Perfect mix of sentiment, tradition and success

THERE’S a whole lot of sentiment, tradition and success mixed into Daniel Cordina’s yearlings in the 2025 APG Sydney Yearling Sale on February 16.

Cordina will offer a filly (Lot 249) by super sire Captaintreacherous from outstanding race mare Scarlett Babe (1.52.1, $222K), which was bred by his late father Joe from his superstar filly Ashlees Babe (1.57.3, $334K).

Joe was a staunch supporter of New South Wales harness racing and a passionate standardbred owner and breeder.

He sponsored the Ladyship Mile at Harold Park and later the Cordina Sprint. Both races are important lead-ups to the Miracle Mile.

The Cordinas have be breeding from the Scarlett Babe family for four generations, starting with Tricky Miss, Ashlees Babe’s granddam.

Tricky Miss left three winners. Her best was the 1987 filly Ashlee (2.4.8, $11K), which notched four wins from 29 starts but went on to excellence in the breeding barn.

She produced the incredible Ashlees Babe for the Cordinas.

The Ambro Operative filly was named 2003 Australian Three-Year-Old of the Year after crushing wins in the Queensland Oaks and the Vicbred Final.

She was just as dominant in her four-year-old campaign, winning the Group One Vicbred Final and the Four and Five-Year-Old Championship at Moonee Valley.

She won 22 of her 32 starts and left six winners, with her daughter Ashlees Gem has also producing two $100,000 earners.

Daniel said harness racing was a way of life for the family in the 1990s and Ashlees Babe was a standout.

“My father was involved in harness racing for many years and I used to go to the races with my mum and sister every Friday night at Harold Park. I have been bought up with the industry,” Daniel said.

“Ashlees Babe was by far the best horse we bred but she has also produced a couple of handy types in Scarlet Babe and Bettor Isolate (1.49.5, $168K).

“At present, I have four broodmares. I have two nice yearlings, one out of Scarlet Babe and a trotting filly out of All Royal Gal by Tactical Landing.

“First foal of Scarlet Babe, which is an ET (embryo transfer foal) is a lovely strong looking filly and the All Royal Gal filly looks a racy type.”

Captaintreacherous fillies have been dominant in the last couple of seasons, including Eureka winner Encipher (1.51.8, $1.6M), multiple Group One winner Tough Tilly (1.51.1, $618K), two-year-old APG Classic winner Jewel Melody (1.51.2, $525K) and Lux Aeterna (1.49.9, $469K), which won her first nine two-year-old starts including the Bathurst Gold Tiara, Nutrien Classic and the Breeders' Challenge final.

Cordina’s trotting filly (Lot 257) is out of good mare All Royal Gal (Tr1.57.5, $172K) from the family of Australian Trotting Championship winner All Action Son (Tr1.55.6, $314K).

For full details of these or any other yearlings in the 2025 Sydney Yearling Sale please visit APG’s Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today!

• APG Media