THE 2013 Cape Premier Yearling Sale started yesterday in a way that can only be described as highly unusual. Lot 1, a chestnut colt called Brutal Force (SAf) by Western Winter out of the Pas De Quoi (SAf) mare Nacarat (SAf) was not even in the ring when Irish auctioneer John O’Kelly already had the bidding up to R350,000. When the colt eventually appeared, the bidding quickly escalated and he was knocked down in record time to Mayfair Speculators for R1.5 Million (US$165,705).

Derek Brugman, Racing Manager for Mayfair Speculators, said that trainer Joey Ramsden loved the horse. “The colt was more like his female family than like his sire Western Winter,” Brugman said. “He is a magnificent animal.”

Lot 1: Brutal Force.

Before the assembled buyers had a chance to catch their breath, lot 9 was in the ring. The colt had attracted a lot of attention all week and it came as no surprise that he surpassed the 2012 Cape Premier Yearling Sale top price of R2.8 million, being knocked down for a round R3 million (US$331,650). Named Our Icon (SAf), the bay colt is by exciting sire Dynasty (SAf) out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Our Table Mountain, a half-sister to the consistent sire Artie Schiller (El Prado {Ire}). The yearling is a half-brother to last year’s salestopping colt by Jet Master (SAf). Lady Laidlaw, who races a number of horses with top Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer, was over the moon with her purchase. Kannemeyer admitted that this was the main colt they had targeted at the sale. 

“He is a big scopey colt from a good American family,” he said. “We thought he was the best colt on the sale.” Mike Sharkey, manager of vendor Highlands Stud, had indicated earlier in the week that he was very high on the colt. “He was my nicest yearling,” Sharkey said. “Quality always sells and he looked the part.” Lady Laidlaw was on a roll, and three yearlings later lot 12, Real Princess (SAf), from the draft of Klawervlei Stud, broke the record for the top price paid for a filly, with the hammer coming down at R2.7 million (US$298,188).

Real Princess is by Trippi out of the Fort Wood mare Pagan Princess (SAf), who is a half-sister to G2 UAE Derby winner and ill-fated sire Victory Moon (SAf) (Al Mufti). Lady Laidlaw mostly buys colts, but after winning the G1 Cape Guineas first with Noordhoek Flyer (SAf) (Pivotal {GB}) and then again this year with Derby contender Capetown Noir (SAf) (Western Winter), she is on a quest to win the fillies’ equivalent. “It has always been my aim to win the Fillies Guineas and I think she is the one,” said Lady Laidlaw. “I also want to take a filly to Dubai and she may just be the right one to do that.” John Koster, managing director of Klawervlei Stud agreed. “She is probably the classiest filly I have ever bred,” he said of lot 12. “She had everything, quality, depth, balance and substance. She was the perfect 10 from a great family.”

Kannemeyer was pleased to get another quality individual and commented that, while they had to stretch to get her, it was definitely worth it. “We thought she was a well-made filly,” he offered. “She had a deep girth, a lovely pedigree, with great paddock value and easily the best filly in the sale.”

Lot 21 Eternal Love (SAf) was the first-ever South African purchase for globetrotting UK trainer Ed Dunlop, and the Highlands Farm-consigned colt brought R700,000 (US$77,308). “It is the first horse I have ever bought in South Africa,” confirmed Dunlop. “It is a good horse from a new stallion. I came over for the [Jan. 17] L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and thought it would be a good idea to put together an international syndicate to race some horses here. Johnny Weatherby was here with me and he is also involved. The horses will be trained here and, if they are any good, they will come over to me in the UK.”

Dunlop also signed for lot 32, Kingvoldt (SAf), by Western Winter out of the Parade Leader mare Red Parade (SAf) who went for R475,000; and lot 97 Red Disa (SAf) by Captain Al (SAf) out of the Elliodor (Fr) mare Zeigler (SAf), who brought R700 000.

When the third-last lot of the night – lot 115 – a strapping Dynasty (SAf) filly out of the Noverre mare A Star for Maria (Aus) walked into the ring, the bidding rose swiftly until she was knocked down for R1.2 million (US$132,528). Tom Goff signed for the filly on behalf of Coolmore and Andreas Jacobs. Jacobs explained that, based on their great relationship, he and Coolmore had decided to buy some fillies to race together. Goff also signed for lot 6, by Dynasty (SAf) out of Next Generation (SAf) (R250,000), while Tina Rau signed for lot 42, by Captain Al out of Scent of Pine (R400,000) on behalf of the partnership.

Total aggregate for the first day of the sale was R51,740,000 (US$5,713,131), with the average R511,040 (US$56,429), up 25% from 2012. The median was R350,000 (US$38,647). Dynasty topped the sire stats, with 15 yearlings going under the hammer for an aggregate of R9.7 million and an average of R646,666. Leading vendor was Highlands Farm Stud, whose eight yearlings sold for an aggregate of R8.25 million, averaging R1,031,250. Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators topped the buyer list, having signed for 11 yearlings totalling R7.75 million, with an average of R704,545. After the conclusion of the first evening, Adrian Todd, Chief Operating Officer of Cape Thoroughbred Sales, commented that they were extremely happy with the result.

“A lot of records were broken here tonight, the sale exceeded expectations and we are very thankful for our loyal customers, both South African and International,” he said. “Tonight’s sale proves that South African horses are equal to anything in the world and we look forward to another great sale session tomorrow.”

Chris van Niekerk, Chairman of Cape Thoroughbred Sales, added, “It started with a horse selling for over a million and ended with a horse selling for over a million; that must be a record for South Africa. There was a much better spread of buyers here than we have ever seen and that is very exciting for our industry.” The sale continues today at 5:00 p.m. – from www.sportingpost.co.za