Alesh Naidoo shares a lighthearted moment with Deez Dayanand in background
Alesh Naidoo, arguably South Africa’s most colourful owner, raised his catalogue for the last time to secure Lot 27, the R1.2m son of Bernadini. Few people realised that he had just completed the gruelling Soweto Marathon in a respectable time of 4hrs and 27 minutes – a veteran of many marathons, including ten Comrades Marathons.
Alesh’s wife, Nisa, also competed, finishing just behind her husband who was clearly anxious to get to the TBA Sales Complex on time!
The Bernadini colt, consigned by Marc and Nicola Coppez of Balmoral Stud, the leading consignor at the Sale, was the joint Sales topper, sharing that position with Lot 35, the striking and athletic Captain Al colt bought by Brian Burnard.
Joint Sales Topper!Lot 35 (Captain Al colt)
Brian has enjoyed tremendous success in a very short space of time since teaming up with former jockey, turned trainer, Gavin van Zyl. The now familiar silver, red and blue silks were in the money on Saturday with his very own “war horse”, No Worries (Kahal), who ran second in the Gr.2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile.
In the previous race, Pioneer Spirit, the very promising son of Go Deputy had finished a respectable 5th place in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup. In the process taking home
R150 000, a far cry from the R35 000 he cost at auction. Brian was top buyer at the Sale, acquiring another 3 Lots including 38, 96 and 113.
Owner Michael Leaf is another relative newcomer to the sport who is also playing in the big league. Michael’s ultimate moment of glory was dealt a body blow when Wylie Hall lost the coveted Vodacom Durban July in the stewards room earlier this year.
Having won the race, the stewards came to the decision that Wylie Hall had caused enough interference to the eventual winner, Legislate, to be demoted.
Magnanimous in defeat, Michael has a few serious contenders in his armory this season and added Lot’s 15, the imported daughter of Star Witness and ex Zimbabwean mare, Battle Maiden, and 30, the other beautifully bred son of Captain Al. Both horses were signed for by long standing patron of Bloodstock South Africa, John Freeman who also bought, Lot 77, a son of King’s Apostle.
There is seldom a sale that passes without the buying activity of Adriaan van Vuuren and his family, the man who entered the South African bloodstock scene with a bang a few year’s back. Adriaan bought three choice Lots including the very popular son of Var, Lot 13 for R900 000, Lot 50 the beautifully bred daughter of Western Winter and, Lot 60, the daughter of Black Minnaloushe.
Joint Sales Topper! Lot 27 (Bernadini colt)
Sean Tarry got stuck in early, buying Lots 4 and 7, but kept enough powder dry to secure the strongly made son of Fort Wood, Lot 101, for R600 000. Sean was a frequent visitor to the TBA Sales Complex early in the week and his homework clearly paid off eventually taking home a quartet of 2015 Ready To Run graduates.
It was pleasing to see the now familiar team of Jehan Malherbe, Mike de Kock and John McVeigh in the company of Mary and Jessica Slack – Form Bloodstock took home 5 Lots including the very well bred daughter of Silvano, Lot 81.
Apart from an increase in average price and median compared with the larger 2013 catalogue, the most pleasing aspect of the Sale was arguably the strong middle market and diverse buyer’s bench indicating the depth and quality of the catalogue, and not least faith in the country’s oldest thoroughbred auction house.
Bloodstock South Africa’s loyal vendors deserve rich praise for preparing and presenting their horses in such a fashion and we look forward to growing the Sale in 2015.
