KZN Breeders enjoyed a very successful sale at Nationals, which achieved outstanding results in a tumultous current economy.

Bloodstock South Africa hailed the sale a “resounding triumph.”

“An outstanding catalogue and some spirited bidding saw the 2023 National Yearling Sale come to a triumphant conclusion late on Saturday afternoon. The two day auction saw gains in aggregate, and average and median prices, while the clearance rate at the sale improved off results seen last year.”

“The sale’s aggregate rose by more than R16 million, with the 2023 National Sale’s gross aggregate reaching R153.8 million, while the average and median rose to R443 228 and R300 000 respectively. The average rose from R357 454 a year ago, while the median price increased from R250 000 from 2022.”

Rathmor Stud took the leading accolades for the top priced colt of KZN, with a smashing colt by Danon Platina knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R725 000.

The colts groom, Zakhele Biyase, echoed the sentiments of the fantastic price and showed his jubilation as he lead the colt out of the ring with a big smile and a fist in the air!

Sold as Lot 325 and out of the beautifully bred Jane S Piddy, this is the family of Nexus, Lady In Black, Lizarre and The Merry Widow. Rathmor’s acquisition of mares from leading families is paying off, and they brought four quality yearlings to the sale to average an impressive R537 500 for each of them – snapped up by the likes of Glen Kotzen, Form Bloodstock, Hollywood Syndicate and Greg Bortz. The balance of the yearlings sold included a Vercingetorix sibling to Gr1 winner Missisippi Burning and Black Type, Mercury Rising.

Tinus Gericke and Bruce Le Roux’s Blue Sky Thoroughbreds brought a draft that they described as “having something for everyone” – and their impressive sales topper for R700 000 was a magnificent flashy bay colt by Gimmethegreenlight out of Kahal mare, Kahula.

After enthusiastic bidding, he was knocked down to the IRC & Krishnan Nagendran. A second produce for the 5-time winning mare, this is a family that has excelled for Bruce Le Roux’s previous Spring Valley farm in the form of Count The Money and Buy And Sell, as well as Bedloe’s Island. Blue Sky sold 14 yearlings for an impressive average of R280 357 each. Blue Sky consistently bring a well made yearling to the sales each year and its paying off in the sales ring and winners box.

Their draft presented on behalf of Agents yielded seven sold for clients for an average of R185 000. Many of them were by two year sire sensation New Predator, which saw 9 sold under the Blue Sky banner for an average of R216 667 each.

Others sold by Blue Sky sires included one by Willow Magic for R170 000, and the other by Hat Puntano for R180 000.

Peter and Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud brought another fantastic draft to Germiston; all well grown and well related yearlings who consistently earn their owners cheques and accumulate black type, their top price was for a colt named Hair Trigger, by in form sire Fire Away out of Aziza, sold to Peter Moor for R600 000. Clifton sold the highest priced #kznbred filly of the sale – the workmanlike Mai Sensation – a daughter of Rafeef out of Mai Tai by Vercingetorix. She sold for R500 000 to Greg Bortz.

Clifton achieved an average of R336 429 for seven yearlings sold.

Brett Van Laun of Camargue Stud debuted his Caversham-based farm at Nationals this year, and paid off with a smashing What A Winter colt out of Magic Penny knocked down to Greg Bortz for R600 000. The colts full sister to Black Type and 4-time winner Pretty Penny, whilst the second dam is Lady Lexington.

Brett also sold a super Querari colt, a three parts brother to Gr2 winner Ameena for R300 000 to Alyson Wright, and a beautiful sibling to American Grafitti for R250 000, snapped up by Corne Spies. Whilst it can take a while for new farms to establish themselves in the market, Camargue impressed with eight lots selling for R245 625 each.

Colleen and Gary De Klerk’s draft saw their New Predator out of Lady Carter sell for R180 000; they unfortunately had to withdraw their smashing Lancaster Bomber filly from the Nationals, but keep a look out in the catalogues later this year for Miss Munroe – her fourth dam is Imperious Sue and this is the family of Victory Moon.

Summerhill Equestrian and Gr1 producing sire Act Of War saw four lots sold for an average of R295 000 each. The top priced Act Of War, a colt from Clifton Stud named Peace Treaty, sold for R375 000 to Sean Tarry. This quality colt out of a Gimmethegreenlight mare hails from the Varsfontein family of Kochka, Kissable, Dash For Gretna and Moneycantbuymelove.

Well done to the KZN Breeders and thank you to the buyers and underbidders for their appreciated support!

Clifton Stud’s Peter Blyth is bringing an exciting string to this year’s National Yearling Sale, with Clifton set to offer yearlings sired by the likes of Act Of War, Danon Platina, Duke Of Marmalade, Fire Away, One World, Pomodoro, Rafeef, and Visionaire.

