Prolific Cape Town-based owner Greg Bortz described himself as suffering from African Horse Sickness earlier this year i.e. “I see a horse and I buy it”, and he was active again at the National Yearling Sales.

However, it is clear a lot more method and homework goes into his purchases than the above statement depicts.

His Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby winner Pomp and Power is by Vercingetorix and today he illustrated just what a big fan he is of the country’s current leading sire.

Seven of the eight lots he purchased were by Vercingetorix.

This included the lot which for a while was the Sale’s highest priced, lot 16, the Syrilla Stud-bred Quite A King (pictured), who went for R2 million.

This strapping bay colt is out of the five-time winning Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap-winning Kahal mare Kwinta.

Asked by Turf Talk what he liked about him he said, “Beautiful big colt and is a late foal, so has still more growing to do. The Snaith’s have his half-sister Kwinta’s Light (Gimmethegreenlight) so I have a good line on him. She is a lovely filly but he has more scope and is a better mover.”

He also liked the family, coupled with his favourite sire, and was impressed by the big colt’s physical conformation.

He concluded by saying just watching him walk made it obvious he would be a  horse with a big action.

Syrilla Stud is owned by Roland Bouwer and is in the Perdeberg in Malmesbury.

When the BSA inspectors Alistair Gordon and Jane Thomas visited Syrilla Stud on January 5 they mentioned this Vercingetorix colt as one of the farm’s two highlights and commented, “Despite being a late foal he is well developed.”

Bortz went to R700,000 to buy a Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt called Baton Rouge (lot 33), who is out of five time-winning Listed-winning Ideal World mare Louisiana. He is from the family of the Triple Tiara heroines Cherry On The Top and Summer Pudding.

Two lots earlier he had clinched a superb-looking Drakenstein Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt called Magic Verse for R400,000 and he described that price as “a steal”. This colt is out of the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes-winning Jet Master mare Little Miss Magic. Bortz will have had a line on this one too because he is a half-brother to the Snaith-trained Miss Katalin, who won three times and finished a narrow second in a Grade 3 over 1400m as well as thirds in Grade 3s over 1400m and 1800m respectively.

Earlier, Bortz had purhased the Owloon Horses-bred Vercingetorix filly Miss Lemonade (lot 23) for R500,000. She is out of an unplaced Parade Leader mare but looks well put together and scopey and has a strong family. This filly is in fact a half-sister to Grade 2 SA Oaks winner Secret Potion (Elusive Fort).

Later, Bortz bought the Rous Bros-Henman Stud-bred Vercingetorix filly Miracle in Motion (lot 66) for R700,000. She is out of a placed Jet Master mare who is an own sister to Jet Jamboree, a seven time-winning Listed winner. Miracle In Motion is in fact a half-sister to the gallant Running Brave, a twice winner of the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet among other good performances.

He purchased lot 185 for R375,000. This Cheveley Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt is out of the Greys Inn mare Souk, a three time-winning Listed runner up, whose unraced Strike Smartly dam was an own sister to SA Derby winner Bouquet-Garni.

Late in the day Bortz “boughtz” lot 223 and lot 239.

Lot 223, Queen Of Camelot, is a Winterbach Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight filly out of an unraced Pour Moi mare who is from the family of European Champion colt Camelot. He got her for R350,000.

Lot 239, Dordogne, is a Riethuiskraal Stud Vercingetorix colt out of a one time-winning Second Empire mare and he is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Vistula (Ideal World). 

There are sure to be more purchases this sale made by the passionate racing man who grew up outside the Hollywoodbets Greyville racecourse and whose biggest racing dream is to win the Hollywoodbets Durban July. 

Picture: Candiese Lenferna.