Bloodstock South Africa’s monthly online sales serve a valuable function for the industry.
Oscar Foulkes writes that he believes that they should get a lot more accolades, perhaps even an outside shot at a Services to the Industry kind of award.
Online sales redistribute horses in training, from bigger training yards to smaller, between cities, and more.
Despite the tag ‘progressive’ not necessarily being applicable to most of the lots on offer, several graduates have gone on to bigger and greater things. Narina Trogon is a current example.
Progressive is a tag I’d certainly apply to Mister Speaker, our entry on the August online sale.
Mister Speaker (Cole Dicken) sheds his maiden at Fairview on 21 June 2024 (Pic – Pauline Herman)
When gelding released him from the pain of a partially undescended testicle, his form turned around completely. Just a few weeks after this he popped up in 2nd, and then two weeks later broke his maiden convincingly in open company.
His final start at two, from the widest draw in the listed Champion Juvenile Stakes, saw him run close-up to the raiders Makazole and Mauritius Kestrel. Both have stakes form in major centres, which underscores the merit of Mister Speaker’s fourth-placed finish.
I would expect him to need at least 1600m to be effective, most likely looking for 2000m, so the distance of the Champion Juvenile wouldn’t have been to his advantage.
Mister Speaker was born on 29 October, which suggests that he is going to improve a lot as he matures.
Mister Speaker at his Ready To Run Gallop (Pic – Supplied)
Through Makazole and Mauritius Kestrel, one can trace lines of form to the leading horses of this crop. So, even though he has started his racing career at Fairview, it indicates that he could have a future elsewhere as well.
Mister Speaker needs to do a lot more to be mentioned in the same breath, but let’s not forget that the likes of Bold Silvano and Lizard’s Desire started their careers in Port Elizabeth.
Mister Speaker already looks above average. For reasons of immaturity and expected stamina, he could be in line for outsized improvement.
This week’s auction is looking like a great opportunity to get a readymade racehorse. Mister Speaker is #61.
Please have a look at the catalogue here.
Each lot ends 1 minute after the previous lot from 12h00 on Wednesday, 7 August 2024. If a bid is placed within 1 minute of a lot ending, an extra 1 minute will be added to this lot until such lot is sold. Only one lot will be sold at a time.
Please note that there are AHS restrictions on direct movement into the Western Cape. Read more here.
Payment of all purchases is due immediately after the sale has concluded. Transport of horses must be arranged directly after the sale.
- The author Oscar Foulkes represents the vendor, Normandy Stud.
