This Wilgerbosdrift Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt was the top lot of day one of the BSA National Yearling Sale last year, purchased for R6,000,000 by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
David Mollett
The phrase “ticks a lot of boxes” has become popular and it would be accurate to say this describes the forthcoming National Yearling Sale which is scheduled for Germiston on 10 and 11 April.
So – if one was looking for the boxes the sale ticked – this I believe would be some of the plus factors.
1. For years, the Sale has been a happy hunting ground for both vendors and buyers. The former travel to the complex confident they’ll get a fair price for what they are offering. The latter have many lots to choose from (though the total of 346 is less than last year) with both established sires and new ones to run their eyes over.
2. BSA CEO, Michael Holmes, who learnt the trade under the tutorship of the great late Chris Smith, has his team as organised as Livrerpool boss, Arne Slot, will have everything covered to see the two days run smoothly. His side includes sales liaison officer, Heather Morkel, a lady with years of experience in the bloodstock industry, and former top trainer, Alistair Gordon.
3. The easing of travel restrictions (Adrian Todd’s hard work has finally paid off) means owners of top horses bred here can now look to the United States, Europe, Dubai and Hong Kong to make serious money on their investments.
4. The opening of these doors should embolden foreign bloodstock agents to encourage their clients to get involved in the sale. The exchange rate makes the yearlings serious value for money. Last year the Hong Kong Jockey Club secured the top lot – a Gimmethegreenlight colt from Wilgerbosdrift – for R6 million. Every reason to expect they will be involved once again.
5. The two main auctioneers, New Zealander Steve Davis and Andrew Miller, are two of the best in the business and have built up an important rapport with both trainers and leading buyers. They know just when to push the buttons of those bidding when it comes to the top lots.
6. Countrywide sales have proved the popularity of top sire, Vercingetorix. His progeny are as sought after as a front-row ticket to a Taylor Swift concert!
This time Silvano’s son is represented by 29 lots and vendors going to the sale with his offspring will be licking their lips.
7. A son of Vercingetorix sold for R9 million at the recent Cape sale – is there a lot to better that at Germiston? Possibly, because Klawervlei Stud (as agent) are offering the half-sister to champion, Captain’s Ransom.
Klawervlei are the kind sponsors of this column so it wasn’t difficult to get the view on the filly from John Koster. He commented: “She is a very feminine filly with loads of quality and very good balance – a really athletic-looking filly. Being a filly, she has massive paddock potential as well.”
8. An interesting factor is whether last year’s excellent sale can be repeated. In their 2024 post-sale report headlined “National Fireworks!”, the Sporting Post commented that “the Sale may well be looked at in years ahead as two days that firmly placed SA horse racing back on the road to a sustainable recovery.”
To say that BSA CEO, Michael Holmes, was happy with last year’s aggregate of R200 million and average of R581 948 is an understatement. So what figures will have him smiling this year?
“I am extremely confident we will achieve the same aggregate and average levels – no-one likes to go backwards and we don’t see that happening,” commented the 62 year-old who was as shrewd a signing by BSA as Harry Kane for Bayern Munich!
Michael also believes he has a trump card compared to 12 months ago. “This year we are expecting more international interest than ever before and this is the direct result of improved export protocols.”
So all roads lead to Germiston on April 10 and 11 – quite possibly we’re headed for “National Fireworks2”.
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Hollywood opened the betting on the Durban July recently and Turf Talk editor, David Thiselton, had a stab at the antepost market nominating 33-1 shot, Legend Of Arthur, as a horse to be interested in.
After Saturday’s TAB SA Derby at Turffontein, it’s not an excellent tip – it’s an outstanding one.
The big question is whether TT followers reacted immediately to David’s tip – if they did they’ll be smiling from ear to ear as the latest Hollywood price for Legend Of Arthur for the July is 8.33-1.
Legend Of Arthur is trained by Sean Tarry who is no stranger to July success following victories by Pomodoro and Heavy Metal for his much-missed former chief patron, Chris van Niekerk. He confirmed on Saturday that the July is “on the radar” for the R925000 son of Lancaster Bomber.
So what is this columnist’s early July fancy? The answer is Red Palace (16.67-1 with the sponsors) who is now in the care of Dean Kannemeyer also someone who knows how to win SA’s most popular race.
Dean had only had Red Palace for a short while when she contested the WSB Met at Kenilworth on January 25. The daughter of Potala Palace – the only filly in the race – turned in a good performance finishing sixth just a length and a quarter behind the winner, Eight On Eighteen.
Red Palace is only four years old and won over 2000m at Greyville at the end of last season.
The country’s media will probably be looking for something to beat Eight On Eighteen and his ante-post price of 7.14-1 makes little appeal especially as Richard Fourie will have left Turffontein on Saturday wondering whether Legend Of Arthur might be the better ride.
Despite continuing his great form on Saturday, I’m seriously worried about my wager on Gavin Lerena for the championship because – for keen fisherman Fourie – going to Fairview every Friday is like mackerel fishing. The winners just jump on his line courtesy of trainer Alan Greeff.
