Incredible year sets foundation for stellar 2025

BREEDER Adam Cahill has had an incredible year watching four-year-old Don Hugo blossom into one of the best pacers in Australasia.

Don Hugo came of age with an all-the-way win in the $2million The Eureka last September against some of the nation’s best three and four-year-olds.

He then sealed his reputation as a true Grand Circuit star with a fighting win in the $500,000 Inter Dominion Final at Club Menangle on December 14 after dominating the series with two heat wins.

The son of Art Major began 2024 with a second in a $9000 race at Newcastle last February – after winning five races and $79,000 as a three-year-old – and finished the season in contention for the title of Australian Horse of the Year.

He won eight races and $1.4million in stakes - $1.3m of that in his last six starts of the year.

It is an amazing feat for his breeder Cahill, who started out as a harness enthusiast who liked to have a $10 bet on the weekends.

The Queensland businessman has built up a select band of broodmares during the past decade.

He bought the Don Hugo’s dam Cinco Amigos as a package deal with two other mares.

He sold Don Hugo to prominent owner Tony Licastro at the 2021 APG Sydney Yearling Sale for $82,500.

Cahill, trading as Cahillo Pty Ltd, has three yearlings in the 2025 APG Melbourne Yearling Sale on February 2.

He will offer the only Bettors Delight colt in the sale, Lot 50, a youngster from well-bred Mach Three mare Sparkling Tachyon (1.55.5, $47K), which won the Group Three Victoria Gold Chalice as a three-year-old.

Sparkling Tachyon is a half-sister to dual Group One winner Pembrook Benny (1.53.6, $907K) and a sister to Two-Year-Old NZ sales classic winner Northern Velocity (1.56.6, $188K).

The cross of Bettors Delight over a Mach Three mare has produced such standouts as Zeuss Bromac (1.49.4, $512K) and Millwood Bonnie (1.52.6, $497K) in Australia.

Lot 2 is a filly by Stay Hungry from Art Major mare Comekissmequick.

This is an outstanding filly family. Third dam Classic Filly (1.57, $200K) won the NZ Sires’ Stakes and was named 1998 NZ Two-Year-Old Filly of the Year.

As a three-year-old, Classic Filly won the NZ Oaks and has left five winners, including NZ Four-Year-Old Classic winner Classic Line (1.51.6, $529K).

Classic Filly’s half-sister Arctic Fire (1.51.6, $357K) was also an outstanding race mare, winning 21 races, including four in the US.

This cross of Stay Hungry over an Art Major mare has produced star filly Zanatta (1.50.2, $600K) in the US.

Lot 45, a colt by Ride Hide from good producer Serenity Franco, is a three-quarter brother to Mojo Major (1.53.3, $177K) and a half-brother to The Talk (1.55.3, $107K).

A half sister to Australian Derby winner Franco Sequel (1.51, $353K), Serenity Franco is the dam of seven winners.

For full details of Cahillio’s entries and all yearlings in the 2025 Melbourne Yearling Sale please visit our Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today!

• APG Media