Summerveld trainer Mark Dixon will be targeting his useful filly Silent Crusade at the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on April 26 and depending on how well she does there she might have a crack at the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg (SA Fillies) Sprint over the same course and distance six weeks later.

The Crusade filly won two of her three starts over 1200m early in her career.

She is out of the talented six-time winning Silvano mare Silver Fantasy, who won from 1400m to 1800m, including the Listed Scarlet Lady.

Dixon said Silent Crusade had just come back into work after being given a holiday after her good third behind Roy’s Riviera and Vistula in the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m on Boxing day.

The five-time winner’s chief target for the SA Champions Season will either be the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes or the KZN Breeders Million Mile. 

Editors note: Spring Valley Stud are offering a Toreador half-sister at the National Yearling Sale as Lot 397.

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Koos and Lorraine De Klerk’s Yellow Star Stud will be doubly represented at the Emperors Palace Yearling Sale this year.

The Mooi River based farm will be offering two high quality colts by triple Equus Champion and rising star sire What A Winter. A four time G1 winning son of triple champion sire Western Winter, and from the same female line as Hyperion and Sir Tristram, What A Winter made an instant impression at stud, and was South Africa’s Champion First Crop Sire in 2016-2017.

The champion’s first crop was headed by the graded stakes winners Dutch Philip and Magical Wonderland, while What A Winter’s second crop includes G1 Bidvest Majorca Stakes winner Clouds Unfold and Ibhyai Stakes hero Fabian.

High class racemare Maggie Kay, whose five wins included the G3 Magnolia Handicap, has already made her mark at stud as the dam of speedy Gardenia Stakes winner Queen Laurie and Yellow Star Stud will be offering a What A Winter half-brother (Lot 439) to Queen Laurie at the National Sale.

This colt’s second dam is a National Assembly half-sister to multiple G1 winner Ingleside and this is family of champions Dancing Danzig and Evening Mist.

What A Winter is also represented in this draft by a colt (Lot 465) out of a winning half-sister to millionaire and multiple graded stakes winner Kangaroo Jack, with this colt’s second dam being none other than G1 Garden Province Stakes runner up Rainbow Flag. Further back, this is the family of the July placed champion Dollar Fortune and Golden Slipper queen Gilded Minaret.

Yellow Star’s draft can be viewed live at www.bsa.co.za

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KZN will be represented by approximately 70 horses at the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, taking place 24, 25, and 26 April at the TBA Complex.

The eight farms represented include half-siblings to Gr1 winner Lady In Black, and Black Types Malak El Moolook, Angel’s Power, King Neptune, Stella Mia, Celestine, Amazing Strike, Exit Here, Eventual Angel, Extradite, Just As I Said, Lala, One Cool Dude, Royal Pleasure and Queen Laurie.

The first crops of the very exciting young sires Flying The Flag (a full brother to Gr1 winning sisters Rhododendron and Magical), Willow Magic (the first Gr1 winning son of Dubawi to stand in South Africa) and Act Of War (Gr1 winning son of the recently passed Dynasty) on offer.

Flying The Flag had his first yearlings represented at the recent Cape Yearling Sale, and in a tough economic market an outstanding colt from Wilgerbosdrift sold for R140 000, in a sale where the average was R66 000.

Bush Hill Stud have brought a yearling from their family that yields multiple winners in every generation, that of King Neptune and Stella Mia, going back to the brilliant Gr1 winners Zirconeum and Stellite. A family that never disappoints, the colt is by Flying The Flag who is putting serious quality into his babies with good size and bone. Amongst Bush Hill’s draft are yearlings out of Gr2 winners Go Indigo, Tempted, Gr3 winner Rhythmic Roxy and Gr1 placed Silent Call with stallions on offer by Var, Pathfork, Crusade, Jackson and Coup De Grace.

