Turf Talk Newsletter – 9 April, 2026

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.

Cats Pajamas is out on his own in the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes (JC Photos)

Nathan Kotzen and owner Sid Moodley are on a roll at present having landed two features together over the weekend, a Gr 2 with Cats Pajamas in Johannesburg and a Listed exacta with Field Marshal and Shoot The Rapids in KZN, and then on Wednesday the exciting prospect Bangladesh returned from a long layoff to win easily in his second career start on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly.

Cats Pajamas was sent off at 25/2 for the Gr 2 TAB Hawaii Stakes, but Kotzen felt he had a fine chance.

He said, “He doesn’t seem to like the straight. Almost all of his runs down the straight are shocking, but if you go 1200m bend or 1400m bend he is alright. Before the race I also knew he had turned the corner. In his first run for me (in the African Holly Stakes over 1100m finishing a 5,60 length last of five) Craig (Zackey) came back and told me he wasn’t striding a hundred percent, he said he was a little bit short. I was obviously a bit disappointed when I watched the race, but I went back and thought about it and realised it wasn’t actually a bad run, 5,50 lengths off a top sprinter (William Robertson) at level weights and he was a bit scratchy, which I knew I could work on and get him better. So I just got him right and then worked him and his final gallop was exceptional. I said ‘wow’ this horse has turned the corner after seeing that gallop. His gallop was good, he was in a good space and I said ‘He’s ready for Jo’Burg’.”

He traveled up with Choice Carriers leaving at midnight on Thursday and arriving on Friday morning.

In the race the four-year-old Rafeef gelding jumped well from draw one under Richard Fourie and this enabled him to get a tow from the pacemaker Money Heist.

This augured particularly well, because the horse to beat, the favourite One Eye On Vegas, was in last place having been dropped out from a wide draw, while one of the other chief contenders, Texas Red, was caught one out and one back without cover.

In the straight Cats Pajamas had soon powered past Money Heist and although One Eye On Vegas had sliced through the rest of the field in impressive style while still on the bit he was unable to make much impression on Cats Pajamas.

The athletic bay went on to win the weight for age with penalties event by 2,10 length carrying 58kg with three-year-old One Eye On Vegas (55,5kg) next best and they were folowed by Money Heist, Main Defender and Cosmic Speed.

Nathan said, “Richard Fourie said he didn’t have to do much, the horse just pulled him through and won full of running.”

It was the sixth career win for the former Frank Robinson-trained gelding and his second career Gr 2 victory.

Nathan said the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Staks over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the first weekend of May was the obvious target for Cats Pajamas.

On Sunday the Lancaster Bomber four-year-old gelding Field Marshal was dropped out to last in the Listed  WSB Sledgehammer over 1750m by Craig Zackey. He was carrying 59,5kg in the benchmark 52kg = MR92 handicap, but that did not stop him scything through the centre to win by 1,60 lengths from stablemate Shoot The Rapids (Erupt), who carried a welter 64,5kg and came from second last  with an eyecatching run.

Nathan views Field Marshal as “an improving type of a horse” and hopes to qualify him for the Gr 1 R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Field Marshal was raised three points to 110 and Nathan is eyeing the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m on April 25 at Turffontein Standside as his next target.

The 117-rated Shoot The Rapids is one of the best stayers in the country and will likely go that route.

On Wednesday Nathan revealed that Bangladesh had suffered a continual stream of irritable minor issues, which had explained his long break of ten-and-half months.

However, he thought the Buffalo Bill Cody three-year-old would be hard to beat in the Maiden over 1200m.

He said, “Frank (Robinson) had always told me he thinks he is a nice horse and we did the gelding, which had been thought about before, and since then he has just got better and better. I thought it was the right race for him and based on his work I thought he would be hard to beat.”

Bangladesh broke well under Zackey and sat in a handy position before being switched out and winning full of running by 4,70 lengths from the consistently placed maiden Xiphos.

Nathan said he would find a handicap forBangladesh and if won that he would look for a little feature for him.

He believes he will need 1400m to a mile to be seen at his best.

Last year’s top lot was this Avontuur Stud-bred Rafeef colt who was bought by Form Bloodstock for R4,25 million (Picture: BSA)

Sarah Whitelaw

From Politician and London News, to the likes of Dynasty and Vercingetorix, the National Yearling Sale is a thoroughbred auction with a truly eye catching roll of honour.

Year in and year out, the National Sale unleashes champions and G1 winners with the latest National Sale stars including Cosmic Speed, Eight On Eighteen, Fatal Flaw, Fire Attack, Fiery Pegasus, Good For You, Grand Empire, Legend Of Arthur, and Wish List.

The 2026 sale, which takes place on April 16th and 17th, promises to unveil more future stars of the turf and potential top stallions. From champion sires, to promising young local sires, and international stallions such as Blue Point, the National Sale catalogue looks to have plenty of appeal.

However, certain factors look sure to have an impact on this year’s sale and below are a few aspects of the National Sale which look sure to play starring roles:

 

Champion Sire’s strong draft

With an average of R1 498 864 at the recent Premier Yearling Sale, South Africa’s champion sire Vercingetorix continues to impress as a commercial star. The champion son of Silvano looks poised to make his mark, once again, at this year’s National Sale. Vercingetorix has some exceptionally well bred yearlings on offer at the 2026 National Sale, with G1 winners Desert Miracle (Schweppes Majorca Stakes, HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes), Redberry Lane (Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes), Royal Fantasy (Thekwini Fillies Stakes), Sentbydestiny (Premiers Champion Stakes), She’s A Keeper (Brentford FC Garden Province Stakes), Sommerlied (South African Fillies Sprint), and Zarina (Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes) all having Vercingetorix yearlings on sale.

Desert Miracle’s high-class dam Welwitschia has a Vercingetorix filly on offer, as does G2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes winner Tamaanee (whose dam is a half-sister to multiple champion sire I Am Invincible).

 

Star racemares and producers to shine

Howeever, the above mentioned mares are not the only high-class females represented at the National Yearling Sale.
Grade One producers Bonnie Beers (Soqrat colt), Coral Tree (Futura filly), Cosmic Dream (Querari colt), Daydream Believer (Rafeef filly), Miss Galidora (Digital Age colt), Musical Romance (Buffalo Bill Cody colt), My Sanctuary (Jet Dark colt), Princess Peach (Gimmethegreenlight colt), Skylar Lane (Jet Dark filly), Tally-Ho (Gimmethegreenlight colt), The Entertainer (The United States filly), Velvet Glove (Danon Platina filly), and Welwitschia (Vercingetorix filly), are all represented at the sale, as are such G1 winning racemares as Desert Miracle (Vercingetorix colt), Juxtapose (Erik The Red filly), Nightingale (Rafeef colt), Orchid Island (Malmoos filly), Redberry Lane (Vercingetorix colt), Royal Fantasy (Vercingetorix filly), Sentbydestiny (Vercingetorix filly), She’s A Keeper (Vercingetorix colt), Silvano’s Pride (Gimmethegreenlight filly), Silver Mountain (Gimmethegreenlight filly), Summer Pudding (Gimmethegreenlight colt), and Zarina (Vercingetorix filly).

 

Young sires

With a number of well bred G1 winning stallions represented by their first National Sale yearlings, young, unproven stallions could well make their mark at this year’s auction. Invincible Spirit’s G1 winning son Digital Age has some very attractive prospects on offer including a half-brother (Lot 101) to graded stakes winners Aragosta and Mrs Browning, and a half-brother (Lot 187) to recent G2 TAB Hawaii Stakes winner Cats Pajamas.

Eden Roc, a G1 winning Var half-brother to champion Sandringham Summit, also has some appealing lots on offer, with Eden Roc responsible for a half-brother (Lot 56) to this season’s G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met runner up Legal Counsel among others. Gimmethegreenlight’s champion son Got The Greenlight has just two on offer -a filly (Lot 27) out of G2 SA Fillies Nursery runner up Frosted Honey, and a filly (Lot 43) whose dam is a full-sister to US G1 winner and sire Data Link.

