South African Sales Record at CPYS

by Liesl King

Records were shattered during the first session of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale held by the Cape Thoroughbred Sales Company (CTS) in the Cape Town International Convention Centre, as more than 60% of last year’s total aggregate was achieved and a new record price of R5.2 million (US$456,162) was paid for lot 48, a colt by Dynasty (SAf). The aggregate for Session One was R60.2 million ($5.28 million), with an average of R620,619 ($54,444) and a median of R350,000 ($30,703).

Chief Operating Officer of CTS Adrian Todd was extremely pleased with the results achieved.

"We knew we had a quality draft of horses and a solid local and international buying bench," he explained. "We have achieved exceptional results during the first session, which is a credit to the South African breeder and the South African Thoroughbred. South African horses have achieved incredible results on the international stage, despite an unlevel playing field, imposed on South Africa due to unreasonable quarantine requirements."

With the exquisite Western Winter half-sister to MGSW’s Vercingetorix (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) and Trinity House (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) catalogued as lot 3, there was no chance for buyers to ease gently into the sale. Fireworks were expected and fireworks were delivered, with the bidding rising at a furious pace, until Joey Ramsden managed to step victorious from the carnage with the hammer coming down at R3 million. Ramsden was delighted that he managed to buy his pick of the sale.

"She is a smashing filly, from a great running family. I just hope she follows in their footsteps," he quipped.

Antony Beck’s Highlands Farm Stud consigned a magnificent draft and the buyers certainly agreed, with lot 12 and lot 13, selling for a combined R5.9 million. Lot 12, the cleverly named Cloth Of Cloud (SAf) out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Our Table Mountain, a half-sister to sire Artie Schiller, caught the attention of Diane Nagle and Linda Shanahan. The ladies could not resist the beautiful filly and happily went to R2.2 million to acquire her.

"We thought she was beautiful, with a superb action and a great pedigree", Mrs. Nagle said. Current plans are for the filly to stay in training in South Africa.

Mayfair Speculators were determined not to be outbid on Lot 13, a classy bay filly from 2004 champion sprinter Overarching (Arch), a full-sister to Temeraine and a half-sister to Alone At Last (Quiet American) and Dead Red (Out Of Place), with the hammer falling at R3.7 million.

"She is an outstanding filly by Dynasty (SAf), who is the sire of the moment," said Derek Brugman, racing manager for Mayfair Speculators. "I consider her to be one of the top three fillies on the sale. With that female line she also has tremendous paddock value."

Beck Legacy Carries On...
Fifteen years ago, Graham Beck embarked on an ambitious plan to improve his own broodmare band at Highlands Farm Stud by importing well-bred yearling fillies from the States. Over the years, a total of 78 fillies were imported and many of them excelled on the racetrack, with several such as Overarching becoming champions.

Graham Beck sadly died in 2010, but his son Antony is now reaping the benefits of his father’s bold vision, as those fillies are becoming exceptional broodmares. Our Table Mountain and Overarching, along with Moonlit Prairie (Cozzene), dam of G1 Investec Cape Derby winner and freshman sire Jackson (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}), are just some of those fillies who are now setting sales and racetracks alight with their progeny. Antony Beck was on hand to watch Lot 12 and Lot 13 go through the ring and he explained how it all came about.

"My father was passionate about racing and breeding," he offered. "Every year we would go to Keeneland to buy fillies to race in South Africa and to subsequently become broodmares. Not only did many of them become good racemares, but many of them became foundation mares for us and other breeders. Our success in the sale’s ring today is due to a wonderful team headed by our stud manager Mike Sharkey and a rigorous selection of bloodstock over many decades."

Jacobs Family Making Most of Their ‘Chances’...
It took a breeder of another kind to completely shatter the South African record for a yearling as top game breeder Piet du Toit went to R5.2 million to acquire the Dynasty colt offered as lot 48 by Dr. Andreas Jacobs’ Maine Chance Stud. Produced by Shina (Ger) (Lomitas {Ger}), the full-sister to 2013 South African champion sire Silvano (Ger), the colt is a half-brother to the Listed Derby Trial winner Solapur (Ger) (Ekraar).

Du Toit was delighted that he managed to buy such an outstanding specimen.

"I am so pleased that we managed to get him. I am going to name him Tsunami and he will be trained here in Cape Town by Mike Bass."

Candice Robinson, who trains with her dad Mike Bass at their Milnerton stables, explained that they loved the colt and considered him the pick of the sale.

"He has a real classy look about him," she submitted. "He walks well, has a lovely pedigree and he looks like a racehorse, even at this young age."

Dr. Jacobs, who sent Shina to South Africa in foal to Tiger Hill (Ire) (Danehill) on Southern Hemisphere time, was delighted by the price achieved.

"With Silvano doing so well here, it was the logical decision to send her and she was the right fit for the stallions here," he stated. "We were expecting a good price, but we never dreamt that he would shatter the South African record."
Du Toit was back in action when he signed for lot lot 79, the half-sister to the outstanding 3-year-old filly Cold As Ice (SAf) (Western Winter), at R2.5 million. The filly will also join the Bass stable and Candice Robinson was delighted to be getting her as well.

"She is a sister to a great filly and a beautiful mover. I am so pleased that she will be joining us," Robinson commented.

Sheikh Hamdan Leaves His Mark...
Shadwell’s Angus Gold had to be satisfied with only one purchase on the first night, signing for lot 46, a Silvano (Ger) colt out of the Rakeen mare Shasta Daisy (SAf) at R1.2 million. Consigned by Maine Chance, the colt is a full-brother to G3 Champion Juvenile Cup winner Sedge (SAf) and will be trained by Mike de Kock.

"I was hoping to buy a couple more, but the sale is very strong and certainly seems to be going from strength to strength. It has really caught on and there are far more international buyers here than in past years," Gold commented. "The colt is a very solid horse by a good stallion and Mike de Kock loved him. If he can run a bit then he can go to Dubai, which is always our ultimate aim."

The second and final session will commence at 6 p.m. tonight. Cumulative statistics will appear in Saturday’s TDN.

www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/shared_con...VMIilqJylmA.facebook