ON the first day of the BSA National Yearling Sale at the TBA Sales Complex,Gosforth Park, Lot 41 produced a new NYS record when Hong Kong-based Tony Millard went to R4,25 million for the son of Dynasty. A delighted Ashleigh Parker related that Tony Millard had trained granddam Arabian Lass, who raced for the interests of Mr P Ekon, for 4 Gr1 wins in South Africa as well as two ARCSA Champion awards.

The filly was subsequently sold to Robert Sangster’s Swettenham Stud operation and retired to stud. Millard purchased Arabian Lass’s daughter, Arabian Jazz on a buying trip to Australia and brought her back to South Africa. The filly raced in the interests of Rose and Ashleigh Parker before retiring to the paddocks at Ascot Stud and there is a pleasing symmetry that her son will be conditioned by Tony Millard.

Lot 41: Dynasty colt fetched R4,25 million.

An unnamed Silvano colt out of Blushing Fairy (Lot 68) caught the eye of Form Bloodstock, who had to go to R2,2 million to secure the exceptionally handsome bay. Ascot Stud’s Ashleigh Parker explained that the colt was the last commercial yearling from the Robertsons’ Milkwood Stud and he was delighted to have secured them a handsome price.

Cheveley Stud consigned an arrestingly beautiful son of Gimmethegreenlight out of Champers (dam of July winner Legislate). The colt went under the hammer for R700k to John Freeman, on behalf of Jack Mitchell and Dennis and Gael Evans. Cheveley boss Vaughan Koster said “I’m very pleased with what he realised. He is a very nice moving colt and is going to a nice stable, so he’ll have every chance.” He also confirmed that Champers has a beautiful Dynasty filly at foot and is back in foal to Dynasty again.

Scottish Guard (Silvano – Crown Office), catalogued as Lot 110 and consigned by Mauritzfontein Stud, fetched R1,8 million from Shadwell Stud’s racing manager, Angus Gold, on another flying visit to South Africa. Mauritzfontein’s Jessica Slack said that the dam, Crown Office, is blind in one eye and an absolute stud favourite, so she was delighted that the colt had gone to such nice people. “Guy Murdoch selected this colt as foal and he has been ‘the one’ all the way through, so we’re really pleased.” Crown Office currently has a Tiger Ridge colt at foot.

The day’s session finished off on a high, when the last lot for the opening day’s catalogue, Lot 150, a bay colt by Dynasty out of Firstnightbliss consigned by Klipdrif Stud as agent, fetched R2million from Gavin Smith Racing. Smith described the colt as “a beautiful specimen with a good head and a lovely eye. He’s very athletic, is a very good walker and is from a great family. He is well put together, has substance and just oozes quality. I got pushed, but I really wanted him and just want to thank my client for pushing through.”

Of the 150 lots catalogued for day 1, 107 found new homes. Of the balance, there were 12 withdrawals, 10 lots went unsold and a further 21 were vendor buy backs. The aggregate for the first night’s sales closed off at R38,650,000 for an average of R361,215 and a median of R200,000.

The highest priced colt was Ascot Stud’s Lot 41 at a new TBA record of R4,25 million. The highest price paid for a filly was R700,000 for Lot 58, Ice Maiden (Western Winter – Baltic Beauty) consigned by Avontuur Stud and purchased by Ridgemont Stud for R700,000.

Bidding resumes at 1pm on Thursday, 23 April 2015.