Peter had the following comments to make about his draft:

Lot 135 State Secret: f Act Of War – Velvet Glove

Racey. Well grown. Stands over ground. A good walking filly.

Half sister to Mrs Geriatrix now a winner of two races from two starts including the Listed Ruffian Stakes. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CATOLOGUE WAS PRINTED.

Dam own sister to Prince Of Kahal.

Lot 187 Hair Trigger: c Fire Away – Azinza 

Big strong, racey colt.

His sire Fire Away has had an amazing start to his career. Family of Kommetdieding.

Lot 241 Window To My Soul: c One World – Demitasse

Tall, classy, stands over ground, good walker. Quality colt by Met winner One World.

Lot 258 Head To The Stars: f Rafeef – Estrel 

Deep girthed, high quality, good walking,  medium sized filly.

A half- sister to G2 winner Montreal Mist who was by Soft Falling Rain by National Assembly.

This filly is by Rafeef who also goes back to National Assembly.

Lot 265 Pomo’s Big Spender: c Pomodoro – Fashion Talk

Strong,  speedy looking, well muscled, good walking colt.

By Pomodoro who was sired by Jet Master. This colt’s dam’s G3 winning half sister called Whatalady was also sired by Jet Master.

Lot 353 Peace Treaty: c Act Of War – Love Of My Life

Strong, good looking colt. Stands over ground.

Well related.

Lot 351 Clifton as agent Visionofpeace: f Visionaire – Lisa Ann

Good looking high quality filly who walks well. She is a full-sister to G1 SA Fillies Classic winner Takingthepeace.

Clifton Stud’s draft can be viewed from Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds will be offering a well-balanced and exciting consignment at this year’s National Yearling Sale.

From proven stallions such as Act Of War, Futura, Master Of My Fate, Querari and champion sire Gimmethegreenlight to exciting younger sires such as Danon Platina and New Predator, Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ National Sale draft has something for every buyer.

Champion sire Gimmethegreenlight is represented here by a colt (Lot 333) whose five-time winning dam is a daughter of G2 SA Oaks winner Bedloe’s Island, and a half-sister (Lot 344) to G3 Cape Classic victor Captain Tatters.

Another top sire represented in Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’s string is Querari, with the latter sire of a three-parts brother (Lot 172) to the Querari sired G1 Thekwini Stakes winner Querari Falcon.

Lacewing (Lot 74) is a filly by the very promising Danon Platina out of G3 Strelitzia Stakes queen She’s A Stunner, while The Lodge (Lot 114) is a Master Of My Fate colt is a colt from the family of G1 Computaform Sprint winning sire sensation Rafeef and the latter’s champion dam National Colour, as well as the Master Of My Fate sired G2 winner Basadi Faith.

Former G2 Charity Mile/G2 Drill Hall Stakes winner New Predator has made a sensational start to his stud career and the son of Derby winner New Approach has no fewer than nine yearlings on offer in this draft. New Predator yearlings on sale include a colt (Lot 113) out of a stakes winning daughter of top-class broodmare sire Windrush, a half-sister (Lot 140) to G3 Strelitzia Stakes heroine Neptune’s Rain, a filly (Lot 144) out of Var’s stakes winning daughter Winter Passion, and a half-sister (Lot 263) to this season’s smart three-year-old filly Raratonga Rose.

The aforementioned draft can be viewed from Blocks C and E at the TBA complex in Germiston.

Lancaster Bomber. New Predator. Captain Of All. These three exciting stallions are all represented in Summerview Stud’s draft for the 2023 National Yearling Sale. A boutique young farm with a hands-on approach, Summerview has steadily built up its broodmare band, and continues to upgrade their stock with regular visits to the Cape Mare Sale. The farm aims to keep their broodmare band small while focusing on purchasing choicely bred mares, and this is clearly reflected on the draft they are bringing to the National Yearling Sale this year.

Summerview’s Colleen de Klerk is excited about the string she is bringing to the National Sale, and has the following comments to make about her draft.

Lot 131 Miss Munroe: f Lancaster Bomber -Valentine’s Girl A nicely topped, strong, scopey and well balanced filly who walks well and is out of 5 time winning mare Valentine’s Girl. Family of Sunset Tripp, Blue Heather and Imperious Sue.

Lot 202 Captains Clover: f Captain Of All -Bon Bon A neat filly out of Bon Bon, a 6 time winning mare – daughter of multiple Graded performer Spring Clover. This is the mares first produce. Family of Hall of Success, Aslongasyoufollow and In Raptures.

