Record-Setting Filly Graduates at the Vaal

Best Kept Secret (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}), who established a new record price for a filly sold in South Africa at the 2016 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, was off the mark at third asking Tuesday at the Vaal, landing a maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.

Trained by Mike de Kock for the partnership of Mrs. John Magnier, Mrs. Diane Nagle, Maine Chance Farms and Mayfair Speculators, Best Kept Secret was in front entering the final quarter-mile for jockey Callan Murray, went clear inside the furlong and was kept to her task late to best the well-backed Let It Flow (SAf) (Judpot) by a diminishing half-length as the 29-20 joint-favorite.

Bred by the BBP Syndicate, the full-sister to Equus Award-winning juvenile filly and treble Grade 1 winner All Is Secret (SAf) and G1SW The Secret Is Out (SAf) was consigned to the Premier Sale by Klawervlei Stud as agent and was hammered down to Tina Rau Bloodstock and Coolmore's M.V. Magnier for R5.2 million (£223,004/€291,401). That result came not long after Mayfair and Coolmore joined forces to acquire the sale's top lot, a colt by Silvano (Ger)–National Banker (SAf) (Fort Wood) for a record-setting R6 million. Now named Silver Coin and under the care of Joey Ramsden, the Drakenstein Stud-bred bay broke his maiden at first asking as the 5-4 favorite at Kenilworth Apr. 4.