If the art of selecting a yearling depends on the good eye of the Buyer, then I wonder which of these racehorses you would have chosen as yearlings?
Here is your chance to test yourself.
These 15 yearling photos are from many years ago – some are the top sellers at the yearling sales, some were bought for little money, some turned out to be champions and some were failures.
What it shows is that good horses don’t know how much they cost and that champions can arrive from any part of the market place.
In the end, the choice is yours.
Identities are at the end.
You be the judge!
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IDENTITIES OF THE HORSES
- WOLF POWER gr.c. 1978 Flirting Around (USA) – Pandora
R35,000 Yearling. Champion Horse of the Year, 18 wins inc seven Gr.1, amongst them the
Queens Plate G1 and the Met G1. Successful stallion in the USA.
- REDRUTH b.c. 1975 by Marazion(GB) -Very Faithfil.
Ran 53 rimes for 4 minor wins.
- LAWN b.c. 1975 by Persian Wonder (GB) – Sweet Sudan.
The new record priced yearling 1977 at R71,000. 11 wins, inc the Laurel S. (now Daily News G1).
- MOCASSIN b.c. 1980 by Mexico II – Enjoy
Outstanding 2 year old, 7 wins inc the Smirnoff Plate (now the Gold Medallion Gr.1)
- ROTTERDAM b.c. 1975 by Jan Ekels (GB) – Saturna
Champion Sprinter, 11 wins inc Natal Flying Championship Gr.1, Gilbeys S. Gr.1
- BIG DAY b.c. 1980 by Plum Bold (USA) – Sofinisba (USA)
Top Priced yearling at R150,000. 2 wins, 1 place in 4 starts.
- DOUBLE DIAMOND b.c. 1980 by Folmar (USA) – Rum Baba
Raced 43 times for 6 wins including B division
- KRAKEN c. 1967 Drum Beat (GB)– Serpent
Champion 3 Yr Old in Transvaal, 8 wins in 16 starts, Benoni Diamond Guineas Gr.1.
- CHICHESTER b.c. 1966 Drum Beat (GB)– Sea Serpent
Champion 3 Year Old 12 wins inc the Queens Plate Gr.1 (twice), Cape Derby Gr.1.
- NOT SO BLUE b.c. 1975 by Jan Ekels (GB) – Blue Nun
Raced 62 rimes for 4 minor wins.
- TROCADERO b.c. 1967 by Drum Beat (GB) – Rhine Valley
Exceptional Sprinter, 14 wins, inc 6 Top division races, became a sire of Gr.1 winners.
- PEDLAR b.c. Persian Wonder (GB) – Vivandier
Champion winner of the Champion Nursery S. Gr.1 and SA Derby Gr.1. Sire
- MAZARIN b.c. 1967 by Preamble II (GB) – Nuns Story
R22,000 Yearling. Champion of his generation, 13 wins inc the Rothmans July Gr.1, Cape Derby Gr.1, Champion S. Gr.1, successful sire.
- CARADOC b.c. 1963 by Noble Chieftian (GB) – Rodcar
Champion Racehorse, 15 wins inc the Jhb Summer H Gr.1 and Durban Gold Cup Gr.1
- HAWAII b.c. 1964 by Utrillo II (ITY) – Ethane
R9,000 yearling. Champion of his generation, 21 wins in 26 starts in SA and USA, Champion Turf Horse USA. Sire in America.
