Two colts consigned by Wilgerbosdrift proved the joint star attractions at the second day of the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale on Thursday when fetching R2 million apiece.
Catalogued as lots 233 and 234 respectively, Inherit The Rain and Taking Silk topped Thursday’s session when knocked down to Form Bloodstock and Bjorn Nielson respectively.
Lot 233 – joint day 2 topper at R2 million (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Sired by ill-fated Equus Champion Soft Falling Rain, Inherit The Rain was produced by the winning Rich Man’s Gold mare The Heiress, which makes the colt a half-brother to 2 winners notably G1 SA Fillies Classic winner Athina, while the Silvano sired Taking Silk is out of dual winning Jet Master mare Themis –a half-sister to millionaire Kavanagh and hails from the family of US G1 winners Super Saver, Bluegrass Cat and Frost Giant.
With Thursday’s session including the start of the second session at the 2019 National Sale, trading remained solid, with steady interest in proceedings throughout.
One of the most positive aspects of the National Sale this year is the fact that the clearance rate remained on a par with 2018.
More than 20 yearlings have made R1 000 000 plus at the 2019 National Yearling Sale, with this tally including the record priced R9 000 000 colt.
Ashburton trainer Louis Goosen bought a Mauritzfontein consigned son of Highlands bred champion Soft Falling Rain out Carraig Anoair (IRE) for R900 000.
Soft Falling Rain’s son – lot 315 (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
He is closely inbred to Danzig and is out of a mare by champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock from the family of another Australian champion sire Last Tycoon, also the family of Cape Gr1 winning sire The United States and French classic winners Tie Black and Valentine Waltz
Soft Falling Rain was just nine years old at the time of his passing in September 2018 and had been expected to cover a full book of mares in 2018.
One of 16 G1 winners sired by unraced Danzig sire National Assembly, Soft Falling Rain was one of five winners produced by the winning Giant’s Causeway mare Gardener’s Delight. The latter also produced Gr2 Heineken Cape Stayers winner Let It Rain, Hong Kong scorer My Nephew Eric and the smart sprinter Splendid Garden. The latter, who has to date won six times, was placed in both the Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes and G3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap.
This is the same family as the breed shaping US champion sire Smart Strike, sire of current stallion sensations Curlin, English Channel and Lookin At Lucky.
On Day 2 160 lots were catalogued producing an aggregate of R21 955 000, with an average of R178 496. The median price was R150 000.
With Thursday’s session including the start of the second session at the 2019 National Sale, trading remained solid, with steady interest in proceedings throughout.
One of the most positive aspects of the National Sale this year is the fact that the clearance rate remained on a par with 2018.
Bloodstock South Africa’s Gary Grant was optimistic regarding the sale’s overall result, saying, “By and large, the sale held up well, albeit suffering marginal declines on the second day. In line with international trends, there has been good money for top prospects, with the lower end of the market proving to be rather softer.”
The third and final day starts in a few hours at 11h30.
Lots 401 to 565 will be offered.
