Turf Talk Newsletter – 02 March, 2006

Sensational Autumn Glow's Family Shining In SA

Autumn Glow makes it ten out ten on Saturday in Australia and the good news is there are opportunities in South Africa, starting at the Race Coast Premier Yearling Sale on March 13 and 14, to own members of her family (Picture: Magic Millions)

The Chris Waller-trained Australian-bred four-year-old filly Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) has become a global sensation and made it ten wins unbeaten when winning the Gr 1 Aus$1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes over a mile at Randwick on Saturday.

This is a triumph for South African thoroughbred breeding, because she is out of the former Duncan Howells-trained Equus Champion Sprinter Via Africa (Var).

Her success is good news for Cape Town-based racing man Rod Mattheyse, because he not only has a share in Via Africa, but also has an interest in her family in South Africa.

Rod noticed a small share was available in Via Africa in Australia a few years ago.

He said, “I decided to take it up and one of the main reasons was because I owned her half-sister by What A Winter out here called I Like It Hot.”

The good news is that the speedy I Like It Hot, who won one race for Dennis Drier in KZN and one for Tara Laing in the East Cape, is now producing at stud.

Rod revealed, “Her first foal is a Rafeef filly who is on the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale in a couple of weeks time. She now has a Thunderstruck at foot and is in foal again to Rafeef.”

He added, “The Rafeef on the Sale is a first foal, but she is high quality and very correct. She is beautiful.”

He continued, “The Thunderstruck … well call me a breeder, but she’s an absolute bomb! She’s obviously got a bit more Var in her than the Rafeef one. But I also can’t wait for the next Refeef to come out as she throws a bit of scope to him as well.”

Meanwhile Via Africa is in foal to the most expensive stallion in Australia, Zoustar.

She is standing currently at Widden Stud.

As Autumn Glow’s unbeaten record grows comparisons are being made to two previous sensational females trained by Chris Waller, Winx, who won 33 races in a row and won a record 25 Gr 1s, and Black Caviar, who holds a modern international record for top level thoroughbred racing of 25 wins from 25 starts.

Rod said, “I think one of Autumn Glow’s owners, John Messara of Arrowfield Stud, is circumspect in the number of times he races his mares. They tend to give Autumn Glow a target of about four or five runs and then rest her. John Messara is of the view that if you over-race a mare they don’t produce at stud.”

Autumn Glow has won two Gr 1s to date.

The George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1, 1500m) at Rosehill on March 21 shapes as her next assignment, with Waller leaving the door ajar for a potential rise to 2000 metres, possibly in April’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) back at Randwick, should she continue to dominate at weight-for-age level. The Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) also remains in calculations, though the handicap conditions pose their own challenges.

“I’d love to try her at 2000m, but she’s got to be dominant in her next win to give us that ultimate satisfaction that she can run it, otherwise it’s probably the Doncaster,” Waller said.

He continued, “She’s a different type to some of those good horses I’ve trained, when they get back and have your heart in your mouth. She’s up on the speed. She puts herself there, so that’s the difference.”

Rod said there was also a possibility she would travel to Royal Ascot, depending on how the next two races went.

A story surfaced a couple of years ago that Via Africa had been seen in poor condition at a Sale.

Rod explained she has got a knee problem, but is as sound as a mare can possibly be. She is still comfortable on the knee and it is not hindering her at all at the moment and the right thing would be done if it was bothering her.

Furthermore, he said she was a mare who lightened up a lot with travel coupled with the bit of associated stress, so the picture taken in the small window of one Sale she traveled to was not at all the correct presentation of her well being.

He said John Kelly, the owner of Newhaven Stud where she was standing at the time, was a highly respected horseman. That is to the extent that he is one of only three non-Chinese owners in Hong Racing.

“He is not somebody who is going to be mal-treating horses and she only moved to Widden Stud because that was where she was being covered. That made it as stress-free as possible for her and she is happy and content there and being well looked after.”

Via Africa is unlikely to go back to The Autumn Sun as that would involve travel and she will probably see out the rest of her broodmare days being covered by Zoustar.

