THE second session of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Friday in Cape Town did not quite reach the heights of the first session, but with 19 yearlings breaking the million-Rand barrier over the course of the two days, it demonstrated that there was a solid band of quality individuals on offer during the sale.

The final aggregate of the sale was just under the R100 million mark, with the average price R482,000. Klawervlei Stud overtook Highlands Farm Stud as top vendor, consigning 32 lots for a total of R15 million, while Trippi did the same to Dynasty in the sire stats, totalling R15 million for his 24 yearlings.

Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators continued their buying spree, eventually signing for 21 yearlings totalling R14 million, to remain at the top of the buyers list.
“It was a successful sale,” Cape Thoroughbred Sales Chairman Chris van Niekerk summarized. “The vendors provided quality horses and the wide spread of buyers confirmed the quality and good value of South African stock, which was underscored by a 20% increase in average from the prior year.”

Headline photo: John Koster and Markus Jooste, Klawervlei Stud.

Lot 150, the grey colt Imibala, was one of the talking horses during the week, and it therefore came as no surprise when he topped the second session, with the hammer falling at R2 million. By G1 Vodacom Durban July winner Dynasty out of the Vodacom Durban July winner Dancer’s Daughter, he epitomizes the adage of breeding the best to the best.

Mike Sharkey, manager of Highlands Farm Stud confirmed that it was only the second time in South African history that a yearling was by a July winner out of a July winner. He cheekily added that the colt should have been named Triple D! “He is a lovely yearling and a great walker,” said Sharkey. “He was a late foal and I look forward to seeing him furnish into a proper horse.”

Lot 170: Trip To Rio.

Angus Gold purchased six yearlings for Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stud South Africa, signing for lot 81 at R375.000, lot 92 for R800.000, lot 170 for R600.000 and lot 206 for R900.000, before some spirited bidding landed him lots 230 and 232 right at the end of the sale. Consigned by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, both are by champion sprinter Var out of very speedy mares.

Lot 230 is the first foal of Silvano mare Mochachino who scorched to victory in the Group 2 Camellia Sprint at Turffontein. Despite being a first foal, Gold commented on how precocious the filly looked. “She is a very racy filly and she looks sharp,” he opined. “If she were in Australia, she would be a Golden Slipper filly. Mike de Kock loved her and we are very happy to have her.”

Lot 232, named Mastermind, reminded Gold more of his damsire Jallad, than his sire Var. “He was a lovely horse, a big strong powerful colt from a fast family. He reminded me a lot of Jallad, who we bred and raced in the UK.”

Gold is no stranger to the Cape Premier Yearling Sale or to South Africa and explained his continued support. “We are very happy to be buying here, as the yearlings are very good value by international standards,” he added. “The objective is of course to take the horses to Dubai if they are any good. We got lucky with Soft Falling Rain , who was champion 2-year-old colt and who easily won his first start in Dubai. It is early days yet, but from Sheikh Hamdan’s viewpoint, South Africa is a good value alternative to buying in Europe or America.”

After a sluggish start to the second session, Kip Elser could not resist signing for a lovely grey filly by Tapit out of the Orientate mare Charmz. From the female family of multiple champion Harry’s Charm, lot 136 was knocked down to Elser for a modest R700.000. For Elser the equation was a simple one. “She is a great mover and the grandam was a champion!” he said. Mike Sharkey, manager of vendor Highlands Farm Stud explained the low purchase price. “The buyer clearly appreciates and understands the sire better than the local market. She is a lovely filly from a good solid South African family and definitely well bought.”

Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe wheeled out the big guns early, going to R3 million for Highlands Stud’s Our Icon, a half-brother by Dynasty to last year’s sale-topper, and R2,7 million for Klawervlei-bred Real Princess, who is a Trippi filly out of a half-sister to Victory Moon. This was the highest price paid for a filly in CPYS’s three-year history. Both yearlings will carry the colours of Lady Christine Laidlaw. – from www.sportingpost.co.za and www.tabonline.co.za