Champion breeders Klawervlei Stud sold eight lots at the CTS October Ready To Run Sale in Johannesburg at an average price of R511,000 per foal, more than double the Lot average for the entire sale.
More high average prices are likely as stud manager John Koster has consigned a number of impeccably-bred two-year-olds he is very proud of.
Among his favourites is Lot 52, a smashing bay colt by Western Winter from Main Emblem (National Assembly). This half brother to Captain’s Emblem is “beautiful, very smart,” Koster told.
Lot 83 is from the family of the top-class Pylon
One that “flies on the track” is Lot 83, Penultimate, a Captain Al colt from Fort Wood’s daughter Pin Number. He’s from the family of Flight Alert and Pylon and, not unlike his siblings, has “a fantastic action”.
Lot 18 is a chestnut filly named Judi Silvano, easy to remember and perhaps worth placing in the memory bank, even at this early stage. She’s by the superb Silvano from the superb broodmare Gypsy Queen, the dam of international Gr1 heroine Gypsy’s Warning, Gr2 winner Surabi and a host of other multiple winners. “Judi Silvano is high quality, all class,” Koster said.
“Here’s an interesting one,” Koster said in reference to Lot 27, a filly by VAR from Hide My Grades (USA). “She’s a half-sister to Joey Soma’s very talented Graduation Day. She’s 100% in all aspects and let me tell you she can skip along!”
Tsogo Sun Medallion winner Guiness
Another must-see is Lot 140, Rebel Alliance, a colt by Seventh Rock who reminds Koster a lot of recent Klawervlei-raised Gr1 sprinting aces Seventh Plain and Guiness. “He has the same build, the same conformation.”
Jet Master Stakes winner Thunder Dance is related to Lot 112
Lot 112 is Art Of War, a colt Koster would have renamed “Champion” if he had his say. “Art Of War is by a former Champion stallion in Western Winter from a Champion racemare in Shadow Dancing, who has so far produced a Champion in Thunder Dance and is herself a half-sister to Champion Captain All. You can’t ask for much more!”
John Koster
Last, but not least (and there are several more we couldn’t get to considering time constraints), Koster mentioned Lot 51, Magically, by Captain Al from the late Buddy Maroun’s exceptional sprinter Magic Filly. This is her sixth foal, she’s been threatening to throw a good ‘un and Magically may be it. “Captain Al fillies are gold as it is. This one is big and she’s good on the eye!” he concluded.
Pre sale gallops have been scheduled for today at 9am, with the sale itself being held on Friday, commencing at 1pm at Durbanville.
All graduates automatically qualify for a place in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes, which will be run this year for a purse of R2.5 million.
