One of the most important events in the South African racing calendar.
Two-year-olds might be taking over up north, but on the Southern Hemisphere sales circuit it’s still yearlings that abound.
One of South Africa’s biggest bloodstock fixtures is at Johannesburg’s TBA complex this Thursday (and Friday, when lots they didn’t get to on Thursday will get their spin in the ring).
Drakenstein, responsible for a number of top-level graduates, brings a notable draft this year, its offerings including the already-named Valleyofdesolation (Lot 141), a colt out of a Grade 2 winner, and Take Five (Lot 115), a half-brother to two Grade 1 winners and one of two lots by the stud’s resident sire Jet Dark.
Wilgerbosdrift bring a draft that includes Lot 365 (Sahara King), the first foal out of multiple Grade 1 winner Desert Miracle, and Varsfontein bring the likes of Cryptogram (Lot 191), a full-brother to the Grade 2 winner Gimme What I Want and a half-brother to two other Grade 2 winners.
Mauritzfontein, meanwhile, supply a quartet of yearlings by its sire Digital Age, including Lot 101 (Multi Media), a half-brother to an SA Derby winner from the extended family of Calandagan, and Vercingetorix is the sire of four lots in the Klawervlei draft, including Lot 133, a colt from the family of Grade 2 winner Silver Operator.
Those sires already mentioned join such stallions as Legislate, Tassort, Querari and Rafeef, whose representatives include Lot 26, a half-sister to the What A Winter-sired Grade 2 SA Nursery heroine Miss Cool.
Godolphin’s Irish-based Blue Point also has a representative, namely Lot 72, a Hemel ’n Aarde Stud-consigned filly out of the multiple Listed-winning Kaylasaurus
Other lots of interest include:
Lot 71, Jux Be Good To Me, an Erik The Red filly out of the SA Fillies Classic winner Juxtapose.
Lot 150, a half-brother to the prolific Grade 1 winner Double Grand Slam named Its A Me Mario.
Lot 209, Silver Heart, out of the Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain.
Trade begins at 10am on Thursday.
The catalogue can be viewed here.
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