The inaugural Cape Town Premier yearling sale in South Africa generated a gross of R87.9 million ($12,433,600 in U.S. funds) during its two-day run that ended Jan. 28, according to the Racing Post. The 214 horses that were sold averaged R410,748 ($58,101). The buy-back rate was 20.7%, with 56 of the 270 yearlings offered failing to find new homes.
“I think we achieved a magnificent result,” Robin Bruss, the chairman of the auction’s organizing team, told the Post. Bruss also is a council member of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of South Africa.
One Sunday Morning and Alexandra Palace, two colts by Jet Master, each brought R2.5 million ($353,628) to top the sale.
Ebrahim Khan purchased One Sunday Morning from Klawervlei Stud during the first session. Produced from the unraced Al Mufti mare Laptop Lady, the colt is a half brother to South African champion Jay Peg (by Camden Park) and South African group III winner Cyber Case (by Casey Tibbs).
Trainer Patrick Shaw, who is based in Singapore, bought Alexandra Palace from Varsfontein Stud during the second and final session. Out of the winning Darshaan mare Alexandra Bi, the colt is a half brother to South African group II winner Alexandra Rose (by Caesour), who captured the 2008 Monrovia Handicap (gr. IIIT) while carrying Team Valor International’s colors, and stakes winner Pavlovich (by Soviet Star), who finished second in the group II South African Derby in 2005.
Team Valor, headed by Barry Irwin of Kentucky, ranked eighth among the auction’s leading buyers, spending R3.47 million ($490,836) for seven horses. Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell-South Africa was the fourth-biggest spender, paying R5 million ($707,257) for six yearlings.
Trippi, who won the 2000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) and four other graded events, was among the top sires. His 21 offspring that were sold grossed R11.9 million, which ranked him third on the list of leaders. The average for his progeny was R566,667 ($80,156).
