Justin Vermaak bid for Lot 107 on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
The underbidders for the magnificent looking Maine Chance Farms-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt with the deep pedigree was the partnership of Greg Bortz and Bjorn Nielsen.
The latter pair did not put their hands up again after the price had reached R3.8 million, despite plenty of coaxing from auctioneer John O’Kelly.
The most expensive yearling ever bought in South Africa was at the BSA National Yearling Sale in 2019.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club were underbidders for that Wilgerbosdrift-bred Silvano colt, who went for R9 million sold to Shadwell.
The colt never raced and is apparently now a teaser stallion at Mauritzfontein.
However, Bortz and Nielsen might have had the HKJC’s financial clout in mind when throwing in the towel.
Vermaak reveals in the interview below how the purchase of lot 107 by the HKJC came about and what is now in store for the colt.
