This R6 million Gimmethegreenlight colt bred by Wilgerbosdrift Stud was the top lot at the BSA National Yearling Sale and was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (Picture: BSA)
David Mollett
If there’s one person who emerged with great credit from the successful 2024 National Yearling Sales in Germiston, it is Bloodstock SA CEO, Michael Holmes.
On his most important two days of the year, Michael marshalled his troops in the same way that Pep Guardiola has done in making Manchester City such a force in the football world.
Organising such an important event comes with a lot of planning. One has to check that all is well with the main Bloodstock SA staff including the auctioneers, spotters, sales team, accounts and stabling personnel.
Michael learnt the bloodstock trade under the late great bloodstock consultant, Chris Smith, joining the firm in 1988. Amazing to think that it’s 23 years since Smith passed away in a Durban hospital.
“Those were the golden days,” reflected Michael. “Chris had owners and breeders knocking at his door as they knew he was the best at closing a deal.”
Now Michael was pretty much thrown in the deep end, but he’s a resolute character and formed Michael Holmes Bloodstock which included selling Horses-in-Training at Shongweni. A big step from there to SA’s principal bloodstock sale.
At the conclusion of business on April 19, Bloodstock SA were able to announce some sensational figures, not least the increase in average from R443 228 in 2023 to R581 948 this year.
Now Michael has to be rated more of a people person rather than a scholar so his quote to Sporting Post when the sums had been added up came as a bit of a surprise.
He said: “The figures are a tangible barometer of the positivity that is sweeping SA horse racing. Our buyers bench included a mix of local and international buyers – the quality was impeccable. Our breeders have done a great job at all levels.”
Perhaps Michael got a little help in this quotes department from their excellent sales liaison lady, Heather Morkel. She’s as important to the team as Kevin Dr Bruyne to Manchester City.
Going through the catalogue prior to the sale, I tried to identify the top lot and came up with Captain’s Ransom’s half-brother (by Vercingetorix) and Summer Pudding’s three parts sister, also by Vercingetorix. Also Wilgerbosdrift’s half-brother to Rainbow Bridge and three parts brother to Hawaam, also by Vercingetorix.
I was way off the mark. I had the Captain’s Ransom half-brother in the R6 million category but – with Suzette Viljoen not getting involved – it was Grant Knowles’ Central Route Trading that made the winning bid at R2,8 million.
Grant has worn many hats in his distinguished career (including TBA and Plumpton racecourse) and he had to feel he had secured the bargain of the sale. It would have been interesting to know the limit he was prepared to go to.
While our blossoming friendship with Hong Kong racing is so vitally important for our sport, there was no way in my book that was going to fetch double the price of both the Captain’s Ransom and Summer Pudding siblings and – for that matter – the half-brother to Rainbow Bridge.
Yet that’s what happened with the hammer coming down at R6 million for the Gimmethegreenlight colt, Man Of His Word (good name), consigned by Wilgerbosdrift. The dam, Honorine, won a Gr 2 but was inferior on the racetrack to Summer Pudding’s dam, Cherry On The Cake, who won seven races.
I was close by Form Bloodstock’s, Johan Malherbe, when Mauritzfontein’s Vercingetorix three pasrts sister to Summer Pudding entered the ring and – on the phone (possibly to Lady Laidlaw) – he had the final say at R3,6 million – the top selling filly on the sale.
Michael Holmes is correct – there is a “positivity” sweeping SA racing. With the international doors now open, we can only hope that the sale’s top lot flies the flag successfully for SA when he makes his debut in Hong Kong.
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In his assessment of the 58 entries for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, Turf Talk editor, David Thiselton, makes some important observations the pick of which is that – due to the new weight conditions – the “ball is in the court of three year-olds”, such as Green With Envy, Purple Pitcher and Pure Predator. Also that Royal Victory “can’t be ignored.”
Personally, I love an antepost bet and have backed See The Fire at big odds for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5 – hopefully a b’day present for this columnist.
So if asked to select a July horse priced at over 20-1 – who would it be? The answer is the Snaith inmate, Without Question.
If one examines the four year-old’s form, it shows the gelding has often run well behind the ruling July favourite, See It Again. He ran third behind See It Again in the 2023 Cape Derby, third again behind Michael Roberts star in the Dally News 2000 and – more recently – third behind Double Superlative in the WSB Met.
I think I’ll ask the sponsors, Devin Heffer, what price he will give me for Without Question to finish third on July 6.
Of course, the big question is whether Gimme A Nother wlll be in the final lineup. If she is, I won’t be looking anywhere else for the winner.
With a perfect seven successes from seven outings, the filly ticks all the right boxes – not least the late Terrance Millard’s view that you need a mile and a half horse to win the July.
For Gimme A Nother to follow in the hoofprints of former Mike De Kock female equine heroes Ipi Tombe, Igugu and Sparkling Water would be some achievement by SA’s best-known trainer in his quest for a sixth July triumph.