It was fortunate for Rod and the other shareholders that Via Africa passed through the ring unsold at the aforementioned Sale.

Via Africa has actually produced two Gr 1 winners.

The first of them was called In The Congo by Snitzel, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

In The Congo has already had a milestone at stud in that in his first year he received more mares than any other first season sire in the whole of Australia.

Interestingly, in the only Gr 1 he won he beat Anamoe, who is currently the most fashionable first season sire in Australia. This nine-time Gr 1-winning Anamoe’s opening service fee was Aus$121,000 and he has already had a Aus$1 million progeny at the Sales.

In The Congo, whose first crop are now yearlings, has had a Aus$625,000 colt purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Things are looking bright for the family of Via Africa and Autumn Glow will continue to be followed with awe by South African racing fans.

Wish List Triumphs In Iconic Result For Hossack and Bloch

Wish List produced an impressive finishing run under the hands and won easing up (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Richard Fourie’s decision to jump off Note To Self and get on to Wish List upon the injury to the latter’s original jockey Andrew Fortune proved to be spot on as she became the ninth filly in history to win the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and the first filly for 27 years to do it.

However, Note To Self is also a horse to take out of the race as he impressed again with his acceleration from the back and his enormous stride and his second place finish gave owners Nancy Hossack and Jonathan Bloch, as well as trainer Justin Snaith, the exacta.

Jonathan Snaith has a share in Note To Self.

Note To Self was also arguably a touch unlucky.

Grant van Niekerk, who picked up the chance ride, said he would have just about won it had Richard Fourie not “cut him off” at around the 400m mark, although the overall evidence would point to the incident as being unlikely to have affected the result.

Wish List’s antics at the start did not affect her performance and she is now a two-time Gr 1 winner.

She won the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m in her last start under Andrew Fortune.

The stipendiary steward report said, “WISH LIST (R Fourie) was stubborn loading and had to be hooded.”

It said later, “In view of the report from the Starter regarding WISH LIST (R Fourie), Trainer SJ Snaith will be advised to have this filly re-schooled prior to her next engagement in terms of Rule 61.6.10.”

Viva’s Liberte took the lead after jumping well from draw seven, although the stipendiary report indicated he had pulled hard early.

Better Man came from the widest draw of the eight horse field to slot into second place.

Happy Verse was in third place on the rail as the field began to stretch out on the back of the strong pace.

Star Major also pulled hard early and was eventually switched out to sit on the quarters of Happy Verse.

Wish List had the perfect position on the rail in fifth place behind the strong pace.

Pay The Palace was sitting one wide with cover from Star Major.

Note To Self was inconvenienced slightly early on when the pulling Star Major was switched outward to get alongside Happy Verse, but thereafter he settled nicely behind Wish List.

Ignite The Fire was unruly from the off and eventually ran around the field when JP van der Merwe could no longer hold him and he finished tailed off.

In the straight the talented Viva’s Liberte continued to stretch out towards the middle.

However, Wish List surged forward still under a strong hold and had joined him by the 300m mark.

At the 400m mark Wish List appeared to take up the running of Note To Self who was chasing under a drive from Van Niekerk, who also gave him a back hander to try and get into the gap.

However, the stipendiary report just said, “At the 300m NOTE TO SELF (G van Niekerk) was directed outward when unable to secure a clear run between the inside running rail and WISH LIST (R Fourie).”

However, they have not opened an inquiry into the incident.

Furthermore, Wish List was still under the hands then and was being eased at the line, so it is unlikely the incident would have altered the result.

Fourie drove Wish List with the hands from the 300m mark and did not draw the stick once.

She drifted off the rail and this saw Note To Self chasing with his long stride along the rail, but he was making no inroads until Wish List was eased before the line.

The official margin was 0,75 lengths.

Viva’s Liberte stayed on gamely to be beaten three lengths with Star Major a neck behind him and Happy Verse a further 0,40 lengths back.

Star Major off 114 and Happy Verse off 113 looked to be the obvious line horses as they ran exactly to the form of the Politician Stakes with Star Major beating Happy Verse by 0,40 lengths.