Lot 268 Fearless Bomber: f Lancaster Bomber -Fear Not A nicely put together filly with a deep girth and walks well, out of the black type 4 time winner Fear Not, a full Sister to Stakes placed Free State. Family of Equus Champion Kimberley Mine, General Sherman and Two Tone.

Lot 341 Magna Carta: c New Predator -Lady Carter A stunning strong Colt who is nicely topped with strong hindquarter, well balanced and walks well, out of the 3 Time winning mare Lady Carter. The mare has 1 runner 1 multiple winner. Family of Cartel Captain, Lady Caroloty, Crazy Icon, Teichman and Carolera This draft can be viewed from Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston. Summerview’s draft can also viewed online at www.bsa.co.za.

Tinus Gericke and Bruce Le Roux’s Blue Sky Thoroughbreds reaped their rewards at the Nationals, selling their impressive Gimmethegreenlight colt for R1,2-million to Anthony Beck, to be trained by Sean Tarry.

A big and tall first foal of Hashtagyolo – the well bred filly was knocked down to to Tinus and Bruce in partnership just a few years previously in the same sales ring for R1-million.

The Dynasty mare from the family of Malmoos, Erik The Red, Master Of My Fate and the recent Karangetang has given her son a sires pedigree.

Hashtagyolo, a big filly with a massive flowing stride who remained unbeaten in her first few starts including winning a feature and a Grade 3, was sent to Johannesburg for a campaign aimed at the Summer Cup, and unfortunately fell very ill and almost died.

The illness took its toll on her and we will never know what Hashtagyolo could have achieved at her full potential, but there is no doubt from her early form that she could have achieved Gr1 status.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds dream is beginning to show dividends, with a double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday from Kileigh’s Fate and Mandala Effect. Blue Sky Thoroughbreds current stats on nhra.co.za boast a winners to runners percentage of 62.5% with a AEPR of R58 000.

The next two highest prices came from Clifton Stud and Piemonte Stud.

Piemonte presented a beautiful Vercingetorix filly out of good Var racemare Wishful Eye, a mare who has been doing the business at stud with 8-time winner and Black Type Filippo (Toreador) and more recently 3-time winner Faustino (Crusade) and winner Calvino (Toreador), she also produced a 5-time winner to Redoute’s Promise in the form of Aldo.

Manie Pillay went to R500 000 for the filly, he has shares in Faustino and Calvino. This is the family of Tetre Rouge. The future looks bright for the filly named Questo E Quello.

The next to follow was Clifton Stud’s impressive What A Winter colt out of Var mare Esterel, a half-brother to Clifton-bred Gr2 winner Montreal Mist who has begun her stud career at Mauritzfontein, and is currently the paddock mate of Summer Pudding.

An athletic colt named Star Performer and who looks to have plenty of speed, was knocked down to David Ferraris for R500 000.

KZN’s prior Champion sire Kahal, who stood at Bush Hill Stud before his passing, saw him featuring prominently as a broodmare sire at Nationals. His grandson Lot 16 by Vercingetorix sold for R2-million to Greg Bortz, out of Kjell Foundation bred mare Kwinta. Lot 375 by Lancaster Bomber out of Kahal mare Evening Attire sold for R700 000 consigned by Lammerskraal Stud.

The National Yearling Sale proved to be one of the strongest yet, encouraging in the current economic climate.

The turnover saw a 33% increase to R136 235 375, the average a 30% increase to R359 099 per horse sold and the median a 25% increase to R250 000.

Congratulations and thank you to the buyers, under bidders and vendors for the support.

First season sire New Predator, a multiple Gr1 placed and Gr2 winning son of New Approach, proved popular at the Nationals as his athletic yearlings all sold on day one at the National Yearling Sale for an average of R160 000.

The top Lot sold for R300 000 to trainer Gavin Van Zyl of Team G Racing, a scopy colt out of a Requiem mare – the same broodmare sire as Triple Tiara Gr1 winning star War Of Athena. The dam is a half-sister to Gr3 winner Chico Azul. This was also the top Lot sold on the day for Bush Hill Stud.

Others to put up their hands in the auction ring for the New Predators included Vermaak Equine, Paul Lafferty, Mark Dixon, Paul Matchett, Lorette Louw, and Roy Magner purchased an interesting Lot inbred to Galileo from Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, a colt out of Modraj – the dam of Dubai winner Alareef and Caradoc Gold Cup winner, Just Cruised In.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds top Lot on day one sold for R250 000 to Mary Carlisle, a beautiful filly out of Trippi’s Girl by Lancaster Bomber. She is a half-sister to the talented juvenile Mr Henley.

Clifton Stud topped the #kznbreds sold on Day 1, with their quality Rafeef filly out of a Gimmethegreenlight mare. She sold for R400 000 to Form Bloodstock as Lot 35. It is the family of Leopard Strike, Kochka and Kissable.