Clifton Stud topped the sale last year with their beautiful Esterel filly Montreal Mist (and placed on debut this week for owners Mrs Mary Slack and Mr Javett), and bring a Flying The Flag colt out of a Gr1 placed mare Sauna’s Rose that has produced 6 runners and 6 winners. They also have a beautiful Capetown Noir filly (who has already produced his first Black Type with winner Brandina) out of a Galileo mare Miss Coco.

Cathy and Jonathan Martin of Hadlow Stud are bringing three yearlings, including a Crusade out of the very good looking Var mare Anatevka. This is her second foal and the family of Captain America.

Piemonte have brought a well bred draught once again, and amongst them is a Vercingetorix half-brother to Gr3 placed Celestina. Vercingetorix is very well out of the starting blocks this year with four winners. They also have Flying The Flag colt Massimo, a half-brother to three times Gr2 placed Amazing Strike. Piemonte, sporting a winners to runners percentage of 32.8% also have progeny of Global View, Soft Falling Rain, Jackson, Oratorio, Wylie Hall, Captain Of All and Capetown Noir amongst them.

Rathmor have brought a very strong draft once again – not only a sibling to Gr1 winner Lady In Black, but the progeny of two of South Africa’s top selling broodmares at their respective CTS Mare sales purchased by Rathmor – with Almosthaditall (sadly now deceased) selling for R2,4-million and Queen Of Spain, herself a half-sister to Coolmore sire Mastercraftsman, knocked down for R2,6-million. Rumour has it that Rathmor also have a smashing Captain Al yearling on offer.

They have sons by Frankel – the only on the sale – and Dynasty on offer.

Spring Valley Stud always carry a yearling draft with plenty of weight, and amongst them is a very well grown handsome Twice Over colt out of a half-sister to Stakes Winner Juan Two Three. This is also the family of Widow’s Lamp and National Bay. Another impressive horse is that by Flying The Flag out of Harolds Gold – the mare produced another winner yesterday at Fairview with Scribo. The Flying The Flag yearling produced a 9.5 at the Nationals inspections and must not be missed.

Bruce also brings his good families to the sale – that of a cracking Querari out of Bedloe’s Island, making the yearling a half-sister to 5-time winner Kahula from the family of Buy And Sell and Count The Money. He also has a beautiful Flower Alley filly out of Silver Fantasy – this is another family that guarantees winners, and has produced the likes of Gr1 winner Indiscreet Fantasy and 11-time winner London Call. The dam Silver Fantasy has produced 3 runners and 3 winners with 8 wins between them.

Summerhill’s draft only consist of progeny of their first season sires Willow Magic and Act Of War. They have received smart mares – and progeny on offer include a Willow Magic filly out of a mare that has produced 4 winners from 5 runners, another Willow Magic out of Gr2 winning mare Fisani, a Willow Magic out of Galileo mare Mumtazah from the immediate family of Gr2 winner Intergalactic, and an Act Of War half-sister to Gr3 winner Royal Pleasure. A farm that has produced 10 National Champion Breeders titles, they have had 3 – Black Type winners this season and lying 3rd on the National log behind breeding giants Mauritzfontein & Wilgerbosdrift and Klawervlei Stud.

Yellow Star Stud are back at Nationals this year and bring two yearlings by Gr1 producing sire What A Winter. They include a half-sibling to Listed winner Maggie Kay.

#kznbreds registered with the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme are still to be confirmed, but they will be prominent at the sale with posters on stable doors and hip stickers in the sales ring. These horses will qualify for the annual KZN Breeders Race Day, restricted to horses registered with the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme.

The list below of KZN yearlings at the Nationals. Bold Black Type denotes yearlings to Black Type siblings.

KZN breeders based in Nottingham Road, Rathmor Stud, topped the buyers list at the CTS Premier Yearling Sale –purchasing 13 lots for a total of R6 725 000. Seven of the thirteen yearlings were colts – which included a full brother to Chimichuri Run (out of #kznbred Gr1 winner Spiced Gold, bred by Greenhill Farm).

The top purchase they made was for Lot 199 from Hemel ‘n Arde, a Captain Al filly from a family that descends from Summerhill Stud. They paid R800 000 for the beautiful filly, a half-sister to 2-time winner and Stakes Placed La Ferrari. This is also the family of Mercury Rising and Winning Leap.

