This Wilgerbosdrift Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt was the top lot of day one of the BSA National Yearling Sale, purchased for R6,000,000 by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

South African racing is currently experiencing a wave of optimism with commitment from the powers that be to stakes increases, incentives and venue upgrades and then came the best news of all, the opening up again of direct flights to Europe.

However, nobody quite expected the BSA National Yearling Sale to be so dramatically impacted.

The average last year was R442,672 and the median R300,000, which were both records.

However, this year the increase so far after day one of the Sale has been phenomenal, the average rising to R573,528 and the median to R400,000.

There were a phenomenal 21 seven figure lots, with seven of them over R2 million, four of them over R3 million, three over R5 million and the sales topper at R6 million.

There were 27 seven figure lots last year over the two days and the highest price was R3.2 million.

The sales topper this year was a Gimmethegreenlight colt out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Honorine vendored by Wilgerbosdrift Stud and purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Honorine won five races from 1000m to 1200m including the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes over 1160m. Honorine has had two runners and two multiple winners. Protea Paradise, a gelding by Dynasty, won three races from 1600m to 2000m and reached a merit rating of 92 before being exported to Mauritius. Japanese Rose by Danon Platina won her second and third starts over 1250m to 1400m respectively and then ran unplaced in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. She is also merit rated 92.

The R6 million colt is called Man Of His Word and is from the family of Almanzor, the champion colt of Europe, Ireland and France in 2016, and also from the family of Darjina, the champion three-year-old filly of Europe in 2007, and from the family of other Gr 1 winners Daryara, Daryakana and Dariyan.

The second highest lot, sold for R5,250,000 to Sandy Arundel, was a Drakenstein Stud-bred Trippi colt out of the Galileo mare Grail Maiden, which makes the colt a full-brother to Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes runner up Railtrip and a half-brother to the Gr 1 SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour (Await The Dawn).

The Hollywood Syndicate set the tone of the sale, buying the first seven figure horse, a Lammerkraal Stud-bred Querari colt, who they secured for R1.9 million, and later they most fittingly went to R5 million to buy a Wilgerbosdrift Stud-bred Hawwaam half-brother to Sparkling Water. Sparkling Water was the first horse to win a Hollywoodbets-sponsored Durban July.

It was a fine Sale for the Oppenheimer family who sold four of the six highest-priced lots and they sold the top-priced filly.

Mauritzfontein Stud vendored the fourth highest lot and highest-priced filly on the Sale, a Vercingetorix three-parts sister to Tripe Tiara winner Summer Pudding, who went for R3,6 million purchased by Form Bloodstock.

The most keenly anticipated lot was the Wilgerbosdrift Stud-vendored Vercingetorix three-parts brother to Hawwaam and half-brother to both Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat. The colt was pucrhased by Sabine Plattner for R2,8 million.

The Klawervlei Stud-bred Vercingetorix half-brother to Captain’s Ransom also went for R2,8 million, purchased by Central Route Trading.

A Lammerskraal Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt out of Gr 1 Woolavington 2000-winning Jet Master mare Viva Maria, which makes him a half-brother to Gr 3 winner Sovereign Spirit, went for R2.1 million purchased by Form Bloodstock.

The Sale continues tomorrow starting at 10H00.

Watch the sale live here!

This Drakenstein Stud-bred Trippi colt was purchased by Sandy Arundel for R5,25 million (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

This year’s BSA National Yearling Sale might well represent the last chance to buy the progeny of Trippi and he was accordingly the most sought after sire at today’s first session.

His seven lots sold today went for an average of R1,542,857 and included the R5,25 million colt bought by Sandy Arundel, and three other seven figure lots.

However, Vercingetorix might well become the first in history to sell a significant number  of lots and average over R1 million.

On day one of the Sale, 17 Vercingetorix’s were sold for a phenomenal average of R1,197,059.

He had no fewer than seven lots going for seven figure amounts, including four who went for over R2 million. His lot that went for over R3 million (R3.6 million) was the highest price filly on the sale.

Gimmethegreenlight got the sales topper at R6 million and his 19 lots sold for an average of R839,474.

Hawwaam, who like Vercingetorix is a multiple Gr 1-winning son of six times national champion sire Silvano, made a fine BSA Nationals debut.

His six lots sold averaged R1,225,000 and included a R5 million colt, although the latter did skew the figures a bit because his next highest price was R800,000 and the other four were all below R500,000.

There were three other sires whose top progeny reached seven figure amounts.

Both Rafeef and What A Winter had two seven figure lots and Querari had one.

Lot 109, a Clifton Stud-bred colt out of six-time winning multiple Graded placed Mambo In Seattle mare Dancing Queen, was Act Of War’s top lot on day one of the BSA NYS Sale, purchased for R450,000 by Roy Magner (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

A stallion is usually supported in his first season before a downturn, unless he is of a ready-made high profile.

