In one of the biggest nights of the Harness Racing calendar coming up this Saturday, the $1 million Interdominion Pacing Championship final at Albion Park, 7 of the 12 runners were sold through the APG yearling sales. Hidden among some of the best names in harness there is also a tough campaigner, Tims A Trooper, who was the cheapest buy at only $17,000.
The seven runners – headed by superstar stallion Leap To Fame – have earned more than $11.6 million in stakes between them. They sold for a combined total of $560,000.
Tims A Trooper was bought at the 2020 APG Sydney Yearling sale by legendary owners Kevin and Kay Seymour and has earnt an impressive $460,000.
Always in the shadow of his brilliant stablemate Leap To Fame - who was also bought at the APG 2020 Sydney sale – Tims A Trooper qualified for the final with two solid runs in the heats.
To add to the fairytale, he will be driven by teenage reinsman Jack Chapple, who is yet to drive a Group 1 winner. Chapple has always been around horses. His parents Dean and Julie trained in NSW and he went to work for respected trainer Bernie Hewitt after he left school.
He has been in outstanding form since moving to Queensland to work for leading trainer Grant Dixon 12 months ago, driving 57 winners already this season. And he has a good rapport with Tims A Trooper, having driven him to his last win at Albion Park on April 5.
Chapple, 19, said it was a huge thrill to get a drive in an Interdominion final and he thought the gelding was capable of a top five finish with a soft run.
“It is a big thrill to get a drive in a race like this at such a young age,” Chapple said. “Grant and Trista qualified three horses and I was lucky enough to get the drive on Tims A Trooper.
“The 3157m distance is a bit of an unknown because he hasn’t raced over the journey but he is drawn to trail up behind them. If he doesn’t have to do any work, he could be coming over the top of them in the straight.”
Tims A Trooper was bred and sold by Yirribee Pacing Stud. He is by Tintin In America from Elizabeth Kelly, a daughter of broodmare gem Miss Paula, who produced 12 winners of 164 races.
Interestingly, the seven APG graduates in Saturday’s $1M Interdominion pacing final were sold at either the Melbourne or Sydney sales.
The most expensive was grand old campaigner Max Delight who was bought for $245,000 by Michael Maxfield at the 2017 Sydney APG sale, He has earnt $1.3 million.
The APG contenders are:
- Leap To Fame - sold at APG Sydney 2020 for $47,500 - earnings $4M
- Don Hugo - sold at APG Melbourne 2021 for $82,500 - earnings $2.3M
- Catch A Wave - sold at APG Melbourne 2020 for $82,000 - earnings $2.2M
- Max Delight - sold at APG Sydney 2017 for $245,000 - earnings $1.3M
- Speak The Truth - sold at APG Sydney 2020 for $50,000 - earnings $656K
- Captains Knock - sold at APG Sydney 2021 for $36,000 - earnings $569K
- Tims A Trooper - sold at APG Sydney 2020 for $17,000 - earnings $461K
Stories like Tims A Trooper and Leap To Fame all start at the APG Yearling Sales. With seven of this year’s Interdominion finalists coming from APG and entries for their next sales opening on August 4th, it’s time to start planning for 2026.
APG 2026 Yearling Sales dates have been released and are set to be some of the biggest weekends for Harness Racing in 2026. The dates are:
- Ipswich – February 8
- Melbourne – February 15 (Hunter Cup Weekend)
- Perth – March 1
- Sydney – March 15 (Miracle Mile Weekend)
- Adelaide – March 22
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the next fairytale.