Their top priced colt purchased was by new Klawervlei Tapit sire Coup De Grace. Rathmor paid R750 000 for the colt out of Windjammer by Casey Tibbs. The dam has produced three winners including multiple winner Bermuda Sloop, and this is a family that goes back to Rathmor’s roots – which produced the greats such as Wendywood, Malteme, Bezanova and Power King.

In total, 192 of the 217 yearlings on offer were sold for R84 235, and the lots to sell averaged R436,450, with the median staying steady at R300 000.

Wéhann Smith, CEO of CTS, said that he was most encouraged by a fantastic turnout and a varied buyer’s bench.

He said: “The Convention Centre was packed, there was a good atmosphere and we had plenty of buyers from all over the country and overseas.”

While the turnover was significantly down on the 2018 figure (when 30 additional lots went through the ring), Smith said: “Vendors across the board were happy with their returns. We are very pleased with continued and growing overseas interest. We had 18 yearlings that fetched R1-million or more.

“If there is to be a negative, it is that our average price per yearling was down from last year’s R699,000 to R436,000, but we had a real sale here, no smoke and mirrors. The figures were a good reflection of a good, solid auction. If some of the R1,5-million or R2-million yearlings went for just a littke more, the average price would have been markedly higher.

“Overall, however, we are happy with what was achieved and we thank our vendors and buyers for their valued support.”

Rathmor again have a superb draft of yearlings headed to Nationals this year, including a smart Captain Al and a Frankel amongst others.

The list of purchases by Rathmor Stud below. Well done to the team at Rathmor.

Whilst their places will only be confirmed after National Yearling Sales inspections have taken place in January, Rathmor Stud have a very strong draft beginning their sales preparations for the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.

They include progeny by Frankel, Dynasty and Noble Tune – two of them out of sales topping mares purchased off the CTS Mare Sales in 2017, for R2,4-million (Almosthaditall) and R2,6-million (Queen Of Spain) respectively.

Whilst walking through the paddocks as the colts quietly concentrate on their feed after the breakfast run, Mike McHardy of Rathmor Stud comments that although the paddock is brimming with stock from superior stallions, its important not to ‘mollycoddle’ them and to raise them as normal horses, who dont know who their famous sires are.

Noble Tune has already earned Black Type with his smart grey son White Lightning, who was born and raised at Rathmor Stud. Rathmor have bred the likes of Gypsy’s Warning, Wendywood, Surabi, Romany Prince and Harry Lime amongst others.

Their National yearlings are out of mares bought specifically for Noble Tune, which include:

– Dynasty colt out of Guard The Lines by War Front
  Dam is a full sister to American Gr1 and Gr2 winner DATA LINK.

– Noble Tune out of Spitfire Lady by Hussonet
  Family of PINNACLES and PLANET ROCK.

– Noble Tune out of Mystery Dame by Jet Master
  Half-brother to Gr1 winner LADY IN BLACK, and to Nexus who sold for R1,7-million in 2017.

– Frankel out of Queen Of Spain by Holy Roman Emperor
  Dam a half-sister to MASTERCRAFTSMAN.

– Dynasty out of Almosthaditall by Henrythenavigator
  Dam a half-sister to JUMP START and closely related to MASTERY. Damline of sire MISWAKI.

– Noble Tune out of Golden Earings by Fort Wood
  Dam a half-sister to GYPSY’S WARNING, ROMANY PRINCE and SURABI. 2nd Dam Gypsy Queen has already       produced Black Type grand-children including SO VAR and QUEEN FOREVER. 

The magnificent daughter of Flower Alley consigned by Bush Hill Stud attracted plenty of attention and was knocked down to Mr G Van Lear for R375 000.

The athletic liver chestnut filly is a half-sister to two winners from two foals for the dam and was consigned by Bush Hill Stud as agent and was the top selling filly of the sale overall. Her dam is Gr3 winner Fair Rosalind.

