Cause For Good Hope On The Cape

By Tom Peacock

There is justified anticipation of further records tumbling in South Africa when the Cape Premier Yearling Sale begins Jan. 21 and 22. Four Frankel (GB) lots consigned by Klawervlei Stud are obvious headline acts but he is not the only renowned stallion to be showcased among 235 youngsters going through the ring at this glamorous event organised by Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS), formed by a group of prominent breeders including Markus Jooste (a partner in Klawervlei), Mary Slack (Wilgerbosdrift), Andreas Jacobs (Maine Chance Farms) and Gaynor Rupert (Drakenstein Stud).

Led by managing director Adrian Todd, its intention is to develop as a truly international marketplace, offering the best of domestic stock along with overseas bloodlines. CTS first held this sale in 2011 and hopes to lure clients with fine dining and a setting on the ocean front at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. “To my knowledge, it's unique. It's the only sale held indoors in the middle of a city anywhere in the world,” said Todd. It has been getting bigger and better and certainly more international–more and more people have been coming in from around the world.” Todd continued, “We've got some very good yearlings. There are pedigrees being offered that haven't been seen before in South Africa and we are offering value for money, especially with the exchange rate with the rand. The market will obviously decide how it goes but I think we can be cautiously optimistic.”

It has already attracted notable buyers including Shadwell's Angus Gold, Peter Doyle, Tom Goff, Grant Pritchard-Gordon and representatives from other significant agents but the biggest coup last year was the interest shown by Coolmore. The Irish powerhouse, in conjunction with the Mayfair Speculators partnership led by champion South African owner Jooste, broke the domestic yearling sale record when they went to R 6 million ($433,934/£354,354) for a son of champion sire, Silvano (Ger). Consigned by Drakenstein Stud, he was named Silver Coin and is in training with Joey Ramsden. The previous record was also broken by a partnership between Coolmore and Maine Chance Farms, taking a filly called Best Kept Secret for R5.25m ($379,442/£310,275). From 256 lots, 227 were sold at an aggregate of R135,750,000 ($9,817,760/£8,022,841). The average and median figures were lower than in 2015 but still stood at a healthy R598,017 ($43,221/£35,324) and R375,000 ($27103/£22,151) respectively.

The quartet by Frankel are all unnamed and first foals of mares trained in Ireland by the now-retired David Wachman. There is one colt (lot 64) out of dual winner Fly To The Moon (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Lot 27 is a filly out of the unraced Daffodil (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), lot 114 is out of Little Fastnet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a half-sister to Group 2 winner and young sire Requinto (Ire), and completing the field is a bay daughter of Leopardstown maiden winner Supposing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 198).
Klawervlei is also acting as agent in the sale of a daughter of Scat Daddy (lot 125), the first foal of Marquesa Naranja (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Alexander Goldrun (Ire). There are a few more boutique inclusions. Lot 197 is a Bernardini colt and the sixth foal of Australian mare Super Smudge (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}), who struck five times in her homeland. Her compatriot Pierro (Aus), whose glittering career included winning the G1 Golden Slipper, is responsible for lot 11, a brown filly out of Carienda (Aus) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}). A son of Elusive Quality out of the useful Joslin (SAf) (Joshua Dancer) could be another interesting inclusion lot 96. Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire), who has shown some impressive results in South Africa, is scheduled to have 10 lots go through the ring.

The chief interest in South African produce should concern its leading lights Silvano (Ger), Captain Al (SAf), Dynasty (SAf) and Var, all of whom are widely represented. Lot 67, by Jackson (SAf), is a half-brother to Soft Falling Rain (SAf), who won Group races in South Africa, Dubai and England and was bought at this inaugural sale. Twice Over (GB) will have his first South African 2-year-olds on the track this season and has continued to be well supported, judging by the catalogue. The son of Observatory, who landed two renewals of the G1 Champion S. and a G1 Juddmonte International during a marvellous career with the late Sir Henry Cecil, was a high-profile signing when bought from Juddmonte to stand at Klawervlei in 2012.

Another incentive from CTS is the sponsorship of two $500,000 races for its yearling sales graduates. The events, one over six furlongs and one a mile, will be held this year on the card of the prestigious GI Sun Met at nearby Kenilworth Jan. 28.