That saw Note To Self going up to 118 and becoming the joint highest rated three-year-old in the land, which is also a perfect fit as he beat Happy Verse by 2,85 lengths whereas the other 118-rated horse, Jan van Goyen, beat Happy Verse by 2,75 lengths in the Gr 1 Hollywood bets Cape Guineas.

The 115-rated Wish List was receiving 2,5kg from the males, but has been raised two points to 117, with the ease of her victory probably been taken into account.

Third-placed Viva’s Liberte joins Star Major on a 114 rating.

Pay The Palace and Better Man both dropped one point from 105 to 104 after being beaten 7,85 and 8,25 lengths respectively, whilst Ignite The Fire remained on 88 after his tailed off run.

Wish List is by former Cape Derby winner Legislate out of the SA Oaks-winning Silvano mare Wind Chill and she was bred by Maine Chance Farms.

She was impressive and both she and Note To Self have shortened to 10/1 in the ante-post pre-noms Hollywoodbets Durban July betting.

Team Snaith Not Confident About Turffontein Gr 1 Double, But...

See It Again has won three Gr 1s over 2000m and will be attempting to land a first Gr 1 over 1600m, a distance over which he also has a fine record (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Danie Toerien (Tab4Racing)

When it comes to North-South derbies, rugby matches between the Bulls and Western Province are always epic.

On the racetrack, an even bigger North-South contest is all set up at Turffontein on Saturday as Western Cape based champion trainer Justin Snaith aims for a Grade 1 double with his two raiders See It Again and Lowveld Lily.

Although Jonathan Snaith on Monday said the double is “highly unlikely”, he did not dismiss it as an impossibility.

See It Again, winner of the World Sports Betting Cape Met in January, has been declared a runner in the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.

A three-time Grade 1 winner, See It Again has come back to best after moving to the Snaith yard and, rated at 130, must be a serious contender.

“See It Again will travel up from Summerveld to Johannesburg this Friday,” said Jonathan on Monday.

“The move to altitude always brings a touch of the unknown, some horses thrive on it while others take time – but his preparation has been flawless. He is in identical shape to when he won the Gr1 WSB Met and could not be coming to the Highveld in better order.

“He was slightly unlucky in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, beaten just a head, which confirmed that a mile holds no fears for him, especially at Turffontein. If Richard Fourie can get him to relax early and switch off, he should come charging late if he reproduces the work he’s been showing at home.”

This gelded son of Twice Over has the benefit of a previous outing to the Highveld when contesting the Summer Cup over 2000m in November 2024. On that occasion he finished fifth under Piere Strydom, beaten 2.5-lengths by Atticus Finch.

On his second trip up country, the six-year-old boasts 4 victories over the distance. Considering that he has finished in the top three on five of his last six races – all Grade 1 and Grade 2 races – he adds a special dimension to one of the best races not just in the country, but in the world.

In the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m, the second leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara, team Snaith will be represented by Lowveld Lily.

Lowveld Lily, who ran fourth in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas recently when making her Highveld debut, is expected to improve on that performance and could be the one to be with.

“She pulled up fairly well,” said Jonathan after that race. “She took some time to recover after the race, which suggests she hasn’t quite fully acclimatised yet.”

Now that she has been on the Highveld for an extra month, this daughter of Legislate should be a serious contender despite travelling 1800m for the first time.

“Lowveld Lily enjoyed a solid preparation and has remained on the Highveld since, so she is now fully acclimatised. If she can build on that performance and see out the trip, she puts herself right in contention for some valuable Gr1 Black-Type. She’s certainly not without a chance,” said Jonathan.

“We’re also delighted to have Callan Murray in the saddle – he knows her well, having done plenty of work on her at home, which is a big plus going into a race of this nature.”

Hazy Dazy, Charge It, and Golden Palm, who finished ahead of Lowveld Lily in the Fillies Guineas, have also been accepted to renew their rivalry in the Classic, so it should make for a racing spectacle of note.

Golden Palm, a raider from the Eastern Cape trained by Alan Greeff, is another runner with winning credentials.

