Turf Talk Newsletter – 16 April, 2026

Lot 163, a Lammerskraal Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt out of the Gr 1-winning Western Winter mare Redberry Lane, was the day 1 top lot at R5,25 million (Picture: BSA)

The BSA National Yearling Sale did not get off to a particularly spectacular start in the morning session, but the fireworks came later in the day with a Lammerskraal Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt fetching R5,25 million and a Varsfontein Vercingetorix filly fetching R4,75 million.

In the end 195 lots were sold at an average of R632,590 and a median of R425,000, both of which will be BSA National Yearling Sale records if they are maintained on Day 2 on Friday.

There were nine lots of R2 million or more and 33 seven figure lots in all.

The top lot, the Vercingetorix colt from Lammerskraal, is out of the Gr 1 Garden Province-winning daughter of Western Winter, Redberry Lane, who is an own sister to Gr 1 Cape Guineas and Gr 2 KRA Guineas winner Solo Traveller, among other plentiful close up black type in the pedigree.

Form Bloodstock signed for the colt.

He was lot 163 and then came lot 195, a Varsfontein Stud-bred Vercingetorix filly out of the Master Of My Fate mare Sentbydestiny, who beat the boys when winning the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes as a two-year-old.

She was bought by Anton Marcus Racing.

Vercingetorix was responsible for six of the lots of R2 million or more and Gimmethegreenlight was responsible for the other three.

Vercingetorix was responsible for eleven of the seven figure lots, Gimmethegreenlight had seven of them, Rafeef had seven, Legislate two, Master Of My Fate two, What A Winter one, Buffalo Bill Cody one, Erik The Red one and Digital Ace one.

Vercingetorix’s aggregate for 18 lots sold was R30,95m and his average a likely new SA record of R1,719,444.

Gimmethegreenlight sold 15 at an average of R1,103,333.

Rafeef averaged R796,053 and Master Of My Fate R768,571 with Legislate next highest on R680,833.

Buffalo Bill Cody’s five lots averaged R590,000.

Jet Dark was not as popular as he had been at the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale, but he did have a decent average of R506,250.

Another debut-sales-season sire, the Mauritzfontein Stud-based Digital Age also did well with an average of R454,545 for eleven lots sold.

The leading buyer by aggregate was Form Bloodstock who splashed out R17,650,000 for 12 lots at an average of R1,470,833, although the leader by average was Adam Marcus Racing, who bought three lots for an average of R2,516,667.

The leading vendor by aggregate was Varsfontein Stud, who accumulated R16,425,000 for 15 lots sold at an average of R1,095,000.

Lammerskraal had the highest average at R1,668,750 for eight lots sold.

Click here to see all the statististics

The progressive Field Marshal is one of a few horses who is using the Colorado King Stakes as a springboard into the July (Picture: Race Coast)

The Championships Finale race meeting at Turffontein on Saturday 25 April should see some fine racing as the two main features have attracted some classy horses, including dual Gr 1 winner Buffalo Storm Cody, who heads a list of 26 entries for the Gr 2 TAB Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m.

The main supporting feature on the day, the Gr 2 TAB Colorado King Stakes over 2000m, attracted a disappointing entry of just 12 runners, but there are two interesting raiders in the Nathan Kotzen-trained Field Marshal, who will use the race to try and qualify for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, and the Kelly Mitchley-trained East Cape star, Bad Medicine.

The Alec Laird-trained Gr 1-winning pair Fire Attack and Atticus Finch look to be using the Colorado King as part of their preparation for the July.

The Paul Peter-trained The Ultimate King will no doubt be targeting the July too.

Choisaanada is trying 2000m for the first time, which could mean his connections also have a tilt at the July in mind.

The Senor Santa is named after one of South Africa’s legendary speedsters and the 2026 cast is fittingly fast, with 23 of the 26 nominees boasting merit ratings of 100 or more.

Buffalo Storm Cody shares the 62kg top weight with evergreen seven-year-old William Robertson, while smart horses Cosmic Speed, Truth and Ziyasha carry 60kg.

Other notables among the aspirants are Bustopinhounslow, I’m A Fireball, Miami Mountain and Charming Cheetah.

Trainer Sean Tarry – in hot form at the moment – always targets big race meetings like this, so punters should keep an eagle eye open for ante-post betting opportunities among the Randjesfontein master’s likely runners.

ENTRIES
TAB Senor Santa Stakes R500,000 (Grade 2) 1160m (open):

