A filly described as the ‘perfect racehorse’ and a full sister to Durban July and Met winning people’s champion Kommetdieding topped the charts on Day 1 of the BSA National Yearling Sale on Friday when she was secured by Kestorm Investments for R3,2 million.
The only first day lot of the five-strong Oldlands Stud Nationals 2023 draft, Kommetjie Storm, a full-sister to one of our most exciting new stallions and a direct descendant of the great mare Queen Of Light, was the subject of spirited bidding before selling for R3,2 million.
Day 1 topseller – Kommetjie Storm (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
She is the highest priced Elusive Fort to sell at Nationals.
A delighted Prof Ian Sanne told the Sporting Post that the family’s Hermanus-based Oldlands Stud was marking their highest price at Nationals with the magnificent specimen. Their previous peak was R4 million for a VAR colt at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale in 2015.
He said that there had been a massive amount of interest in Kommetjie Storm, and that conformation-wise, she was the ‘perfect racehorse’.
A file pic of Barbara and Ian Sanne (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
It certainly is a fairytale circle of life story for the German-born Barbara Sanne who established Oldlands Stud with a handful of mares as a hobby in 1968.
Ian continues with the story of Friday’s topseller:
“Oldlands bred her dam Adorable and we always wanted her after she raced. But could not afford her – that is until she came up on an online sale during COVID. Mom immediately decided to have her covered by Elusive Fort, after she saw Kommetdieding win his first race. By the time he had won the Durban July she was in foal, and when he won the Met the foal was at foot with her mother!
He said that they could not decide whether to keep Kommetjie Storm or offer her for sale.
“We wish the Kestorm folks all the best with their purchase, and will offer her a home at Oldlands after racing!” said the delighted Prof Sanne, who added that the granddam Dacha (Russian Fox) was one of his Mom Barbara’s foundation mares.
“We thank Varsfontein for breeding Dacha. We are very proud and pleased. The sale certainly keeps Oldlands in business!” he added with a smile.
The highest priced colt of the day was the R2,4 million paid by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the unnamed Vercingetorix smasher offered as agent by the Boland Stud.
Groom Zolile Mfino couldn’t help but smile as his colt sold for R2,4-million to the Hong Kong Jockey Club (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The very athletic bay is bred on the same cross as Gr1 winner Vernichey and is out of Captain Al daughter Acaciawood, a Gr3 placed winner of four races, closely related to the smart Vercingetorix sired Wisteria Walk.
On a busy day, 201 lots sold for an aggregate of R82 270 000, with the average R430 733 and the median at R300 000.
Maine Chance kingpin Vercingetorix led the sire charts with his 22 lots selling for R19 700 000 at an average of R895 455.
Maine Chance were also the top vendor on aggregate, with their 15 yearlings grossing R7 925 000 at an average of R528 333.
On the vendor roll, Form Bloodstock wrote the biggest cheque with 13 acquisitions costing R11 230 000 at an average of R863 846.
See all the prices here.
The sale continues on Saturday at 10h00.