The support then comes again if the results are good.

KZN-based stallion Act Of War, a Gr 1 Cape Guineas-winning son of top stallion Dynasty,  had two Gr 1 winners in his first crop, including the three-times Gr 1-winning Triple Tiara heroine War Of Athena, and he also had a Gr 1 runner up.

War Of Athena’s prolific season was in 2020/2021.

Therefore, Act Of War would likely have received renewed support in the 2021 breeding season with the foals being born in 2022.

The lots at this BSA National Yearling Sale are from that 2022 crop.

Act Of War’s ten lots on day one of the Sale averaged only R180,000, but they might turn out to be bargains.

The Allan Greeff-trained Varsfontein Stud-bred Master Of My Fate filly Splicethemainbrace is unbeaten in three starts and will be attempting to add the Listed East Cape Nursery to the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery she won in March (Pauline Herman Photography)

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

Trainer Alan Greeff holds a decent hand in the two key races on the turf at Fairview on Friday.

He has Three Rocks leading his attack in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m, and Splicethemainbrace in Race 7, the East Cape Nursery (Listed) over 1200m.

Three Rocks has been dominant so far, winning six of her nine starts. The Heavenly Blue filly went on two unsuccessful visits to the Western Cape which account for two of her non-winning races, together with her debut in which she and was runner-up. The other six starts, all at Fairview, produced the six victories.

Jockey Richard Fourie also has a very good record aboard her, winning five of six of the times he has ridden her.

There is a real danger, though as Gimme’s Lassie is weighted to run a big race.

This four-year-old filly was only 2.60 lengths behind Three Rocks last time out and is a full 3kg better off. In addition, Gimme’s Lassie was returning from a break that day.

A cracking field of juveniles contest the Nursery and leading the pack is unbeaten Splicethemainbrace.

Already a winner of three races the Master Of My Fate filly has looked better with each race.

She only got going late when winning her first two starts and had to fight hard to win her latest, but she keeps finding extra when needed and deserves the utmost respect.

Rival trainer Gavin Smith has had an excellent season so far with his juveniles and has four runners carded for the race.

It is hard to pick which of his runners is his preferred choice.

Family Law and Kingdundee both won on debut and looked good in doing so. His other two runners, Silvonian and Global State, have improved with each run and are fit and ready for this race.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 4 Project Runway, 1 Fantasy Girl, 6 Thread Of Life, 5 Tartan Queen

Race 2: 2 Listentotheocean, 7 Bytheliteofthemoon, 6 Winning Grace, 1 Fanny Kemble

Race 3: 1 Petteia, 10 Aquila Gold, 4 Run For Me, 9 Colonel Green

Race 4: 2 Heknows, 3 Launch Code, 4 Meetatthewindsor, 8 Head Gardener

Race 5: 11 Jade’s Caberneigh, 13 De Janeiro, 7 The Lady Love, 1 Miss Shaivi

Race 6: 1 Three Rocks, 2 Gimme’s Lassie, 5 Passchendaele, 3 Golden Pacific

Race 7: 9 Splicethemainbrace, 1 Family Law, 5 Play Act, 4 Kingdundee

Race 8: 14 Masked Vigilante, 8 Ferrando, 5 Glass Shoes, 6 Great Melody

BEST BET

Race 1: 4 Project Runway

VALUE BET

Race 1: 4 Project Runway

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 1×2

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 2, 6, 7

Leg 3: 1, 4, 10

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 8

Leg 5: 1, 7, 11, 13

Leg 6: 1

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 2, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1, 10

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4

Leg 4: 7, 11, 13

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 1, 9

Leg 7: 5, 8, 14

PICK 6

R2400

Leg 1: 1, 4, 9, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8

Leg 3: 1, 6, 7, 11, 13

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 5, 9

Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15

JACKPOT 1

R75

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8

Leg 2: 1, 6, 7, 11, 13

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 5, 9

JACKPOT 2

R120

Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 11, 13

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 5, 9

Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15

Mark van Deventer has tipped Winter Cloud, pictured winning impressively last time out, to beat her stablemate October Morn and a host of classy males in a top class renewal of the Gr 3 Champagne Stakes, which is now open to all genders (Picture: Wayne Marks). 

Written by Mark van Deventer

Even though the Champagne Stakes is no longer just for fillies and instead open to all horses 3-years and older, the 1200m Gr3 sprint at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth could be fought out by two Candice Bass-Robinson trained sprinting fillies: WINTER CLOUD and OCTOBER MORN.

They’ve both started ten times, and between them they’ve already won 12 races. OCTOBER MORN’s career highlight includes a Cartier Sceptre Stakes success in January, while WINTER CLOUD’s resume is supported by fine juvenile accomplishments. And the signs are that the latter has trained on beautifully; she gave DANCE VARIETY windchill when sweeping past that rival a month ago down this straight course.

