The Cape Premier Yearling Sale concluded at the Cape Town Convention Centre Friday with two new South African records and solid prices across the board. The aggregate increased 20% to R135,650,000 (£5,772,917/€7,619,339) with 28% more horses catalogued. The average was slightly down from R644,117 to R600,211 (£25,556/€33,713) (-6.8%), while the median dropped from R400,000 to R375,000 (£15,967/€21,096) (-6.3%). The top vendor was Klawervlei Stud with 49 yearlings selling for R38,270 000 (£1,629,484/€2,152,878), while Mayfair Speculators (alone and with partners) headed the buyers' list, acquiring nine yearlings for R13,400,000 (£570,269/€753,816). Silvano dominated the sires' list with 22 yearlings selling for R24,500,000 (£1,042,657/€1,378,247).
“We are obviously delighted by the two new South African records set during the first session, but more than that we are delighted with the incredible increase in the international buying bench,” said Adrian Todd, managing director of Cape Thoroughbred Sales. “This is the first time that buyers from the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Hong Kong and the USA were actively competing for horses. Together with the incredible partnerships forged by Mayfair Speculators with international buyers such as Coolmore amongst others, the local buying bench remained strong and competed successfully for the top lots.”
The Coolmore/Mayfair Speculators partnership teamed with Andreas Jacobs Friday to buy Lot 183, a Dynasty (SAf) filly out of Grade 3 winner Crimson Blossom (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), for a session-topping R5.25 million (£223,537/€295,192). Derek Brugman, Mayfair Speculators's racing manager, rated the filly highly. “She is a beautiful filly, who walks like a panther. A stunning individual with huge international appeal and a massive paddock value,” he said. “It made sense for us to buy her.”
The locals finally got a look in when Lot 220, a Dynasty colt out of Garland (SAf) (Capture Him) was knocked down to Mike Azzie for R3 million (£127,753/€168,680). Azzie, who trains the half- brother Greek Legend (SAf), was not to be deterred and outlasted the European opposition. “I think very highly of Greek Legend; he could win the Gold Cup this year,” Azzie said. “But this colt has more substance. He is a phenomenal animal and so we put a syndicate together in order to buy him.”
European-based Peter Doyle was active during the session, in quick succession signing for Lots 134 at R850,000 (£36,197/€47,793); 148 at R1.2 million (£51,076/€67,472); and 168 for R700,000 (£29,794/€39,359), then combining with Kip Elser when going to R650,000 (£27,679/€36,547) for Lot 155, a Var colt out of the Windrush mare Baltic Beauty (SAf) from the draft of Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm. The Doyles later added Lot 243, a Dynasty colt out of the Giant's Causeway mare Irish Torrent, with the hammer falling at R1.1 million (£46,843/€61,849).
“We got run over [Thursday],” said Doyle with a wry smile. “In fact it was a train wreck and we only got two lots. [Friday] has been wonderful and we managed to buy some really lovely horses.”
It was Vive la France as Henri Bozo, one of the underbidders on day one's record-breaking filly, finally had the hammer come down in his favour. Bozo is no stranger to South Africa, having spent a summer foaling down mares at Antony Beck's Highlands Farm Stud. Hence, he is familiar with the South African pedigrees and Lot 169, a filly by Captain Al (SAf) out of the National Assembly mare Captivating Party (SAf) was exactly what he was looking for. After some spirited bidding the filly was knocked down to him for R2.4 million (£102,152/€134,944). “I bought her on behalf of Andreas Putsch, Lady O'Reilly, Qatar Racing, Mayfair Speculators and of course Ecurie Des Monceaux,” Bozo explained. “We will race her here and hopefully have some fun. She has tremendous paddock value and we were happy that we were successful this time.”
Justin Casse was back in action when signing for Lot 191, a Captain Al colt consigned by Klawervlei Stud, at R2.2 million (£93,639/€123,699). The colt is out of the Galileo mare Della Scala (SAf) from the female family of Procrastinate (Aus), Laisserfaire (Aus) and Time Thief (Aus). Casse explained that the unnamed colt was bought in partnership with Linda Shanahan and Diane Nagle. “It was a colt we all liked and rather than bid against each other we decided to team up and have some fun,” Casse said. “He is more a Galileo than Captain Al and we are delighted to have got him.”
Mick Flanagan was back in action on behalf of the China Horse Club when signing for Lot 223, a Dynasty filly out of Glowing Amber (Deputy Minister), who will be trained by Joey Ramsden. Other international buyers active during Session Two included Winston Chow, who signed for Lot 200 and Lot 211; McMahon and Hill Bloodstock, who signed for Lots 112, 156 and 216; Kilbride Equine, signing for Lot 204 and Lot 226; and Amanda Skiffington signing for Lot 133.
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