A colt by VAR topped the price list at the inaugural Cape Thoroughbred Sales (Johannesburg) Ready To Run Sale held at the Inanda Club in Sandton on Friday, 31 October.

Named Tar Heel, the strong bay colt is the fourth foal of the Kabool mare, Egyptian Reign. Catalogued as Lot 76, he’s a half-brother to Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Go Indigo.

Tar Heel is a leggy customer and while naturally green at the R2R gallops, he has a noticeable long action and used himself well to stretch out and gallop keenly when he found his stride, impressing onlookers.

Tar Heel made a good impression at R2R gallops.

Bidders couldn’t compete, however, with Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators and Mr CTS himself went to R1,6-million to secure this promising specimen, not unlikely to be hoping that Tar Heel will turn out to be just half as good as Variety Club.

The highest priced filly was lot 108, a daughter of Redoute’s Choice, consigned by Summerhill Sales and purchased by Andre van Vuuren for R1,200,000.

Of the 146 lots catalogued, 138 were sold. The sale aggregate was R24,680,000, with the average finishing up on R178,841 and the median on R90,000.

With 104 lots, Summerhill were leading consignors by aggregate, for a total of R18,260,000. Mayfair Speculators were the leading buyers, purchasing 17 lots for a total of R7,315,000.