26 Buffalo Storm Cody (Accepted) (4G) 62 132 BA Tony Peter
13 William Robertson (7G) 62 124 JA Corne Spies
22 Cosmic Speed (4G) 60 120 AT Sean Tarry
14 Truth (4G) 60 119 A Candice / Tammy Dawson
7 Ziyasha Accepted (5G) 60 118 AT Clinton Binda
18 Anuschka’s World (Scratched) (4G) 58 114 HA Kelly Mitchley
25 Mount Pinatubo (Accepted) (4G) 58 113 A J A Janse van Vuuren
20 Busstopinhounslow (4G) 56 110 BAT Grant Maroun
11 Whistle The Tune (4F) 55.5 116 CA Candice / Tammy Dawson
15 Zalatoris (3G) 54 110 A Tony Peter
3 I’m A Fireball (3G) 54 108 A Mike / Mathew de Kock
10 Miami Mountain (3C) 54 107 BA Mike / Mathew de Kock
8 Anfields Rocket (6G) 54 106 BA Grant Maroun
19 Chapbook (3C) 54 106 BAT Clinton Binda
6 Charming Cheetah (3G) 54 106 AT Robyn Klaasen
24 Cosmic Star (6G) 54 105 A e J A Janse van Vuuren
2 Karate Kid (4G) 54 103 BA Paul Matchett
17 Chasing Happiness (Scratched) (5M) 53.5 110 A J A Janse van Vuuren
9 Kaalvoet (3G) 52 102 A Clinton Binda
5 Speedman (3G) 52 102 A Sean Tarry
4 The Last Duke (Accepted) (3G) 52 102 A Paul Matchett
23 The Specialist (4G) 52 101 HAT Sean Tarry
16 Jerusalema Rain (5G) 52 100 BAT Sean Tarry
21 Banff (4G) 52 97 A Sean Tarry
1 Pop Chart (Scratched) (3G) 52 95 A Dean Smith
12 Magic Tattoo (6G) 52 93 BAT Sean Tarry

TAB Colorado King Stakes R500,000 (Grade 2) 2000m (WFA + pens):

1 Fire Attack (4C) 60 124 A Alec Laird
9 Atticus Finch (6G) 59 127 BAT Alec Laird
6 Choisaanada (4G) 58 121 A Erico Verdonese
10 The Ultimate King (4G) 58 117 A Tony Peter
2 Field Marshal (4G) 58 110 A Nathan Kotzen
4 Bad Medicine (Scratched) (4G) 58 100 A Kelly Mitchley
12 River Romeo (6G) 58 94 A Mano Pandaram
8 Olivia’s Way (4F) 56.5 114 CA Roy Magner
3 Callmegetrix (5M) 56.5 113 AT Sean Tarry
5 Gerbera (4F) 55.5 98 CAT Sean Tarry
7 Bakwena (4F) 55.5 97 A J A Janse van Vuuren
11 Copper Eagle (3G) 54.5 97 CA Robyn Klaasen

Picture: Luyolo Mxothwa (Chase Liebenberg Photography)

The NHA have sent out the following press release:

The Inquiry into Jockey Luyolo Mxothwa reconvened before an appointed Inquiry Board on 15 April 2026.

Following proceedings, the matter has been adjourned and will resume on 7 May 2026.

Mr Mxothwa’s interim suspension remains in place pending the finalisation of the Inquiry.

Michael Shackleton

Legal Executive

Mercantour is unbeaten in three starts on the poly this season (Pauline Herman Photography) 

Race Coast do not have a Poly Championship or a Poly Horse Of The Year, but if there were such incentives the leading poly horse this season would be the Darryl Moore-trained One World gelding United Nation, who has had six runs on the poly this season for five wins and a fifth.

His earnings on the poly are R326,918.75.

The only race he did not win was won by the Gareth van Zyl-trained Good Traveller (Visionaire) and the latter is duly in second place on the poly earnings list with R255,312.50 courtesy of three runs and three wins.

In third place is the Vengi Masawi-trained Mvelelo (What A Winter) with three wins, a second and a fourth from seven runs for earnings of R249,256.25.

In next place is the Wendy Whitehead-trained-Buttercup Baby (What A Winter) with three wins and a second from five runs and earnings of R243,012.50

In fifth place is the Bo Ngcobo-trained Eventidor (Elusive Fort) with three wins and a fourth from eight runs and earnings of R223,368.75.

The East Cape have a poly series and a poly male and female horse of the year.

The leading five poly horses in the East Cape this season are:

The Allan Greeff-trained Mercantour (Var), three runs, three wins and earnings of R311,718.75.

The Jacques Strydom-trained Ravilious (Global View), four wins, a second and a fourth from nine runs for earnings of R218381.25.

The Allan Greeff-trained Fairy Knight (Global View), two wins and a second from three runs for earnings of R201,281.25.

The Dean Smith-trained Zatara Magic (Rabada), two wins and a second from three starts for earnings of R188,551.25.

The Zietsman Oosthuizen-trained King Rahul (Captain Of All), 14 starts for three wins, one second, three thirds and one fourth for earnings of R183,183.75.

Black Nightshade justified on course support, shortening from 10/1 to 6/1, and won impressively (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Cape Breeders

Wilgerbosdrift’s five time Gr 1-winning stallion Hawwaam looks to have a smart crop of two-year-olds this season.

Hawwaam’s latest two-year-old to impress was Black Nightshade, who made a winning debut at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday.

The Vaughan Marshall trained filly was quick into stride in Wednesday’s Follow Race Coast On Social Media Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) (1200m).

Under Sean Veale, Black Nightshade kept galloping strongly into the closing stages and the daughter of Hawwaam went on to win by half a length.

Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, Black Nightshade is out of the Duke Of Marmalade mare Nastergal.

Wednesday’s winner races for Hollywood Racing.

Black Nightshade is the sixth two-year-old winner, from ten runners, for Hawwaam this season. This crop also includes Just Carter, who runs in Friday’s Listed East Cape Nursery. Thus far, Hawwaam has had more two-year-old winners in 2025-2026 than the likes of Rafeef, One World and Vercingetorix.

A champion son of multiple champion sire Silvano, Hawwaam made his presence felt with his first crop headed by G3 World Sports Betting Sycamore Sprint winner Perfect Miracle and Listed WSBHawwaam Stakes winner Diogenes.