SHEIKH Hamdan of Dubai’s Shadwell Bloodstock, represented by Angus Gold, and Jehan Malherbe of the Form Organisation, between them purchased near 20 young thoroughbred prospects  on the first day of the inaugural Cape Premier Yearling Sale, held under the auspices of Bloodstock SA on Thursday, 27 January.

Jehan Malherbe (left) and Angus Gold, doing big business!

The Sale, presented in one of the huge conference halls at the impressive Cape International Convention Centre, drew prominent buyers from South Africa and around the world including Chris van Niekerk, Marsh Shirtliff, David Allan, Len Salzman, Barry Irwin, Patrick Shaw and Ebrahim Khan, who paid  the top price of R2,5 million for a colt by leading sire Captain Al, consigned by Klawervlei Stud.

Shadwell and Form liked the offspring of Drakenstein Stud’s Trippi, Angus Gold striking early with Shadwell’s purchase of Lot 9, a colt by Trippi from a Jet Master mare, knocked down for R500,00. Malherbe bought lot 57, a Trippi colt from Girl In Every Port, for R525,000.

Lot 101, colt by Silvano.

Mike noted that he particularly liked Lot 88, Lord Windsor, a son of Silvano from Lady Windsor from the potent Soho Secret female line (London News, Secret Heart, Lady Brompton, King’s Gambit, Promisfrommyheart et al), bought by Shadwell for R1,8 million.

There was some spirited bidding on Wilgerbosdrift Stud’s Tiger In Africa, a chestnut colt with all the right attributes, sired by Tiger Ridge. He’s from the Northern Guest mare London Niece, again representing the Soho Secret female line all the way to 2010 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile winner Pluck, a son of Secret Heart.

Form went to R1,5 million for the well-balanced Tiger In Africa, considered by a number of experts to be the best specimen on the sale.

Patrick Shaw made the trip from Singapore – his purchases include Yorker (Lot 113),  a son of Var, acquired for R1,8-million.

Avontuur’s Pippia Mickleburgh was delighted to have sold Western Winter’s son, Epic Tale (Lot 13), for R1,050-million to Mike Bass Racing.

Mike observed the action around the ring from among the girls!