The National Yearling Sale concluded with a trio of R2 million-plus (£96,151/€122,680) yearlings, but it was not enough to bolster the falling turnover figure. The aggregate was R107,010,000 (£5,146,014/€6,563,972), a drop of 16%, while the average (R325,258 {£15,641/€19,951}) and the median (R200,000 {£9,615/€12,268}) both decreased by 9% year-on-year.
“It was a very tough sale, but considering the economic climate you would have to call it was a very fair sale,” said Bloodstock SA CEO Kevin Woolard. “There was a large spread of buyers and the middle market was strongly supported.”
The topper of the first session, a Trippi filly out of Ilha Grande (SAf) (Tiger Ridge), remained the overall sale-topper at R2.5 million (£120,189/€153,350).
The top colt of the sale, however, came out of the last session, when lot 389, a Dynasty (SAf) colt out of Townsend (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) lit the bid board in favour of Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock at R2.2 million. ” That was hard work,” Malherbe quipped, “but I am happy that I finally got him. He is a beautiful colt, with a lot of quality and you can't go wrong with a Dynasty colt.”
Cheveley Stud has some wonderful female families and few of the fillies ever come up for sale. So when one does, there is sure to be fireworks. This was the case with lot 347, a filly by Captain Al from the G3 Fillies Guineas winner Spring Lilac (SAf) (Joshua Dancer). The dam hails from the Mystic Spring (Ire) (Royal Academy) family, which has already produced two Equus Champions among a host of graded winners. The hammer fell to John Freeman at R2 million, signing on behalf of Gaynor Rupert and Jack Mitchell.
Gaynor Rupert, owner of Drakenstein Stud, said, “I have been trying to buy into this family for a long time, and its third-time lucky I guess.” Freeman added that she was his pick of the sale. “She is a very good mover, from an irresistible family and by a super sire. You can't buy into this family, so when you get the chance you must grab it.”
Vendor Vaughan Koster from Cheveley Stud was delighted with the price but admitted that he was sad to let her go. “We don't often let fillies from our foundation families go, but as commercial breeders we also have to sell,” he explained.
Having just bought a filly for R2 million, Mrs Rupert promptly sold a colt for the same sum as lot 356, an outstanding Western Winter colt out of the Grade 1-winning mare Stratos (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}), was knocked down to trainer Mike Azzie. Azzie not only trained the dam, but also trains the half-brother, Apple Crumble (SAf) (Trippi). “I trained the mom and she was an absolutely fantastic racehorse. I am so happy that I managed to snap him up,” Azzie said.
Coolmore and Maine Chance Farms are already racing a number of South African-breds in partnership, but the purchase of lot 317, together with Mauritzfontein Stud, is a first for the National Yearling Sale. By Silvano (Ger), the striking chestnut filly named Silver Thursday is the first foal of the Listed Syringa H. winner Secret Obsession (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}). Jehan Malherbe, who signed for the filly at R1.3 million, commented that Coolmore's continued involvement in South Africa was greatly appreciated. “It is always good when a super power in world racing, such as Coolmore, purchase our horses,” he said. “She is a nice, racy filly, from a great South African family, with obvious paddock value.”
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