Rathmor’s Gran Blanco Sold At Nationals

Following great international interest, the first white medicine hat Thoroughbred born in South Africa, bred in KZN by Rathmor Stud – as well as the first to pass through the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale – has been sold for R220 000.

Gran Blanco, by Kahal out of Gr 3 placed Perakeen by Rakeen (from the family of Greys Inn) has attracted plenty of public and media attention since arriving at the sales complex.

Sent through the ring at approximately lunch-time on the first day of the sale, the sales complex began to fill up before the colt entered the ring reducing the complex to silence. The bidding began quickly and he was knocked down to new owners’ Bev Roode and JP Pieterse. Gran Blanco will be sent to Des Egdes for training.

His owners had only seen Gran Blanco for the first time on the morning of the sale and took an instant liking to the rare colt, who has attracted attention from the equestrian community both locally and internationally and have expressed their absolute delight at being his proud new owners.

Des Egdes has confirmed that Gran Blanco will be sent back to Rathmor Stud to be given time to grow out and mature into his big frame, describing him as a horse with a lot of scope – he will begin his pre-training with Bradley McHardy of Quest For Success Pre-training.

Des Egdes who trains at Ashburton, said he believes the horse is going to be “a scopy individual.” Des in the past has trained the likes of sires Modern Day, Copperbelt and others such as Whacky Lad, Gleaming Sky, Ship’s Gossip, Elite Fov and Target Five.

“It’s going to be a good year before he [Gran Blanco] comes near my yard, I think he is a horse with a lot of quality but in time to come. He has a fantastic staying pedigree and we are looking at a horse that will go a mile and beyond. A horse that is obviously unique in the way he has been bred, I think he is going to be a nice classic horse, a quality type of horse, and hopefully will go the ground for the classic races.” Des points out that : “my patrons didn’t buy him because of his uniqueness alone but on his pedigree as well.”

The new owners of Gran Blanco also purchased the top-priced colt by Brave Tin Soldier – who is having his first progeny presented at the National Yearling Sales – for R200 000 named Split The Breeze, an outstanding individual from a family that Rathmor have had a lot of success with, including Wendywood and Malteme.

Rathmor reports that Gran Blanco still remains very popular, still having visitors until 9pm last night. Regarding selling the white horse, Mike McHardy said he was relatively happy with the sale of Gran Blanco. “I feel he was still very immature for this sale and I think we would have got a lot less for him had he not been so unique. He has gone to a good home and we look forward to seeing him on the racetracks.”

Gran Blanco’s sire Kahal, one of the top stallions in the country for the last few years, recently produced Gr 1 SA Classic winner Love Struck – amongst a miriad of recent Group and Stakes winners. Perakeen at Rathmor Stud is back in foal to Kahal this year.