SAHRC bonuses deliver a boost for juvenile racing

The connections of promising South Australian two-year-olds South Aussie Star and Seabreeze Lad received a windfall as a result of their successes at Globe Derby Park this month. 

Both collected a $5,000 bonus through the newly introduced SA Harness Racing Club’s sponsored bonus program for two-year-olds. 

South Aussie Star captured the $20,000 Australian Pacing Gold 2YO Sales Classic on Saturday, while Seabreeze Lad notched his maiden success on June 1. 

The connections of both youngsters also picked up a $5,000 first-win bonus from the Harness Racing South Australia’s Southern Cross scheme for their maiden successes. 

South Aussie Star, who was bred by Peter Medhurst and his late wife Lesley, is raced by a group managed by the SA Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association which includes Adelaide television personality Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello. 

Seabreeze Lad is raced by Globe Derby Park trainer Lance Holberton, who purchased the Downbytheseaside colt for $23,000 at the APG Sydney sale in 2025. 

The colt is being set for the APG Sales Graduate Series in Victoria over the next fortnight. 

“The SA Harness Racing Club is doing an awesome job with the bonus program,” Holberton said. “The committee should be roundly congratulated for it’s initiative in promoting juvenile racing in SA.” 

The two-year-old bonus program is in addition to the $1 million prizemoney already distributed to predominantly SA trained horses over the past two years.  

by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink