THE South African record paid for a thoroughbred yearling at auction was smashed on the first day of the 2016 Cape Premier Yearling Sale on Thursday.

Drakenstein Stud consigned lot 37, a handsome bay son of leading sire Silvano who was knocked down for R6 000 000, and in the process, became the all time top priced yearling ever sold at public thoroughbred auction in South Africa.

Named Silver Coin, the colt was bought by Mayfair Speculators and he will be raced in partnership with Coolmore. He is out of the Fort Wood mare National Banker, whose three wins included the Gr3 Gold Bracelet, and who is the dam of Gr2 Colorado King Stakes winner and Gr1 contender Halve The Deficit.

Lot 37, Silver Coin.

From the same female line as former Arc de Triomphe winner and outstanding sire Vaguely Noble, Silver Coin’s second dam Larapinta (a full sister to champion filly Arabian Lass) produced two other stakes winners, including R3 000 000 earner and multiple G1 Smart Banker (by Strike Smartly).

The previous record at been achieved at the previous year’s Premier Sale, when a Dynasty colt was sold for R5.2 million.

However that record was broken twice on the first day of trading, with a daughter of Captain Al becoming the most expensive yearling filly ever sold in the country, when she was knocked down to bloodstock agent Tina Rau and MV Magnier for R5.25 million.

Consigned by Klawervlei Stud (as Agent), the filly is a full sister to former triple G1 winner and champion 2yo filly All Is Secret as well as impressive recent debut winner The Secret Is Out. Named Best Kept Secret, the filly is expected to race in partnership between Coolmore and Maine Chance Farms.

No fewer than 18 lots fetched R1 000 000 plus with six yearlings fetching R2 000 000 plus.

The progeny of former champion sire Silvano (who is currently leading South Africa’s general sires list) were in huge demand, with the son of Lomitas responsible for no fewer than three lots to fetch R2 000 000 or more, while he had a total of seven yearlings sell for upwards of R1 million.

Inevitably the son of Lomitas headed the sires’ log after day one, with his 13 yearlings sold fetching R18.275 million, and averaging R1 405 769.

Leading vendors on day one were Klawervlei Stud, whose 19 lots sold for an aggregate of R19.4 million.

Top buyer on the first day was Mayfair Speculators, whose four lots cost a cool R8.8 million.

In total, day one’s trading saw 109 yearlings gross a total of R71.53 million, and average R656,239.

Of the 128 horses catalogued for the first day, five were not sold and another 14 were withdrawn.

A full list of prices will be available after the sale concludes on Friday evening at www.capethoroughbredsales.com

-capebreeders.co.za