Naturally Rathmor Stud’s bred in the purple filly Lot 184, Gypsy Rose, was purchased by Glen Kotzen for R250 000. The Noble Tune filly is out of Gypsy Queen, a half-sister to American and SA Gr1 winner Gypsy’s Warning, Gr2 winner Surabi and Gr3 and Million Mile winner, Romany Prince.

A number of #kznbred colts sold for R200 000, two from Clifton and one from Piemonte. The Piemonte Var colt stole the show – a magnficent flashy chesnut colt with his face wrapped in white all the way to under his jowls, the handsome horse was snapped up by Jane Thomas for R200 000. He is impeccably bred, out of Irish Heroine by Selkirk – his third dam a three-time Gr1 Breeders Cup winner, including the Matriarch.

Rathmor Stud topped the KZN Yearling Sale overall with 14 Lots sold for an average of R104 167. The sale average was R80 000.  Noble Tune topped the sale as a sire, selling 14 Lots for an average of over R100 000 each.

The aggregate for the sale rose from R16.105 million to R17 675 000 (or over 6 percent), and the average price increased from R73 205 to R80 341 (a pleasing rise of 10%). The median too showed improvement on last year, and increased from R45 000 to R50 000.

Bloodstock South Africa’s Gary Grant understandably was more than satisfied with the results of the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale. He commented post-sale, “The sale held up well especially given the tough economic climate. Both the average and aggregate rose notably, and it was great to see a broad bench of buyers from across the country in attendance. An overall improvement of quality in the yearling offered resulted in decent prices achieved at this regional sale.”

A full list of results and statistics for the sale can be viewed at www.bsa.co.za

Howick farm Roski Stud will be offering three classy yearlings at next month’s KZN Yearling Sale, which takes place at the Sibaya Entertainment World on July 5^th and 6^th.

Dynasty champion and Horse Of The Year Irish Flame, sire of the smart Drunken Sailor and very talented 3yo Sunny Bill Du-Toy, is the sire of Flaming Lass (Lot 94). This filly is a half-sister to five winners, most notably Flamboyant Stakes third Cassie O’Malley. Flaming Lass’ winning dam Antonia’s Lass, a ¾ sister to champion and G1 Gold Challenge winner Succesful Bidder, is a half-sister to Ruffian Stakes winner Casual Jewel.

Bred on a similar cross to G1 winners Eyes Wide Open, It’s My Turn and Liege, Flaming Lass also hails from the same family as G1 winning two-year-olds Gold Flier and Trust Antonia.

Cartier Champion and five time G1 winner Duke Of Marmalade has made a superb start with his first South African born runners this season including Kenilworth Fillies Nursery runner up Santa Clara. A half-brother to Investec Derby winner Ruler Of The World, Duke Of Marmalade is also the sire of Courage To Conquer (Lot 102), the second of the Roski trio. This bay colt is out of a stakes placed daughter of four times Equus Outstanding Stallion Dynasty, sire of this season’s G1 winners Eyes Wide Open and Liege, among many others.

Roski Stud have already enjoyed success in the sales ring with progeny of triple G1 winner and Equus Champion Sprinter Captain Of All. The son of Captain Al is again represented in their draft, this time by his daughter Boom Street (Lot 235). This chestnut is out of a winning daughter of US champion sire Elusive Quality –who is broodmare sire of hot young Irish sire No Nay Never and 2017 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Roy H.  This is the same family of speedy Strelitzia Stakes winner Royalsecuritybaby, and fourth dam is AJC Oaks winner Savana City.

Both days of trading at this year’s KZN Sale are due to commence at 12pm, and the catalogue can be viewed live at www.bsa.co.za

Somerset Stud, breeders of such standouts as July winner Teal and champion sprinter Taban, will be offering a pair of high quality fillies at this year’s KZN Yearling Sale.

