One of Victoria's fastest growing nurseries

GARY and Louise Toulmin’s Oakbank Estate, set in lush pastures on the foothills of Mt Buninyong, is one of the fastest growing standardbred nurseries in Victoria.

Oakbank Estate is home to 50 broodmares owned by a range of clients, including Soho Standardbreds and Summit Bloodstock.

The Toulmin family provide the full range of services from breeding mares, foaling, weaning and handling through to yearling preparation and breaking-in.

They will offer three quality yearlings at the 2025 APG Melbourne Yearling Sale on February 2.

The first, Lot 3, is a colt by impressive French trotting stallion Classic Connection (Tr1.54.1, $614K) from the unraced Earl mare Countess Angela, which is from the famous Maori Miss family.

The colt is a half-brother to Menangle Park Cup (G3) winner Van Sank (1.54.7, $198K), winner of 18 races and Stawell Trotting Cup runner-up Suga Daddy (Tr2.0.1, $45K) – both were two-year-old winners.

Van Sank set a track record at Albion Park in 2024 and was a finalist in the 2023 Trotters' Inter Dominion.

Countess Angela is a half-sister to Calder Sensation (Tr2.2.1, $142K). Her grandam is a half-sister to superstar Maori’s Idol, which won 40 of his 46 starts during the mid 1970s.

This family has produced many generations of star trotters, including 2024 glamour girl Keayang Zahara, winner of eight Group Ones from her starts.

Lot 6 is a filly by well-credentialled US sire Huntsville from unraced Art Major mare Eily Lou Lou, which is from the illustrious Burgundy Lass family.

The cross of Huntsville over an Art Major mare has produced nine wins from one Australias crop, including his fourth top earner Tardelli (1.53, $167K), which won the Group One Bathurst Gold Crown in 2022.

This filly’s dam is a half-sister to Two-Year-Old NZ Colt of the Year and NSW Derby winner Gotta Go Cullen (1.58.4, $1.1m)

Her grandam is a half-sister to superstar pacer Il Vicolo (1.56.9, $1.5m) and the dam of Stunin Cullen (1.54.1, $1.3m).

The Toulmin’s third offering is Lot 26, a colt by Downbytheseaside from the family of their foundation mare Oak Valley, which produced star 1980s filly Handibank (1.59.8, $122K) with her first foal.

Handibank won 11 races as a two and three-year-old, including the Queensland Oaks and the Three-Year-Old Vicbred Fillies' Final. She left five winners at stud.

The name Oakbank Estate was derived from the first two horses owned by Gary - Oak Valley the dam of Handibank according to Louise.

“We pride ourselves on our pastures, services and facilities that have been designed and implemented with the horses best interest in mind,” Louise declared.

This colt’s grand dam, Belief, is a half-sister to Handibank and won five races.

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

• APG Media