The TBA Complex at Gosforth Park in Germiston houses the BSA National Yearling Sale
David Mollett
Tina Turner wowed her fans with her famous song “Simply The Best” and those three words could be relevant at the conclusion of the National Yearling Sales scheduled for Germiston on April 16 and 17.
Having scrutinized the catalogue, there seems little doubt we are in for a “blockbuster” sale. Breeders have probably not journeyed to the sale with such confidence in the last decade.
They will be encouraged by the words of Turf Talk editor, David Thiselton, who stated after the recent Race Coast Sale in the Cape that “there is a positive vibe sweeping through South African racing at present.”
BSA’s Michael Holmes – a prodigy of the late great Chris Smith – is not one for making wild predictions ahead of sales, but he had some interesting observations at the end of the 2025 sale.
He commented: “The National Yearling Sales remains the cornerstone of SA thoroughbred breeding tradition. The road to the winner’s enclosure begins with a dream and it often passes through this very ring.”
“This year there was a healthy mix of familiar faces and fresh interest supported by a solid international bench. The UK, Hong Kong, Kenya, Mauritius and Zimbabwe were among the buyers.”
It is this increased overseas interest that leads me to believe the record price (R9 million in 2019) could be bettered. Celestial City fetched R7 million in 2020 and that can be eclipsed.
Form Bloodstock have been leading buyers for the last 10 years (they outlaid R27m last year), but there could be some serious opposition this time possibly from Hong Kong and Peter Racing.
Interesting to note the leading buyers 12 months ago with Form Bloodstock top of the class followed by Jonathan Snaith (R10m), Triple 8 Clothing (R8.3m), ASSM Racing (R7.25m), Plattner Farming (R6.2 million) and Clinton Binda (R5.6m). For the record, the average for the 305 lots sold was R563 852.
Peter Racing were big spenders at this year’s BSA sale in the Cape and the likely first horse they will be pulling out of his box is the Beaumont Stud’s full-brother to Buffalo Storm Cody. Another full-brother, Geostorm, opened his account at the Vaal recently.
Under the outstanding direction of John Koster, Klawervlei Stud remain one of the powerhouses of the breeding world and they are, of course, the breeders of One World.
Klawervlei topped the vendors list at the Race Coast Sale with an aggregate of R25m and they send 15 yearlings to Germiston with three of them by first season sire, Kommetdieding, one of the most popular performers in recent years. He has a colt on the second day of the sale who is a half-brother to Bjorn Ironside.
If I was to take a stab at the top Klawervlei lot, it would be their Vercingetorix colt out of the talented mare, Safe Harbour.
Although Drakenstein won the 2024/25 breeders championship, it has been pointed out by Turf Talk that Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein are very much in contention this time.
Mauritzfontein’s 13-strong draft includes four yearlings by first season sire Digital Age (a son of Invincible Spirit) yet the lot that catches the eye is the Gimmethegreenlight colt out of 11-time winner, Summer Pudding.
This yearling – named Manhattan Man – was an early foal.
Wilgerbosdrift have 27 yearlings headed for the sale and they include a Vercingetorix colt named One Of The Boys who is out of None Other whose six wins included the SA Oaks. His granddam is 2006 Equus Horse-of-the-Year, Ilha Da Vitoria.
Hopes And Dreams stud have a draft of 15 yearlings and it’s noticeable that 11 are by different sires. Overseas buyers might be interested in their filly by Buffalo Bill Cody who is out of the Australian mare, Badrah, a daughter of Deep Field.
Drakenstein’s new sire, Jet Dark, had a seriously successful Cape sale and
you have to love the ad for the son of Trippi which states “Jet Dark Yearlings are Ready for Take-off: Flight Plan: Black Type. He has a colt on offer out of the Gr 2 winner, My Sanctuary.
In a recent interview, Maine Chance boss, Andreas Jacobs, voiced the opinion that “Vercingetorix might end up being better than his father (Silvano)” and – if there is to be a record price – the producer of 15 Gr 1 winner has to be favourite.
Maine Chance have a draft of 28 yearlings and eight are the progeny of Vercingetorix. They include a colt – an early foal – who is the fourth produce of the Captain Al mare, Penny Royal. This is the family of Princess Calla and Princess Victoria.