Both of the Somerset Stud pair are sired by hugely promising young stallion Crusade –the winner of the 2011 G1 Middle Park Stakes, and a half-brother to dual Oaks winner Seventh Heaven. Crusade has made a great start to his stud career, with his first crop producing Swallow Stakes winner Covered In Snow and smart Zimbabwean performer Butchie Boy, and his second crop the Listed Dahlia Plate winner Alfeo.

First of the Somerset Stud draft on sale is Hathaway (Lot 12), a half-sister to five winners. Hathaway is out of a full-sister to G2 performer and 12 time winner Escobar and half-sister to graded winners Cartel and Viva. The latter is also an outstanding producer, and is dam of graded winners Live Life and Cold As Ice (with the latter, like the filly on offer, sired by a Gone West line stallion).

Hathaway’s third dam is eight time stakes winner Green Pastures.

Snowfall (Lot 216) is a filly whose winning dam is a daughter of brilliant racemare Melting, who accounted for the legendary Empress Club when winning the G3 FNB Sprint. Melting is also granddam of G1 winner Zeeno (also by a Gone West line sire), and ten time stakes winner Pisces Star.

Inbred to champion Storm Bird, Snowfall hails from a prolific female line, with her other notable relatives including G1 Majorca Stakes dead-heater Gluwein, millionaire Ice Machine, and Premier Trophy victor Paterfamilias.

 The 2018 KZN Yearling Sale will take place at the Sibaya Entertainment World on July 5th and 6^th, when trading will commence at 12:pm on both days. Catalogues can be viewed live at www.bsa.co.za

A list of the #kznbreds registered with the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme can be found below. 142 Yearlings from the province of KZN will be represented at Sibaya the week before the running of the Vodacom Durban July, with the auction days scheduled for 5 and 6 July.

There are outstanding Lots on offer, and this particular sale has seen the likes of #kznbred Gr1 winners Wild One and Seal as past graduates – not forgetting the plethora of Graded Stakes winner yielded, including Virgo’s Babe (Gr2), Colour Of Courage (Gr2), Royal Pleasure (Gr3), Carlita and Alfeo, the latter more recently consigned by Piemonte Stud (SW).

Leading up to the KZN Yearling Sale of course is the KZN Breeders Race Day on 30 June, where over R100 000 in vouchers stand to be won by the winning and placed connections on the day exclusively dedicated to #kznbreds, in addition to the winning stakes of over R2,6-million on the day.

The vouchers can be redeemed against a #kznbred yearling at the KZN Yearling Sale. Its a fantastic race day to attend with giveaways and prizes to the racegoers, including tickets to the Vodacom Durban July whilst the Durban View Room is bustling with the breeders, owners and trainers of horses racing on the day, all dressed in black and white.

Another added incentive for buyers is the KZN Yearling Sale Million, which runs on Vodacom Durban July Day for the graduates of the previous sale year – this is open to all graduates of the 2017 KZN Yearling Sale (if the connections ticked the box at signing for the yearling).

In addition to these great incentives, BSA has added the very popular R50 000 Added Value Bonus for winners of their Maiden Juvenile Plate.

Yearlings on offer from KZN include the inform Crusade, Noble Tune and Just As Well amongst many others, with siblings to the likes of Gr1 USA and SA winner Gypsy’s Warning, Gr2 placed Celestina, multiple Stakes Winner Raise The Bar, multiple Graded Stakes Placed Cassie O’ Malley, Black Wing and Listed Winner Furious Dancer.

KZN, a province that produces one fifth of the countries racing stock, has produced two Gr1 winners this season with Takingthepeace and Hero’s Honour (both bred by Summerhill) along with Graded Stakes winners Carlita, Alfeo, The Thinker, Covered In Snow, Ronnie’s Candy, Butchie Boy, Just Cruised In, Champagne Haze, Dawn Assault and Knuckleball.

See the yearlings on offer from the KZN farms below. Horses registered with the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme, who qualify to run in the KZN Breeders Race Day in 2019 will have #kznbred posters and hip stickers during the sale.

*Please note that the horses in BOLD are NOT eligible for the KZN Breeders Race Day or sales vouchers, as they are not registered in terms of the rules of the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme.