Sunday’s CTS Breeding Stock Sale, staged at the Cape International Convention Centre just after the conclusion of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, saw some spirited bidding resulting in a turnover of R12,75-million.
A total of 17 exceptionally well-bred mares in foal passed through the auction ring, fetching an average of R750,000 per lot.
The top price of R2,6-million was paid by Rathmor Stud for Queen Of Spain, a mare by Holy Roman Emperor in foal to Klawervlei’s William Longsword.
Rathmor’s Mike McHardy, who also paid the highest price for a mare by Henrythenavigator at last year’s CTS Mares and Fillies Sale and has her smart Dynasty foal at foot, believes that Queen Of Spain is a mare who’d command the highest attention at the world’s top mare sales.
McHardy commented: “She’s a magnificent mare from the family of Mastercraftsman. It’s a biggie for us, helluva expensive but we’re investing in our breeding stock and this is what we need to compete in future. Queen Of Spain is irreplaceable.”
McHardy said that he would be trying his best to secure a mating with a top stallion like Dynasty or Silvano, alternatively Rathmor’s own promising new stallion Noble Tune will be given the honour of covering Queen Of Spain first.
Rathmor houses 43 mares and McHardy said: “Perhaps we can put KZN on the map again. We’ll be culling a bit, taking a few mares away so we have a manageable number of quality mares to produce the best we can.”
Wehann Smith, CEO of CTS said: “The most encouraging factor from this sale, again, was the international participation, the interest shown by overseas buyers. It attests to the quality that was on offer.”
Amanda Skiffington came away with a Galileo mare for R400,000 and Irishman Mick Flanagan secured a pair for under R2-million.