Buyers usually end up with a profit when buying from Varsfontein and the stud – a solid supporter of this sale – send 33 yearlings to the sale and their half-brother to Double Grand Slam (by Gimmethegreenlight) has to be in the running for top lot. We all know what Double Grand Slam has achieved in a stellar career.
I must confess to being a bit bemused by the colt’s name, Its a Me Mario, so I googled it and apparently it is a video game character. Personally, I would have gone with a name to do with Double Grand Slam’s part-owner, Gary Player. Perhaps Masters Hero.
Final word from Tina T. The lyrics in “Simply The Best” also include…………”better than all the rest.” Interesting to see if that turns out to be true.
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COULD HOLLYWOOD WIN THEIR OWN JULY RACE WITH DERBY VICTOR
Dave Mollett’s review of Saturday’s big meeting at Turffontein.
Imagine the after-party if Curious Girl – impressive winner of the SA Derby – carries the sponsors colours to victory in the Hollywoodbets Durban July at Hollywoodbets Greyville on July 4?
Don’t think it can’t happen. Mike De Kock knows how to win the July with a member of the female sex – Ipi Tombe (2002) and Igugu (2011) are proof of that.
Also, the late great Terrance Millard once told me “You need a mile and a half horse to win the July.” No doubt the De Kock camp have no worries on that score.
Nobody bothered to ask Mike or Matt about future plans after Saturday’s success and Mike’s comment that “she has a future” told us zip.
There is no getting away from the fact that this year’s Derby – a race Mike has won six times – was sub-standard and the only other runner I considered for my Pick 6 was Muzi Yeni’s mount, Diogenes.
Movement on the Hollywoodbets July market has seen Premier’s Champions Challenge victor, See It Again, promoted to favouritism at 6-1 with 33-1 available about Curious Girl and Premier’s third, Olivia’s Way.
Some 30 years ago – September 1996 to be exact – saw bookies crying into their coffees for months when Frankie Dettori rode the card at Ascot.
The wins by a number of favourites in the graded races have to have cost layers plenty on Saturday. One told me: “The treble of Double Grand Slam, Buffalo Storm Cody and See It Again was popular among many punters – luckily we beat Hazy Dazy or it could have been much worse.”
Like Dettori at Ascot, jockeys Richard Fourie and Craig Zackey were on fire dominating the meeting, but the former’s defeat on African Prince was a hard pill to study.
One presumes that Double Grand Slam – now an 11-time winner – will compete in KZN and could then be retired to stud. As the mare is part-owned by Drakenstein, she will retire there and the choice of stallion will be particularly interesting. Perhaps Jet Dark.
Craig Zackey was obviously over the moon to be riding Double Grand Slam for the first time and was fully of praise for her usual pilot, the sidelined Andrew Fortune. Her defeat in the Paddock Stakes when ridden by Oisin Murphy remains the only hiccup in her last five outings.
My view that Hazy Dazy was at “skinny” odds for the Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks being quoted at 7-10 proved correct and – despite a game effort – she could not peg back Tyrone Zackey’s filly, Littlemissmillion.
I have had the good fortune to have a good rapport with Tyrone and have interviewed him many times. I’ve been thinking of the right word to describe the veteran Turffontein trainer and have come up with “good-hearted.”
My money was again on Charge It, but Serino Moodley encountered problems 600m out and that was that.
Craig Zackey was also riding See It Again for the first time and he delivered the six year-old with a perfectly-timed challenge to win the Premier’s Champions Challenge. The son of Twice Over appears to have got problems out of his head but – even so – I doubt punters will be knocking themselves over to take the 6-1 on offer for the July. He will be turning seven a month after the big race.
Olivia’s Way – partnered for the second time by Marco van Rensburg – did her best work late to finish third and is very much in the mix for the Greyville race.
Buffalo Storm Cody is one of the most popular performers with racing fans and Richard Fourie had an armchair ride on Tony Peter’s sprinter who is now a 10-time winner following his victory in the TAB Computaform Sprint.
Beaumont Stud will be delighted with this result as they’ll be offering his full-brother on the first day of the forthcoming National Yearling Sale.
