Lot 22, a Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt, went for a sales-topping R900,000 knocked down to James Crawford (Picture: Romi Bettison)
Maine Chance Farms’ champion sire Vercingetorix enjoyed another big weekend.
Not only did South Africa’s reigning champion sire enjoy a feature race double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday (another son of Vercingetorix, I’m A Fireball, won the March Stakes on Sunday), but Vercingetorix also supplied the sales topping colt at Sunday’s Cape Yearling Sale.
His Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud consigned son Luca’s Limelight (Lot 22) was knocked down to James Crawford for R900 000 to top Sunday’s auction.
The only yearling by his sire on the Cape Sale, Luca’s Limelight is a half-brother to two winners led by five time scorer Soho Star.
The sales topper is out of the three time winning Your Song mare Intothelimelight, whose dam Fun Flight is an Anabaa half-sister to two Australian group winners.
Vercingetorix also made headlines at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday when his classy son I’m A Fireball won the day’s feature race, the March Stakes (Non-Black Type).
Under Callan Murray, the Mike and Mathew De Kock trained gelding jumped out well and went on to make the running.
Under a strong ride, I’m A Fireball kept going gamely to win by nearly half a length.
Bred, like his sire, by Klawervlei Stud, the Hollywood Racing owned I’m A Fireball has won three of nine starts and two of his last three starts.
The blue blooded three-year-old is out of Gibraltar Blue, who has a Vercingetorix full-sister to I’m A Fireball on offer at the Premier Yearling Sale.
Read a full report on Sunday’s BSA Cape Yearling Sale below:
Press Release: Bloodstock South Africa Cape Yearling Sale 2026
The Bloodstock South Africa 2026 Cape Yearling Sale kicked off the physical sales programme for the year and it was an amazing turnout from both vendors and buyers and the numbers tell the story.
The 2026 book was up to 140 catalogued from 2025’s 109 lots, of which 129 were offered and 120 were sold through the ring with an outstanding Clearance Rate of 93% for a regional sale of this nature.
An unbelievable Median that hit a new high at R245,000, broke through the glass ceiling, and is up a massive 36% year-on year, and a cumulative growth of 75% over the past 3 years.
The Average of R254,500 was also up 12% on 2025 , following on from the 12% on 2024.
The Aggregate sold totalled a new record for the BSA Cape Yearling Sale at R30,540,000, and is another 36% on 2025.
On the stallion front, Erik The Red topped the charts with 25 lots sold for a total of R7,030,000 with an average of R281,200. Vercingetorix was represented by one entry from the Hemel n Aarde Stud, that passed through as the highest lot sold at R900,000 to James Crawford.
The Buyers ranking was led by Peter Racing who purchased 8 lots for R2,1m, followed by Form Bloodstock and Jonathan Snaith.
Special thanks to all the vendors for their support at this sale with the top vendor being Varsfontein Stud who sold 27 lots for R8.3m followed by Wilgerbosdrift and Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud.
For a regional sale, it was encouraging to have 52 individual buyers sign for the 120 lots sold by the 19 vendors.
“It was great to host the 2026 BSA Cape Yearling at SARDA for the second year in a row. This sale had something for everyone and provided an early outlet for Breeders, Vendors and Buyers to get on the scoreboard. The attendance from trainers, owners and bloodstock agents from around the country was strong, with representation from Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Mauritius and via the online platform. A big thank you to all the vendors and buyers that made this sale a success. We look forward to welcoming you all at the BSA National Yearling Sale 2026.” said Michael Holmes, CEO of BSA.
The much anticipated BSA National Yearling Sale will be held at the TBA Complex in Germiston, Johannesburg, on the 16th and 17th of April 2026.
For more information on the Bloodstock SA National Yearling please contact Ashley de Klerk at ashley@bsa.co.za