After the Fillies Guineas, Greeff committed to keep Golden Palm on the Highveld, saying she’s had a good blowing out of the cobwebs on the Highveld after a rest.

This daughter of Master Of My Fate travelled from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town where she she finished 3.80-lengths behind Quickstepgal in the Cape Fillies Guineas before travelling to Jozi for her attempt at the Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

Now settled on the Highveld she will definitely be a factor come Saturday.

Final declarations close at 11.00 on Tuesday.

There will be Hong Kong World Pools betting on the three Grade 1 races on Saturday well as a Pick 6 carryover.

Questioning, Princess Of Gaul, Red Spice Add Graded Wins To CVs

The versatile Vaughan Marshall-trained Questioning has got better and better as a five-year-old and there looks to be more to come (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Mark van Deventer (Race Coast)

The Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, a 1200m Gr 2 sprint run at Weight for Age, was won in dominant style by Questioning. Richard Fourie had the Querari gelding travelling sweetly just off the early speed cut out by O’Tenikwa, and when he asked his mount for an effort he cut lose to win easing up by 2.5 lengths from the pacesetter.

Outlaw King got up for third in a blanket finish, just ahead of I am Giant and Asiye Phambili. But they were a discouraged four lengths adrift of Vaughan Marshall’s high class 5YO.

Questioning has now won eight of 23 starts. He was foiled by The Real Prince in a Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate thriller 49 days ago, and Marshall trained his charge specifically for this shorter race back down the straight.

Earlier in the season, Questioning delivered a tremendous performance when coming from last to first in the Matchem Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. In taking out the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, he yet again showed his class and versatility.

Afterwards, Marshall confirmed that the Diadem, a stiff sprint, has always been Questioning’s Summer mission in a case of a plan coming together perfectly.

Questioning was bred by Mr AN Foster. The mare Wheredowego is a daughter of renowned sire, Captain Al, who has made such an impact on the SA Stud Book.

A modest Fourie played down his jockey role on both Wish List and Questioning, saying they were just much too good for their rivals, and he had little to do in the saddle bar guide them around smoothly.

Princess Of Gaul landed a sustained market move to win the SplashOut Prix du Cap (a Gr 3 for Fillies and Mares) over 1400m. In a race that went slow early, fast late she was fully extended to lumber pace-presser, Stormwatch, just short of the wire.

Market springer, Rocapina, whose price was halved from an opening call of 6/1 rounded out the trifecta.

Princess of Gaul, a consistent daughter of Vercingetorix ex Duke of Marmalade mare, Miss Marmalade, has been campaigned by Dean Kannemeyer in high level fillies features throughout her career.

She won the Western Cape Fillies Championships in November, placed fourth in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas behind Quickstepgal ,and was mugged late by Babelicious in the Olympic Duel Stakes.

A slow run over 1400 suited her ideally as she used her powers of acceleration (22.3 seconds for the final 400m) to charge at a valiant Stormwatch, but it was a close-run thing as Princess of Gaul only snuck in by a head. Craig Zackey was the successful jockey.

She was bred by Mr CP Murphy – this was her fourth win from eight career starts.

Red Spice, under a daring rail-skimming ride by Keagan de Melo, won the Ridgemont Cape of Good Hope Nursery Gr 3 over 1200m.

He was driven through a narrow opening to nail Glen Kotzen’s two entries, 25/1 longshot Roskilde and 14/1, Lady Nancy. Heavily backed Querari Dancer (6’s into 9/4) made belated progress to secure fourth, less than a length off Piet and Elbert Steyn’s victor.

Red Spice is a 2YO son of Erik the Red. The bay colt has now won two in a row, after placing second twice beforehand off Champagne Castle. The 9/2 chance was bred by Terry Andrews and is out of the Right Approach mare, Ikebana.

Drakenstein Stud Bring World Class Draft To Premier Sale

Drakenstein are record-holding stakes producers and will bring top quality yearlings to the Sale

One of South Africa’s top stud farms, Drakenstein Stud continues to produce top-class thoroughbreds. The farm bred this year’s World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr 1 winner See It Again, with other recent headliners for the Drakenstein including reigning South African Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen and globetrotting star One Stripe.

