tardelli, who was an outstanding two-year-old.”
The colt, Lot 128 is out of Art Major mare Roccavaldina and is from a highly successful juvenile family.
His dam a half sister to smart youngster Caesar Augustus (1.54.5, $223K), who won the NSW Sapling Stakes as a 2YO and was placed in the Victoria Derby at three.
Roccavaldina is a full sister to the dam of Tardelli (1.53, $167K), who won seven of his eight 2YO starts, including the 2022 Bathurst Gold Crown final.
He took his lifetime mark of 1.53 at his 2YO debut at Menangle in February, 2022.
This colt’s grandam Armida (p2,1.59.1, $159K) won six 2YO races, including the Bathurst Gold Tiara. She won the Bathurst Gold Bracelet as a 3YO.
Armida is a half-sister to outstanding 2YO Il Tenore (P2,1.55.7, $170K).
Their dam, La Speranza (1.59, $157K), won seven juvenile races including the Group 1 Seymour Nursery classic.
Donohue was excited about presenting handsome trotting colt (Lot 132) by Father Patrick from lightly raced Muscle Hil mare Shez All Muscle.
The colt is from the family of NZ trotting mare of the year Zolas Pride (2.3.7, $60K), who is grandam of NZ 2YO Sires Stakes prelude winner Castlereagh (Tr1.58.6, $126K), NZ Northern Trot Derby placegetter Hot To Trot (Tr1.55.5, $125K) and WA Trotter Cup winner The Beau Brummel (Tr2.1.7, $83K).
“I saw my first trotting race as a teenager in South Australia and the spectacle stayed with me. I enjoy watching the really good trotters,” Donohue said.
“This colt is a nice solid fella, and I believe the cross of Father Patrick over Muscle Hill mares has done well in the US.”
Donohue also said that she was preparing an Art Major colt for Andrew Stewart and suggested he was well worth a look from discerning buyers.
She said the colt, Lot 108, out of good race mare Divinia Bellezza (1.54.5, $103K) was a true upstanding Art Major type.
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!