Keivan Stud, who brought four quality yearlings to the sale, sold their Act Of War colt half-brother to exported Marshall for R220 000 to Roy Magner. The colt is from the immediate female line of Asiatic Boy.

Piemonte Stud had only one Lot on offer on day one of their 8-strong draft, which was knocked down to leading trainer on the national log, Paul Peter. Keep a look out on Day 2 for Piemonte’s smart Vercingetorix filly half-sister to multiple winners Filippo and Faustino.

Congratulations to all concerned on the first day of the sale, which continues on Friday at 10am.

Named after the province of Piemonte in Italy where the Scribante’s family home remains, Piemonte Stud is a family owned business with the father and son duo of Lee and Dino Scribante, both sharing a common love of speed and competition in a variety of sports and disciplines.

Lee competed and achieved his colours provincially and nationally in both athletics and boxing and this played a part in his selection of his first racehorse.

“As a young student at the University of Cape Town, I received a call one Friday evening from my father telling me to go to Milnerton training track at 5:30 the very next morning, to see a Mr Willie Kleb,” Lee explains.

“I duly got there at 5:30am and introduced myself to Mr Kleb who happened to be one of the doyens of South African trainers in that era. He showed me six horses that were circling in the ring and told me that I had to choose one of them. All I knew about horses at that time was that they had a head and a tail and that they eat 24/7 – I asked him to help me choose one. His answer was “no, your dad said you must choose!”

Lee adapted his philosophy of what he believed an athlete should look like, selecting a horse called Sonata. “Mr Kleb asked me why I chose him. I said that the horse looked the most athletic and capable to me. He then pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, and said “no matter what you chose, that was the one you were getting anyway!”

Sonata went to Port Elizabeth at the time and raced in the HB Christian Memorial Handicap three weeks later and won over 2000m. Lee says excitedly, “I thought well, this game is quite easy! However the 44 years since then have proven to me that the game is actually not so easy, and definitely not for the faint of heart.”

Despite this Lee admits to having enjoyed plenty of success with his family in racing, “We have been fortunate to have raced successfully with the horses we have had, going back to my father. We have run second and fourth in the Met, fourth in the Durban July and we have won numerous Group races including at the time the Gr1 Gold Vase in Durban. Our good horses included the likes of Western Wind, Western Boy, Captive Prince, Knockout, Ziplock and Scripture.”

The Scribantes also race, in partnership with Steven and Jessica Jell, current high-class filly Santa Therese. The latter, a daughter of Flower Alley, reeled off seven wins in a row between December 2020 and October the following year, with Santa Therese’s winning streak including success in both the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes and Listed Jockey Club Stakes.

A constant fixture at the National Sale, Piemonte will once again be offering a high-class draft at this year’s National Yearling Sale. This consignment is made up of yearlings by a host of proven and popular stallions including Erupt, Master Of My Fate, Rafeef and the sensational Vercingetorix, and Piemonte will also be offering yearlings from the first crops of exciting young sires Danon Platina and Fire Away.

Potential standouts in this string include a Vercingetorix half-sister (Lot 255) to the very smart Filippo, a Rafeef half-sister (Lot 273) to the speedy, stakes placed filly Nawaasi, and a Danon Platina filly (Lot 296) out of a multiple stakes winning daughter of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight.

This imposing draft can be viewed in Block E at the TBA Complex in the days leading up to this year’s National Sale.

Keivan Stud’s Vanessa Williams traces her involvement in the racing industry back to days growing up when she became drawn to donkeys which arrived at the trading store where she grew up. She went on to enjoy a successful career in polo-crosse, which saw Vanessa play at the top level where she toured all of Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

She raises her horses in a valley with extreme weather conditions, resulting in tough stock being reared and raised on the farm. Among the notable horses bred by Keivan Stud were G3 Christmas Handicap winner It Is Written and the very talented galloper Baracah, to name but two. The latter was a half-brother to the very smart filly Goat -who earned over R700 000 and won the G2 Gold Circle Oaks despite sadly dying young.

Vanessa also enjoyed success at the 2021 BSA July Online Auction, selling a filly named Show Time to Corrie Lensley for R100 000, with that filly having subsequently gone on to win and finish a good third in both the G3 Pretty Polly Stakes and Listed Ruffian Stakes this season.

Keivan Stud will be offering four yearlings at this year’s National Yearling Sale -two colts by Cape Guineas winner Act Of War, best known as the sire of champion War Of Athena, and two colts by former champion sprinter, and proven G1 sire, Captain Of All.

The Keivan quartet can be found at Block A at the TBA complex in Germiston.