Both are consistent, have an excellent turn of foot and have the necessary class to shape at this level. They face tough male rivals including the aforementioned, DANCE VARIETY, as well as COUNTDOWN, RIO QUERARI and CAFÉ CULTURE, so it won’t be a walk in the park. Yet they are preferred on their peak performances, with still more progression likely given their age (3) and relatively light campaigns to date.

Bass also sends out RED PALACE who nearly won the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in a bold stalk and pounce effort. Riding engagements suggest she might just need it after 84 days on the sidelines. The stable is also represented by JERUSALEMA RAIN who has an equivalent chance to DANCE VARIETY but was firmly put in his place by WINTER CLOUD’s dramatic last to first rush in mid-March. Bass, also sends out GOLD POKER GAME, who is adept from a mile upwards and is probably prepping for more suitable distance races in the near future.

COUNTDOWN is a live danger. The Glen Kotzen trained sprinter with the cheetah- like walk can turn it on when in the right frame of mind, and he comes off a game East Cape Sprint score a month ago. The booking of Richard Fourie is a plus factor.

RIO QUERARI won this race in 2023, and has run admirably since then to show that he still has some spring in his legs despite rising eight. Realistically, he is more of a place chance and may again find younger, more sprightly opposition too hot to stave off.

Now with Vaughan Marshall, ex-KZN performer CAPTAIN FONTANE has won a third of his 21 starts in the distance range between sprints and a mile. However, he will need to improve on recent runs to threaten. Marshall also sends out QUESTIONING, one of the better three-year-olds at the Cape with a defeat of Snow Pilot in October 2023’s Cape Classic his career highlight. He disappointed in his last couple of starts and is now fitted with blinkers after a two-month freshening to try catch a wake up.

CAFÉ CULTURE has really found form through spring and summer, winning four of seven starts, and only getting run out of it late by Wecangoallnight in his most recent race on 16 March. He will be a pace factor (others that might lead are COUNTDOWN and RED PALACE) and is a hard horse to get past when in full stride.

Slight knocks against WINTER CLOUD are that she did have some physical niggles and may appear held on the Cartier Sceptre Stakes clash with stable companion OCTOBER MORN, who is an extremely gifted filly in her own right.

Yet the manner of this daughter of What A Winter’s recent fluent score over DANCE VARIETY suggests she is ready to make another big leap forward from her already high-class juvenile form. That qualifies her as the narrow top pick in the Champagne Stakes over OCTOBER MORN, with old-stager RIO QUERARI, COUNTDOWN, DANCE VARIETY and the feisty CAFÉ CULTURE next in line.

Haatem on his way to a three and a half lengths victory in the Craven Stakes Credit: ITV Racing via youtube

Six-year-old Mambo In Seattle gelding Riccardo wins for the seventh time in his career and gives Rachel Venniker and Dennis Bosch a double together on the day (Gallop TV youtube)

Rachel Venniker rode a double for Dennis Bosch on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today.

Venniker goes to 56 wins for the season and has done it at a strike rate of 11.13%.

Bosch is om 14 wins at 11.29%

Which international race is pictured above (Picture: Liz Callar Townandcountrymag.com)

The Virginia Gold Cup and International Gold Cup steeplechase races are a celebration of hunt country tradition and two of the largest outdoor social events held in Virginia.

The Virginia Gold Cup is held the first Saturday of May at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia, a field events center created and bequeathed by the Arundel Family in 1984. The races have been held in Fauquier County, Virginia since 1922. Washington businessman Russell M. Arundel was chairman of the Virginia Gold Cup from 1930 to 1955, and then in 1980 his son Arthur W. “Nick” Arundel purchased Great Meadow, a 500-acre tract of open space in The Plains which he developed for more than $5 million into a new home for The Gold Cup, which at the time was threatened by development. Arundel served as Chairman of Great Meadow and of the Virginia Gold Cup for nearly two decades until his passing in 2011.

The International Gold Cup is the featured horse racing event of the Fall season and is managed today by the Virginia Gold Cup Association. Now held on the third Saturday of October, the International Gold Cup was founded in Tennessee in 1930.

The Virginia Gold Cup event was generated by eight sportsmen who met at the Fauquier Club in Warrenton and organized a four-mile race alongside the natural walls and fences of the nearby hunting countryside on April 3, 1922, and thirty four days later was the first Virginia Gold Cup race. The 2016 event drew more than 50,000 spectators.

Additional activities include terrier and pony races before the main event, hat contests on Members Hill, vendor tents and booths, parachute demonstrations, classic and new car displays, and countless tailgates.

Viewing areas are divided into three basic sections: North Rail, South Rail, and Members Hill. Members Hill overlooks Winners Circle and has the best view of the course. All three sections include private tents, public viewing areas, and tailgate spaces. North Rail is geared more toward young professionals and social groups; South Rail is where most corporate tents and family-oriented outings congregate.

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