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.

Camargue will be offering yearlings sired by such successful stallions as Master Of My Fate, Querari and What A Winter, as well as by the ill-fated Lancaster Bomber, who has made such an impressive start with his first two-year-olds this season.

The farm’s Brett van Laun is particularly keen on the What A Winter colt (Lot 358) out of Silvano’s Off To Stud Handicap winning daughter Magic Penny, and calls this well bred yearling a “a definite standout”.

Promising two-year-old American Graffiti, winner of the Listed Storm Bird Stakes this season, has a Querari half-sister (Lot 180) on offer, of whom Brett says is a “quality filly who should attract a lot of attention.

He also likes the Captain Of All filly (Lot 285) out of Listed Spook Express Handicap winner Forest Express, describing her as “an absolute belter”.

The aforementioned draft can be viewed from Blocks E and F 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.

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.

From the first crop of William Longsword, the colt has an equally outstanding dam line from the Lammerskraal family of Redberry Lane, Solo Traveller and Flying Ice.

Piemonte followed suit on the 2nd day, selling Bethel as Lot 472 for R250 000 to Form Bloodstock. The What A Winter colt, out of Wood Sprite by Fort Wood has Murmuration as the 2nd dam – the female line of Mambo Mime, Captains Lullaby and Varbration.

Summerhill Equestrian’s Henning Pretorius was the second leading buyer of the sale, purchase three Lots for an average of R2,9-Million. His three lots included a smart Trippi colt out of Bang Sue, Lot 185 Celestial City for R7-Million (both horses bred by Wilgerbosdrift), and the beautiful bay Querari full sister to Gr2 winner, Querari Falcon, consigned by Benmarne Stud. Henning was also the underbidder on the impressive grey Silvano colt with the 2nd dam being Dancer’s Daughter, knocked down for R4,5-Million.

Henning has made his aspirations clear to assemble the best Thoroughbred bloodstock possible for his farm and to put KZN back on the map of breeding in South Africa, and we look forward to an exciting future from Summerhill Equestrian.

Congratulations to all concerned!

Henning is a leading breeder in the world of Warmblood Sport Horses with Capital Stud.

The much talked about colt of the sale, a full brother to multiple Gr1 winner Hawwaam (Silvano) and a half brother to Gr1 winners Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat, its almost a case of ‘coming home’ for the colt who may well be a very exciting future stallion prospect – his Jet Master dam, Broodmare Of The Year, has only produced Gr1 winners from her runners. Halfway To Heaven’s sire and dam are both #kznbred, the latter ending her days at Wynnholme Stud – herself a daughter of Rambo Dancer, who stood at Summerhill.

Henning Pretorius also purchased an athletic Trippi colt named Tuk Tuk for R700 000, a colt descended from Rat Burana with Fort Wood as the broodmare sire.

Both above horses were consigned by Wilgerbosdrift.

Piemonte Stud topped the first day of the Nationals with their Global View colt knocked down to Dennis Drier for R240 000. Sold as Lot 199 and named Frederico, this is the female line of Tatler and Consensual, as well as Just Sensual.

Bush Hill Stud followed suit with their beautiful grey filly by What A Winter out of a Gr2 Guineas winner Go Indigo. She sold to St John Gray for R160 000.

Day 2 of the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale continues from 11:30 today, with a sharp William Longsword from the family of Redberry Lane going under the hammer from Spring Valley Stud.

Watch this space.

Piemonte will be offering a 12 strong draft at the 2020 National Sale, with their consignment including yearlings by such exciting and notable stallions as Admiral Kitten, Captain Of All, Flower Alley, Flying The Flag, Futura, Global View, Master Of My Fate, Rafeef, and What A Winter.

Franca (Lot 7) is a filly from the first crop of G1 Computaform Sprint winner Rafeef, and her Australian bred dam Afnaan is a winning Red Ransom daughter of G3 winner Lucky Diva.

Proven G1 sire Flower Alley is represented in this draft by a colt (Lot 138) out of a half-sister to G1 Paddock Stakes winner Emblem Of Liberty, while champion sprinter Captain Of All’s sole representative in the draft is a three-parts sister (Lot 141) to the Captain Al sired G3 winner Wheredowego.

Yet another nicely bred yearling in the draft is Bella Marina (Lot 151), a Master Of My Fate filly out of the stakes placed Flashing Star, while Grayswood Pink (Lot 379) is a Futura filly out of G3 Pretty Polly Stakes third place-getter Seat Of Power.

Galileo sons Global View and Flying The Flag have five in this draft between them, with Global View’s pair including a colt (Lot 199) out of the stakes placed Hurricane Shelley and a filly (Lot 226) out of a stakes placed daughter of champion sire Silvano.

Flying The Flag, a full-brother to multiple G1 winners Magical and Rhododendron, has three in this draft including a half-sister (Lot 398) to Dahlia Plate winner Alfeo, a half-sister (Lot 419) to G3 filly Celestina, and a filly (Lot 470) out of regally bred East Cape Fillies Nursery winner Winter Fantasy.

Last but by no means least in Piemonte Stud is Bethel (Lot 472), a son of champion sprinter and top sire What A Winter, and this colt is out of a Fort Wood half-sister to G3 Byerley Turk winner Mambo Mime.

Named after a province in Italy, Piemonte Stud has already produced its share of top-class racehorses, with the farm’s notable graduates including Brandina, Carlita, Kalamain, O Tamara, and Mauritian champion Cherish The Charm.

-www.bsa.co.za