South African sale record smashed as Shadwell stock up

A rapturous round of applause broke out in the Bloodstock South Africa auditorium after Mike de Kock set a new national sale record when going to R9 million (£482,000 / €558,000) for a Silvano colt during the first session of the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

"That's a South African record, whatever way you look at it," said auctioneer Graeme Hawkins as the colt was led out of the ring.

The November-foaled youngster was consigned by Wilgerbosdrift Stud and was the second-last lot offered on day one, in a case of saving the best until almost last, with Mark Richards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club the closest underbidder.

"We've spent similar amounts or more on horses in Australia," said De Kock, who signed for the colt on behalf of Shadwell.

"Silvano, he's our champion stallion, and the colt is out of a great female line. It's very expensive for South Africa, but I think he's a horse befitting Sheikh Hamdan.

"He told me the top horses are not cheap and that I must buy him a top horse, and I thought this fella was a top colt.

"The mare has done well with Silvano before and he was by far her best foal. He's a really scopey individual and I see it as a back-end two-year-old slash Classic pedigree.

"He's a late foal so certainly needs to go for a run around the paddock for a while, and we'll wait towards the end of winter time before we start to break him in.

"Sheikh Hamdan's presence in South Africa has been immeasurable and he deserves every bit of luck he's got. He's got a couple of really nice horses at the moment and hopefully they'll carry it through."

The top lot, named as Masaki, is a full-brother to Grade 1 winner Nightingale and the Grade 2-placed Oriental Oak.

Doubling down

Shadwell acquired another exciting racing prospect to go into training with De Kock earlier in the session.

The Captain Al colt - already named Vasco Da Gama - was offered by owner-breeder Varsfontein Stud, with De Kock having to stretch to R4.4m (£236,000 / €273,000) to secure the October-born youngster with a stallion's pedigree.

"He's by one of South Africa's finest stallions in Captain Al," said De Kock, who was accompanied by his assistant trainer son Mathew.

"The family is pretty good and is very much alive. There's plenty of black type and quality runners on the page, and it's a solid, running family.

"It's great to have Sheikh Hamdan supporting South Africa the way he is."

The colt is out of a Listed-placed half-sister to Master Of My Fate, who had five yearlings sell during the opening session at an average spend of R335,000, and the Captain Al mare Fidelity, who is the dam of the Shadwell-raced Group 3 winner Ghaalla.

Shadwell appeared on the docket of two more seven-figure lots including another Captain Al colt for R1.6m from the Klawervlei Stud draft, and a Var colt for an even million from Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm's batch of yearlings.

Mike de Kock: 'The Captain Al colt is by one of South Africa's finest stallions'Credit: Candiese Marnewick

De Kock will also train the third most expensive lot during the opening session - a Dynasty filly described by auctioneer Andrew Miller as "a lovely individual and very well bought".

Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock made the successful R4.3m play for the filly from his position on the upper walkway.

"It's hard not to like a pedigree like hers," said Malherbe. "She's by a champion sire in Dynasty and out of a really good mare by Dubawi. She's for a new, international client of Mike de Kock and he'll train her."

The October-foaled filly, already named Kim Soo, is out of the Thekwini Stakes winner Happy Archer.

Malherbe will be hoping he has sourced yet another star for De Kock to follow in the footsteps of Mubtaahij, a Grade 1 winner on dirt by Dubawi, and Vercingetorix, winner of the Jebel Hatta and who had three yearlings for an average of R533,000 on Wednesday, including a R1m filly out of Lyrical Linda.

The Dynasty filly out of Happy Archer to be trained by De KockCredit: Candiese Marnewick

Bloodstock South Africa's flagship auction kicked into gear earlier in the session when a colt by Oasis Dream stallion Querari was led into the ring.

The bidding started below the million mark before offers started to fly in from all directions, and a hush descended in the auditorium as Hong Kong buyers Tony Miller and Mark Richards were the only two left standing.

Ultimately, Richards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club won out for the October-foaled colt at R4.2 million (£226,000/€261,000).

"He's a lovely balanced horse and was the standout for us in the sale," said Richards.

"He's got Hong Kong written all over him. He's out of a top-class mare and will be sold at the Hong Kong International Sale as a three-year-old in 2021.

"In the meantime, he'll return to the UK where he'll be prepared by Malcolm Bastard."

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein in partnership, the colt has already been named Ficksburg and is out of Cherry On The Top, who landed the South African Triple Tiara, the fillies' equivalent of the Triple Crown which comprises the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, SA Oaks and SA Fillies Classic.

Querari was bred and raced by Gestut Fahrhof in Germany and won the Premio Presidente della Repubblica while it was still a Group 1 contest, and he was subsequently retired to stand at Maine Chance Farms in 2011.

He has sired 11 Graded winners to date headed by the Grade 1 Thekwini scorer Querari Falcon.

The Quarari colt out of the South African Triple Tiara heroine Cherry On The TopCredit: Candiese Marnewick

The Querari colt was preceded into the ring by a Dynasty full-brother to the 2014-15 Horse of the Year and multiple champion Legislate.

John Freeman of Freeman Stallions had his eye on the colt having previously purchased the colt's sire Dynasty in partnership for R475,000 at the 2001 sale and the colt's full-brother - since named Tales Of Us - at last year's renewal, but it was Nick Jonsson who played the stronger hand.

"We'll race him," said Jonsson from his position opposite the rostrum. "He'll go into training with Justin Snaith, but we'll put him away for a while and bring him out when he's more mature."

Jonsson also owns the Snaith-trained Do It Again in partnership, and the son of Twice Over is now a dual Grade 1 winner having won the last year's Durban July and the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate in January.

"It's a phenomenal result," said vendor Vaughan Koster of Cheveley Stud while receiving plenty of well wishes. "He was a popular horse and sold accordingly."

During the opening session, 138 of the 163 lots changed hands for total receipts amounting to R73,855,000 (£3.96m/€4.59m) at an average spend of R535,180.

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