Former racetrack rivals Jet Dark and Kommetdieding are both well represented by members of their first crop. Champion Jet Dark, whose first crop have already made up to R2 500 000, is the sire of a half-brother (Lot 115) to the G1 winners Safe Passage and Silver Sanctuary, as well as a half-sister (Lot 213) to champion Good Traveller.

Charismatic July/Met winner Kommetdieding is represented here by a half-sister (Lot 85) to G1 Gold Medallion third No Laying Up, and a colt (Lot 127) from the immediate family of champion and globetrotting star Jay Peg.

Rafeef’s G1 winning son Master Archie has a single member of his first crop on offer, and this is a half-brother (Lot 202) to G2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes winner Homely Girl.

 

An international flavour

Four overseas based stallions will be represented by a single yearling apiece at the National Sale.

Four time G1 winning sprinter, and proven G1 sire, Blue Point is represented by a filly (Lot 72) out of a dual stakes winning daughter of high-class US sire Munnings. Another high-class sprinter represented in this category is dual G1 winner Twilight Son. Winner of both the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Twilight Son is the sire of a filly (Lot 203) whose dam is a half-sister to Italian champion and classic winner Poeta Diletto.

Tassort, a grandson of multiple champion sire I Am Invincible and sire of G1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Manaal, is the sire of a filly (Lot 304) whose Choisir sired dam is a half-sister to Australian multiple G1 winner Danleigh.

Promising young Australian sire Wild Ruler, a G1 winning son of legendary Australian sire Snitzel, is another high-class performer with a yearling on offer at the National Sale. He is responsible for an a filly (Lot 293) whose dam is a Fastnet Rock 3/4 sister to G2 Admiralofthefleet. This is the family of South African stars Oriental Charm, Curious Girl and Frances Ethel, and legendary sires Danehill, Machiavellian and Northern Dancer.

Tintin could prove better than his merit rating suggests in the R5 million Big Cap (JC Photos)

Sean Tarry has four four horses in the R3 million Race Coast Sales Slipper, headed by the smart Turn It Up, and he has the progressive Tintin in the R5 million Race Coast Sales Big Cap.

The Slipper is over 1200m and the Querari colt Turn It Up will have to overcome a tough draw of ten out of 14.

However, this half-brother to the Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Proceed has won his last two starts impressively, although the form is not exceptional,  and he is predicted to mow them down after being sat on in the early stages.

The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained One World colt World Attraction has won both of his starts easily and is highly regarded, but he has not beaten much and has a wide draw of thirteen.

The Louis Goosen-trained Erik Dubois own well on debut and looks to have plenty of scope for improvement. From pole position he should make  bold bid.

Roskilde is still a maiden but has fine formlines and last time out he was beaten just 0,40 lenghs into second in the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.

Secretary Bird is actually a full-sister to Tintin and has won her last two starts over 1000m comfortably and she should be running on strongly.

They are selected in the order of mention.

In the Big Cap over 1400m Tintin is perfectly distance suited and is ever improving, but he does officially have a tough task at the weights being officially 5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Just Be Lekker. However, he does only carry 50kg under promising jockey Malesela Katjedi and he looks capable of riding above his current merit rating. He has a tricky draw of seven.

Rolan Garros is perfectly distance suited and is drawn in pole and this progresive sort should be right there.

Talk To The Master comes off two fine wins and from drw two with leading jockey Craig Zackey up he should go close.

Randolph Hearst was third in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and although the form is a touch suspect he looks capable of being a contender from a fair draw here.

Malmesbury Missile loves tghis course and distance and should be in the shake up if able to overcome a tricky draw of nine.

They are selected in the order mentioned.

One of the world’s most famous horse races and the world’s biggest single day betting event, the Grand National, has its 178th running at Aintree on Saturday.

Tiger Roll, who won in 2018 and 2019, became the first to win back to back Grand Nationals since the legendary Red Rum did so in 1973 and 1974 before adding a third in 1977.

Nick Rockett will be out to win the big race back to back this year.

I Am Maximus is the other previous winner in this year’s field.

He won in 2024 and was runner up last year.

At The Races Tipster James Flaherty has done a horse by horse guide to the big race for the punting public.

Click here to read his Grand National Horse By Horse guide