BLOODSTOCK South Africa will host its annual Cape Yearling Sale at the Mistico Equestrian Centre for the first time in March 2017.

The one day sale is set to take place at the Cape Winelands based centre on March 16^th, when some of the Cape’s top farms will offer buyers to acquire yearlings by some of South Africa’s top sires.

There is a lengthy list of former equine stars who were sold at a BSA sponsored Cape Sale, with the roll of honour being headed by triple Horse Of The Year Pocket Power. The latter was a R190 000 buy from the 2004 Cape Sale, and went on to prove himself as one of the greatest horses of his generation, with “Pocket”’s 20 career wins included a staggering four-timer in the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

Other champions sold off this sale include the likes of Mother Russia, Hammie’s Hooker, Irridescence, and fellow G1 winners O Caesour, Sarabande, Silver Arc, Sparkling Gem, Royal Bencher and Villandry.

The durable Sanshaawes, who continues to be a great advert for South African thoroughbreds while competing in Dubai, was a bargain R30 000 buy at the Cape Sale back in 2011.

The 2015 Cape Sale (which was held at Val De Vie Estate) has produced a regular flurry of high class performers from a relatively small catalogue. Among the notable performers sold off the 2015 Sale were such high class graded stakes winners as Doosra (G3 Graham Beck Stakes), Hack Green (G2 Umkhomazi Stakes), Final Judgement (G2 Golden Slipper), Green Pepper (G3 Magnolia Handicap), and the top class colt Gold Standard.

The latter, a R725 000 from the Val De Vie Sale, has gone on to prove himself as one of the best of his generation, winning the G2 Selangor Cup and finishing runner up in the G1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas (update after Derby on Met day). Now racing in the silks of Drakenstein Stud, Gold Standard also put up a cracking effort when fourth in the recent G1 Sun Met.

This year, buyers will be able to acquire the stock of such top class sires as Elusive Fort, Fort Wood, Gimmethegreenlight, Greys Inn, Ideal World, Judpot, Oratorio, Philanthropist, Querari, Sail From Seattle, and Var.

Exciting young stallions with their first South African yearlings on offer at the Cape Sale include Duke Of Marmalade, Jackson, Master Of My Fate, Noble Tune, Pomodoro and Potala Palace.

Former champion sprinter What A Winter, who has made such an impressive start to his stud career, is another exciting young stallion well represented at the 2017 Cape Yearling Sale.

A few of the choice lots on offer include –

An Elusive Fort half-brother to the dam of G1 Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn

a Var colt out of G3 Acacia Handicap winner Amur Affair

A Querari half-brother to G2 winning 2yo Hidden Beauty

A What A Winter filly out of a stakes placed half sister to G1 Summer Cup winner Flirtation

A Sail From Seattle half-brother to G1 performer Master Switch

A Noble Tune colt out half-sister to Oaks winner Goat

A Philanthropist colt out of five time stakes winner Sovereign Beat

A Byword colt out of a daughter of Equus Champion Dog Wood

A Jackson colt whose dam is a full sister to G1 Dubai World Cup second Lizard’s Desire

A Gimmethegreenlight filly out of a half sister to champion Laverna

A Jay Peg own sister to G3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Hot Affair

A Master Of My Fate colt out of a half sister to US G1 winner Gypsy’s Warning

An Oratorio half-sister to G3 winner Fantastic Mr Fox

A Var colt out of multiple stakes winner Victorian Secret

An Ideal World colt out of a half sister to July winning champion Eyeofthetiger

A Gimmethegreenlight colt out of G2 Gold Bracelet winner Cruise Collection