By Liesl King
The first session of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale may have started slowly, but by lot 37 a new South African record had been set and a couple of lots later a new record price for a filly was achieved, with Coolmore signing for both with partners. Cape Thoroughbred Sales Managing Director Adrian Todd was understandably delighted. “It is a great achievement for us to have achieved two new South African records on the opening night of the sale,” he said. “Obviously it was a very successful first session, with a strong international buying bench. We are delighted that major international players such as Coolmore and China Horse Club were so active during the sale.”
The first record was set when Mayfair Speculators and Coolmore combined to buy Lot 37, a Silvano (Ger) colt out of National Banker (SAf) (Fort Wood) consigned by Gaynor Rupert's Drakenstein Stud.
The bidding climbed speedily before breaching the previous record of R5.2 million. Underbidder Jehan Malherbe, bidding on behalf of Khaya Stables, forced the Mayfair/Coolmore partnership to a staggering R6 million (£254,862/€333,022) before the hammer finally came down.
Partnerships with overseas owners are a new venture for Mayfair Speculators and owner Markus Jooste explained the rationale. “It's an extension of what we do in Europe, where we have entered into several partnerships in horses and now those partners are buying horses here with us.”
“We were really determined to get him,” said Derek Brugman, Mayfair Speculators's racing manager. “He is a fantastic horse, a beautiful mover and one of the most beautiful horses you have seen in a long time. We have bought him in partnership with MV Magnier from Coolmore and we thought he was the horse of the sale. With a little bit of encouragement from the Coolmore team we decided we were going to secure him.”
Magnier was also delighted with the purchase. “He is a very nice horse. Markus and all the guys loved him so let's hope he is lucky,” he said. “When I met Gaynor earlier on today she said that this was one of the best horses she had and she was concerned about selling him, so when she says something like that it means a lot.”
Asked about the investment in South Africa, Magnier said they have been welcomed by the local industry. “It's been good. In fairness everyone down here have looked after us so well and they really have gone out of their way to help,” he said.
Gaynor Rupert added, “I am very proud to have sold the colt for a record price. He is a beautiful colt and we loved him from day one. He is going to great owners.”
Another South African record, this time for a filly, was achieved when Coolmore teamed up with Andreas Jacobs, this time to buy Lot 81 for R5.25 million (£223,004/€291,401). “We already own Pine Princess (SAf), the G1 SA Oaks winner, in partnership, and we are hoping to acquire a few more,” said Jacobs. “She is an outstanding filly with the best mare pedigree in the catalogue. We would love to see her in the CTS Million Dollar in 2018.”
Amanda Skiffington was a first time buyer at the 2015 Cape Premier Yearling Sale and she was so impressed with the Var colt she acquired during that visit that she came straight back for more. This time, she signed for Lot 88, a Trippi colt out of Silver Apples (SAf) from the family of Triple Crown winner Louis The King (SAf), consigned by Drakenstein Stud. Despite some spirited bidding, Skiffington stuck to her guns and the colt was knocked down to her for R1.1 million (£46,713/€61,055). “He is a lovely horse, a real 2-year-old type. We are delighted with the colt we bought last year, but he was more of a 3-year-old type,” she said. “Hence we were looking for a slightly earlier type and this colt fits the bill perfectly.”
Lady Laidlaw's Khaya Stables made up for losing out on the sale topper when the aptly named Hear Him Roar, Lot 125, a Dynasty colt out of the Goldmark (SAf) mare Voice of Africa (SAf) was knocked down to Jehan Malherbe for R2.7 million (£114,659/€149,929). “I trained the mother and she was a tough, speedy filly,” said Dean Kannemeyer, trainer for Khaya Stables. “He is a very well-balanced colt and of all the foals she has had, he is the one with the most quality.”
Justin Casse may have been attending his first Cape Premier Yearling Sale, but four lots into the first session he became a part owner of a Horse Chestnut (SAf) colt out of the Captain Al mare Latifah. Purchased for R500,000 (£27,764/€21,234), the colt is owned in partnership with Mick Flanagan and Mayfair Speculators, and will be trained in South Africa by Joey Ramsden. “I thought the colt was an outstanding individual and it was to our benefit that he was early in the sale,” Casse said, adding that he was far from finished, having vetted seven horses.
A couple lots later, Flanagan was forced to R1.9 million (£80,690/€105,459) on behalf of China Horse Club for Lot 33, a Var filly out of the Pure Prize mare Muamba (Arg). “It is the first South African yearling purchase by China Horse Club,” Flanagan said. “Some of the Club's members have visited South Africa and it made sense to acquire some yearlings from here. Var is of course the sire of Variety Club (SAf), who is well known overseas and the filly is a full sister to Varumba (SAf), a black-type performer. She just ticked all the boxes. It is early in the sale and we are looking for more, whether we get them though is another story.”
The session ended with an aggregate of R71,530,000 (£3,037,436/€3,970,172), an average of R656,239 (£27,866/€36,423) and a median of R425,000 (£18,047/€23,589). Full statistics will be published after the sale's second session, which commences at 5:30 p.m. local time Friday. Click here for the catalogue.
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