Morning guys asked Molly for a copy of the article, txs to Molly
From: Dave Mollett
Subject: molicol
David Mollett
Once you’ve tasted big race success, you want more.
Just 24 hours after Pierre Jourdan had given him an unforgettable day by winning the Emperors Palace Ready-To-Run Cup at Turffontein, owner Emilio Baisero was searching for another star at the Ready-To-Run sale at Gosforth Park.
“Emilio bought two at the sale - both well-conformed youngsters,” said Dean Alexander yesterday. “He bought Catamandu’s half-brother for R85000 and later on paid R70000 for another son of Malhub.”
Happily for them, Gary and Dean Alexander own 30% of Pierre Jourdan so have got a wonderful financial return on the Parade Leader gelding who cost just R60000 at the 2008 Ready-To-Run.
The Alexanders bought a total of nine lots on Sunday to give themselves a strong hand going forward to next year’s Cup, and they included the Malhub filly, Ezzah. They had to go to R500000 to secure this youngster which wasn’t surprising as the pedigree is loaded with black type including such big names as Galileo, Black Sam Bellamy and this year’s European champion, Sea The Stars.
“She’s been bought by our usual loyal gang Bruce Gardner, Greg Sadie and the boys and let’s hope she does well for them,” said Dean.
Pierre Jourdan is by Parade Leader but they didn’t go for his sole offering on the sale, Moongazer, who was knocked down to Piet Diedericks for R160000.
Nevertheless, Parade Leader continues to be one of the success stories of the year and one can’t argue with Mike Rattray’s assessment that “he has to be a bargain at his current fee of R15000.”
Visitors to Lammerskraal will all want to see Western Winter, but, thanks to Piere Jourdan, Parade Leader has leapt into second place in this season’s stake earnings sires list and can hold his head high.
Many people will be delighted to see Gary and Dean back in the limelight. The stable managed only 19th place in the trainers log last season with stake earnings of R4,3 million, but they’re well on the way to surpassing that figure this term.
Sunday’s sale saw the average increase by 9% to R189895 compared to last year’s R173636. The turnover of R27,1 million represented a small increase of 1,5%.
Bloodstock SA’s CEO, Jan Naude, commented: “There are lots of positives to be taken from the figures and the clearance rate of over 90% which is on a par with 2008. Notwithstanding the economic downturn, thoroughbred sales in South Africa continue to perform extremely well.”
Jan’s point about SA sales weathering the financial turbulence in the past 12 months is spot-on, but economic confidence has returned worldwide in the last three months meaning buyers went to Gosforth Park with a spring in their step.
Mick Goss, who consigned 108 of the 163 lots on offer, will not only have put a bounce in his step, but he’ll also have a happy bank manager after all the sums are totted up.
He said: “With more fillies than colts for sale this year, we thought the sale might yield lower figures. Yet if one looks at how well fillies are performing in the Ready-To-Run Cup, it is hardly surprising that buyers don’t shy away from the females!”
A number of studs other than Summerhill sent two year-olds to the sale and Maine Chance will be satisfied with their three lots averaging R350000. They sold a stuning colt by Lion Heart to Andre MacDonald for R300000 and it will be interesting to see if he makes the 2009 Cup line-up.
Klawervlei Stud returned an average of R173000 for their 13 lots and - rightly in my book - they left the naming of the horses to the buyer. They probably expected more than R500000 for their well-bred Falbrav colt, but Charles Laird will be happy to add this one to his string.
Mike De Kock emerged top buyer on Sunday spending R4 million on six lots including the sales-topper, Uthawini, a choicely-bred daughter of Galileo.
When I gave Mike “Pick 6” for the sale in this column last month, I mentioned there was no place for the other Galileo, Igugu. I’m not sure whether he didn’t like the name but - after Uthawini’s sale he didn’t waver from his early opinion telling me “I’m not interested in the other one.”
One man who was interested in both of Galileo’s progeny was popular Gauteng owner, Andre MacDonald. He made no mention of his interest in these two big lots whilst we enjoyed a lemonade or two in Kelvin’s Bar, but Andre’s thinking is that perhaps - at the age of 73 - he wants a horse that can carry his colours in big races like the July, Summer Cup and Met - and possibly overseas.
Perhaps the experts found a fault or two with Igugu, but Andre will be well aware of the blood he’s bought with the filly being related to champion filly, Zarkava. She would surely have made more than 100000 Euros if she’d come under the hammer in Europe.
Charles Laird was second top buyer on Sunday purchasing 11 lots for R3,7 million, and they included the Street Cry filly, Emakhaya. Dubai World Cup winner, Street Cry, retired to stud in Australia in 2003 and he grabbed the headlines recently as the sire of Melbourne Cup victor, Shocking.
Not surprisingly, it was the two year-olds with established overseas pedigrees which sold the best, but the progeny of Kahal, whose son Havasha finished a creditable third in Saturday’s Cup from a horrendous draw, were again popular.
Kahal, whose eight wins encompassed Europe, USA and Dubai, returned an average just short of R300000 for his 16 lots. His National Yearling Sales average was R357000.
Buyers are also happy to play safe with his mate at Summerhill, Muhtafal, who sold 10 lots at an average of R239000. His Yearling Sales average was R288000.
Both Solskjaer and Cataloochee returned averages of R113000 on Saturday with buyers shying away from the first-named who had sold three yearlings for an average of R522000 at the Nationals. Solskjaer is named after Manchester United’s star substitute so not a good weekend for them all round!
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The fact that Emperors Palace Chief Operating Officer, Bob Yearham, phoned Clyde Basel on Saturday night to praise the organisation of Saturday’s big raceday is ample evidence of the meetings overall success. But Phumelela’s events manager and the rest of the team can’t rest on their laurels with two other big meetings this month.
Proof that some of the celebrities - enjoying the limelight but with precious little knowledge of racing - didn’t really understand the financial aspect became abundantly clear after the race.
Some complained to anyone within earshot that it was poor their charity was only taking home R20000. It is worth reminding them that donations to charities in the UK have nosedived in the past year due to the economic downturn.
Hopefully, we won’t have a Zimbabwe situation where money - meant for the needy - has gone straight into Mugabe’s coffers.
After six months, all the charities that received cheques on Saturday should be made to send a report-back card to Bob Yearham showing exactly how the money has been spent.
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