Drakenstein will be bringing an exceptional draft to this year’s Premier Yearling Sale, with their consignment containing an international flavour. Among the sires represented in this consignment are international stars Cracksman and Kingman, as well as outstanding local stallions Master Of My Fate, One World, Vercingetorix and What A Winter. highlights in Drakenstein Stud’s Premier Sale draft has a number of eye-catching lots who hail from the first crop of the farm’s home bred champion Jet Dark.

Drakenstein’s Kevin Sommerville highlighted the following lots as being particularly eye catching:

Lot 12: Dark Storm c Jet Dark – Lady In Black

By exciting first season sire, Jet Dark, this strong, flashy colt has a lovely shoulder and great hind leg. He is out of Gr 1 winner Lady In Black and a half-brother to GSW Mid Winter Wind. This cross of Trippi on a Dynasty mare has produced 35% SW to foals Charles Dickens.

Lot 16: Winter Sensation c What A Winter – Lilac Sensation

An attractive, strongly made colt by outstanding sire What A Winter. He stands out in a crowd. Out of a half-sister to dual Gr 1 winner Snowdance (dam of Snow Pilot), this colt has a great temperament, deep girth and easy walk. He is bred on the same cross as GSW Mid Winter Wind.

Lot 29: Masai Mara c Master Of My Fate – Mara

A good-looking son of leading sire Master Of My Fate with a wonderful temperament and an athletic walk. He is a half-brother to GSW Great Plains and from the family of GSW Green Diamond. This colt is bred on the same cross as Gr 1 winners Tempting Fate and Golden Palm.

Lot 120: Third Ruler c Vercingetorix – Third Runway

By Champion sire Vercingetorix, he is a big, strong, well-balanced colt with lots of presence and a great walk. This flashy individual is out of the Gr 2 winner Third Runway and is similarly bred to Gr 1 winners Vernichey, Pomp and Power, Chansonette and Alesian Chief.

Lot 158: Uvongo c Vercingetorix – Amanzimtoti

An attractive son of Champion sire Vercingetorix with a lovely racy shape, with excellent depth, he moves with purpose and uses himself well. He has an exceptional pedigree, being out of the Gr 2 winning Trippi mare, Amanzimtoti, a daughter of Equus Champion Broodmare, Beach Beauty.

Lot 161: Tolstoy c One World – Anna Karenina

This strong colt is very much in the mould of record-breaking sire, One World. He has strong quarters and covers the ground well. His dam is a half-sister to Gr.1 winning sprinter, Chimichuri Run.

Lot 189: Dark Pearl c Jet Dark – Chestnuts N Pearls

Out of Gr 1 winner Chestnuts N Pearls, this big strong colt has a lovely shape, a great walk and is in the mould of his dam. He is by multiple Equus Champion and 5 x Gr 1 winner Jet Dark and is bred on the same Trippi/Fort Wood cross as Gr 1 winner Real Princess.

Lot 191: Le Bourget c What A Winter – Cio Cio San

A good-walking son of What A Winter, he has a great temperament with a nice shoulder and is well-balanced. He is a full brother to recent juvenile winner Marseilles and his dam is a half-sister to GSW One Fine Winter (What A Winter). He has cruised through this sales prep.

Lot 195: Tsunami Cloud c Jet Dark – Clouds Unfold

This elegant son of Jet Dark, very much in the mould of his dam, is out of dual Gr 1 winner Clouds Unfold. This racy colt has an athletic walk with good quarters and a nice sloping shoulder.

For more information on this draft please contact Kevin Sommerville on 072 167 9971.

All horses purchased at the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale qualify for a suite of lucrative incentives. These include the Race Coast Sales Juvenile Bonus of R100 000, with R70 000 payable to the owner and R15 000 each to the vendor and the trainer.

Graduates from the sale are also eligible for the prestigious R3 Million Slipper, a 1200m race exclusively for two-year-old Race Coast Sales graduates, to be run in 2027 with a total prize purse of R3 million.

