Buyers get another bite at the internationally sought after Oratorio cherry with two sons of the globally respected stallion in the classy Avontuur quintet that make up ‘Pippa’s Picks’ for Friday’s Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale.
Avontuur bred Tripandie storms home under Avontuur-sponsored Anthony Delpech – check his half brother on the sale – by Silvano (#90)
The big boy Oratorio – affectionately named ‘O’ – needs absolutely no introduction.
The son of Danehill has consistently maintained his ranking in the leading sires lists in Europe and with 7 international Group 1 winners to his name, and a proven record of producing tough, sound, classic horses, ‘O’ has all the ‘inspectors’ keeping Pippa busy pulling his offspring out for viewing.
Oratorio – classic expectations!
Hopes are high that, as he has done internationally, Oratorio will produce the next generation of leading Classic horses in South Africa – and his bevy of dates over his first two seasons shows that breeders believe that he will – with his list of mares including some of our top performers.
His SA debut at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale in January had the market tagging the Oratorio babies with the ‘we want them’ label.
Berthwell Arosi and Joey Ramsden cast an eye over the beautiful Mardi Gras (#150) during a visit on Wednesday
“We have had a stream of visitors over these past two days of viewing. And I am chuffed with the feedback from some of the best eyes in the game – not that I needed any affirmation! I know the quality of athlete we are offering,” said an upbeat Pippa Mickleburgh of Avontuur’s stylish first entry into the Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale.
Pippa spoke to the Sporting Post after watching one of her ‘children’, Dean Kannemeyer’s Trippi gelding Tripandie rip through his field at Greyville to score a hat-trick of wins.
“He was a beautiful foal and we always felt he would go on and be smart. His owner Lady Christine Laidlaw certainly deserves the success she is enjoying. We are offering his half-brother (# 90) named La Scala (Silvano x La Normandie) who is also a half-brother to Normanz and Justin Snaith’s exciting 2yo Le Harve and expect lots of interest in him on Friday.”
Pippa remains steadfast in her sentiment that the stand-out for this sale is Lot 150, a flashy grey by Oratorio out of Gr 1 winner Sarabande, who is a beautiful specimen and exceptionally well-related.
Have you ever fallen in love? This is # 150 – Mardi Gras
The second son of Oratorio is Graduate (# 193) out of Varsity Queen from the family of achievers like Mastermind and Schiffer. He is rugged and handsome, and looks like a real winner.
Talk of The Town (# 177), is a smashing chestnut colt (Var x Street Wise) who is big and strong with a stallion’s pedigree. He has had his admirers – and it is not difficult to see why!
The legendary Avontuur hospitality will welcome you for viewing in the build-up.
The sale starts at 14h00 on Friday 15 April – see you there.
The catalogue can be accessed online.
