A mouthwatering draft at 2009 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale
WHILE the bearing of the prevailing economic conditions on the outcome of this weekend’s 2009 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale has been the subject of discussion among vendors and buyers, the exceptionally high standard of this year’s catalogue has not gone unnoticed.
Lot after lot, name after name catches the eye in a mouthwatering sales draft that presents the first progeny of some of South Africa’s best race mares of recent years, well balanced with yearling foals by several top overseas stallions and local first-season sires.
Indeed there are a number of farms including Highlands, Varsfontein and Wilgerbosdrift who regard their consignments as arguably their best in the last decade.
Mike Sharkey of Highlands is raving about what he believes is the possible sales-topper in Lot 516, appropriately named The Best Overall, a bay filly by Fort Wood out of the highly talented three-time Equus Award winner Overarching, a favourite among racegoers in the mid 2000s.
Sharkey said: “Overarching’s trainer Ormond Ferraris came to see this filly and agreed that she was a ‘ringer’ for her dam. She’s our pick, a beautiful specimen who was the leader of the pack at home. She will excite the buyers.’’
Also among the Highlands yearlings are a half-sister by Spectrum to top sprinter Warm White Night and a host of leading stayers, and a half-brother to Russian Sage by Dynasty described as a “very beautiful colt’’.
Carl de Vos of Varsfontein Stud reckons he has so many nice fillies on the sale one could start a new stud farm with them! He is particularly keen on a Fort Wood filly from 2005 November Handicap winner Duchess Daba and a Western Winter filly from Love On The Run.
At Wilgerbosdrift, stud manager John Everett is so excited about his draft that he would not pick a single outstanding one among them. “We are extremely proud of this year’s consignment,’’ he said. “We gave Tiger Ridge and Right Approach some top mares and they have produced terrific specimens. All that is left now is for them to prove themselves on the racetrack, which we are confident of.’’
Wilgerbosdrift’s yearlings include smashing colts out of Seeking The Wind (Lot 19) and Slew’s Review (Lot 39) and another impressive looker by Right Approach from quality race filly Best Chris.
Klawervlei’s Marketing Manager Grant Knowles pointed out the stud’s offering by Galileo (Lot 214) as one who will attract top bids. He’s the third produce of a Danehill mare and Knowles said: “Galileo’s stud fee is almost a quarter of a million euro’s. That is over R3 million at current exchange rate which means that his buyers will get high value whatever they pay for him.’’
Klawervlei Stud Manager John Koster is fond of Lot 23, a smart colt with a stallion’s pedigree, being by Al Mufti out of Shadow Dancing, a Grade 1-winning half-sister to leading sire Captain Al.
All breeders interviewed said that their every intention was to sell their stock and not to take anything home. The sentiment expressed by most was that they would accommodate buyers within reasonable market limits. “We have farms to run and huge monthly costs,’’ said one. “We can’t just truck them back home, unsold!’’
Other highlights might include:
Day One (Friday 3 April, Sale starts 18.30):
Lot 8, Chesalon, a Fort Wood filly from Majorca Stakes winner Sarabande, Avontuur Stud
Lo 29 Tequila Gold, by Fort Wood from Shoot The Booze, The Alchemy (Agent)
Lot 100, Up and Running, by Tiger Ridge out of Upwardly Mobile, Wilgerbosdrift Stud.
Day Two (Sunday 5 April, Sale stars 11.00):
Lot 109, Putin Power, National Emblem x Vogue, Clifton Stud
Lot 130, Virtuoso, Var x Wise Dame, Avontuur Stud
Lot 153, Western Wind, Western Winter x Arch Mistress, Highlands Farms
Lot 211, Uncle Tommy, Kahal x Cousin Linda, Summerhill (Agent)
Lot 228, Valmorne, Var x Derry Wood, Avontuur Stud
Lot 264, Slick Hincho, Parade Leader x Fair Maiden, Lammerskraal Stud
Lot 305 Matara Garden, Solskjaer x Garden Verse, Summerhill (Sales)
Lot 324 James Bay, National Assembly x Grand Velvet Bay (Highlands)
Day Three (Monday, 6 April, Sale starts 11.00):
Lot 405, Unnamed National Assembly filly from Laptop Lady, Klawervlei
Lot 509, Nova Zembla, Western Winter x Oceana, Cheveley Stud
BSA’s Marketing Manager Caroline Simpson reminded prospective buyers to obtain a buyers card from BSA and of the special travel concessions being offered to overseas buyers.
Sales Catalogues can be obtained from the TBA Sales Complex, Gosforth Park. Please phone (011) 323 5700 to obtain a copy.
The sale will be conducted by Andrew Miller and Mike Killassy, joined by New Zealand auctioneer Steve Davis. - Bloodstock SA
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