In addition, graduates qualify for the three-year-old races in 2028, which include the R1 Million Sprint and the R1 Million Mile.

I'm A Fireball Scores Another Fine 1400m Win

I’m A Fireball just holds on from Roland Garros (Pictures: Race Coast)

Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)

Justin Snaith was hoping for an early strike with Roland Garros as the Champion Trainer starts his Champions Season raid but I’m A Fireball put paid to that as Mike and Mathew de Kock’s gelding put a disappointing run in the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas behind him to win the March Stakes over 1400 m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

Callan Murray intimated that the 1600m of the Guineas had been a touch too far from a wide gate but he had no hesitation in taking I’m A Fireball to the front from the start.

Under pressure all the way up the straight, I’m A Fireball kept finding. In contrast, favourite Roland Garros was a long way off the pace turning for home and at one stage looked to be struggling. However, the grey finally got it all together and was making strong progress late, but too late, with I’m A Fireball holding him off by a fast-diminishing half-length.

Mike Miller has few peers in starting off young horses and while most of his contemporaries sit back and wait to bring on their charges, Miller has them out early and reaps the rewards.

He landed the first two on the card as Japura finally got her nose in front in the card opener after finishing runner-up to Durban Diamond at her previous start.

The stable then had a solid form-line going into the next where Durban Diamond was close to the top of the boards. All the money was for Global Trend and it was money on the mark as the daughter of Red Ray cantered home ahead of stable companions Royal Crest and Ode To The Sea giving the yard a well-deserved trifecta.

Miller stable rider Tristan Godden got the first two home for the yard but switched to the Peter Muscutt-trained Psyche in the first leg of the Pick 6. Godden admitted in a post-race interview after Global Trend’s win, that Psyche had disappointed in all three starts when starting favourite. There were no mistakes yesterday. Taking up the running early in the straight Psyche put all behind her cantering home with veteran Skipper O’Malley a well-beaten second.

Rachel Venniker has hit a rich vein of form at recent meetings. She booted home a treble in the night meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday and followed up yesterday on JP’s Palace for Darryl Moore whose yard has also found form with the United States back at his best on Friday night’s poly.

Riding s copybook race. Venniker has JP’S Palace poised on the rail as Terminator set the pace but once taking over the lead it was tough going as challenges came from all sides but the son of Potala Palace showed mountains of courage in fighting them all off and getting home just ahead of Mister Nibbles and Tyrconnell.

Terry Fripp is doing a masterful job for Milnerton-based Candice Bass as her Summerveld assistant as the numbers show. Fripp joking said that he was winning maidens but Lilac In Winter put that straight as she ran out a comfortable winner of the Class 5.

Sneeuwitjie has upset more than one exotic bet, both her victories coming at long odds, and for a few strides it looked as if she would scupper a few more. However, she was out of gas over the final furlong as Serino Moodley got the best out of Lilac In Winter who ran on strongly to keep Greenlight Queen at bay with Sneeuwitjie staying on for second and R6.30 a ‘drum’.

Vihaan’s Web is relatively lightly raced as a four-year-old but made it four from a dozen starts as he held on just long enough to edge out favourite Fortress Of Fire in the Class 3 over 1200m. The result may have boiled down to 1kg with Gareth van Zyl’s charge hold on under 2.5kg claimer Damyan Pillay and Venniker with her 1.5kg allowance closing fast but just not quickly enough.

Apprentice Bongani Makhubo comes with a pedigree in racing second to none with his father a long-time employee of the Mike and Mathew de Kock yard and also an accomplished rider in workrider’s races.

At just his sixth ride as an apprentice, Bongani shed his maiden as he fittingly got Queen Braganza home in the last for the De Kock yard. He will need some tidying up as he had reins as long as fishing lines in the drive for the line, but Queen Braganza responded gamely to comfortably hold off Captain’s Pride and deny Venniker a second winner.

Vercingetorix Gets Top Lot With Only Representative

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 16^th and 17^th of April 2026.

For more information on the Bloodstock SA National Yearling please contact Ashley de Klerk at ashley@bsa.co.za