Sales & Studs

Westbred Pacing is a relatively new nursery that has rapidly expanded its operation in WA, adding young stallion Captain Ahab and a bounty of well bred mares to bolster WA breeding ranks in the last few years.

The operation is the brainchild of brother and sister duo Dave and Kellie Simmonds, who were concerned about the decline in foal numbers in WA and decided to put their money where their mouth is.

Westbred Pacing will offer five yearlings from the first crop of Captain Ahab at the APG WA Yearling Sale on March 3.

Dave Simmonds said they decided to look for a quality young stallion and were stoked to acquire the impressive looking son of boom sire Captain Treacherous.

Captain Ahab, who won his first seven starts as a two-year-old, is out of broodmare gem Acquavella, a full sister to US 2YO colt of the year Artspeak ($1.7m).

“Most of our family is passionate about harness racing and we want it to continue to grow,” Simmonds said.

“We saw limited breeding options in WA and wanted to take advantage of the lucrative double westbred bonuses.

“Captain Ahab (P2, 1.50.8) has a strong and current US pedigree and a highly impressive two-year-old record.

“He is from family that produces champion two-year-olds. 

“His dam is a full sister to Artspeak and being by Captain Treacherous, it was an exciting proposition.”

The Westbred Pacing offering consists of four fillies and colt. They will also offer a Captain Crunch colt out of good race mare Our Jeremes Gem (1.56.9, $63k) at the sale.

“They are a solid group but I think the filly out of Russian Ball (10 wins, 1.53.4) will attract attention. The mare was fast and is a half sister to former top juvenile Jack Mac,” Simmonds said.

“This is the first time this mare has been matched to a stallion descending from the Mac Three line.

“We also like the colt out of Southern Belle (6 wins, $47k). She is a NZ bred daughter of Bettors Delight and a half sister to My Temudjin (1.49.8, $367k).

“Bettors Delight is a proven broodmare sire and an exciting prospect matched to our stallion.”

Westbred Pacing has built up a band of 20 broodmares to support its young sire and continues to add quality mares to the roster.

Simmonds hoped the next few years would see an increase in winners from the family operation.

“We have Toni Street, a Bettors Delight half sister to dual NZ Cup winner Copy That in foal to American Ideal,” Simmonds said.

“It will be a three-quarter to Copy That on the same cross as Magnificent Storm. She may go to Captain Ahab next season.

“We also have The Hope Diamond (Alta Christiano), who is half sister to 2YO Westbred Final and Pearl Classic winner Menemsha.

“Ideal Sports Girl is a half sister to Kahlua Flybye (1.52.9, $120k) and recent Gary hall Snr import Flybye Lou. She took a 1.56.2 record at Newcastle and joins the broodmare band this year from NSW.

“Altamatum (Alta Christiano) has foaled an Ahab colt this year. She is a half sister to top WA performers Sweet N Fast (1.50.2, $310k) and Heez Our Perseus (1.54.6, $172k). 

“It is a family littered with winners including Krug (1.49.9, $785k) and more recently Mon Lancome, who has won her last three starts in NZ.”

Click on the link below to view the full list of yearlings in this year’s WA APG sale.

2024 Perth Sale