Great Expectations.
Maine Chance’s Dynasty colt on his way to a 3 million pricetag for Shadwell SA
At what was certainly the best organised and most glamorous yearling sale ever in South Africa, buyers did their bit and bid big. The top price of 2013 may not have been bettered, but no less than ten yearlings made R2.5 million or more – compared to just three last year.
AWestern Winter colt and a Giant’s Causeway filly (both sold on Day One) and a Trippi filly (Day Two) shared the top price of 3.2 million. Marsh Shirtliff got the colt, who is the third foal of his Gr1 winning dam Zaitoon (by Count duBois), consigned by Maine Chance. The youngster’s sire and damsire are both from the Gone West sire line. The Giant’s Causeway filly was bought on behalf of Maine Chance’s Andreas Jacobs and Coolmore’s Christy Grassick in partnership.
The filly, consigned on behalf of Drakenstein and Team Valor, is the second foal of champion filly Captain’s Lover (Captain Al). The third of the top-trio, a Trippi filly, fell to a bid of trainer Joey Ramsden. She’s the second foal of Fort Wood mare Pagan Princess (half sister to Victory Moon). The mare has been a money spinner to consignor Klawervlei, as her yearling full sister made 2.7 million last year – that’s a cool 5.9 million for two in two years.
The second highest price of 3 million was also shared, by two colt and a filly (all sold on Day Two). Shadwell South Africa got a Dynasty colt, second foal of his stakes placed dam Jabulani Jive (Jallad), consigned by Maine Chance. Trainer Dennis Drier signed for a Speightstown colt, conceived to Southern hemisphere time in the US from an unraced Storm Cat mare.
The colt was consigned by Klawervlei, whose international exploits certainly paid off at this sale. They were also responsible for a 3 million Distorted Humor filly, bought by Chris van Niekerk. The youngster’s dam is by AP Indy and is granddaughter of Lassie Dear – dam among others of Al Mufti, and grandam of AP Indy.
The overall sale average was up 18% on last year (to 572k), the lion share contributed by fillies, whose average was up 34% (to 553k), with colts up 10% (to 586k). The median price, as always, was more revealing – 350k overall (same as last year), colts 400k (up from 375k last year) and fillies 300k (same as in 2013). This for 180 yearlings sold (vs 203 last year). The Book Two sale, to be held in March, gives a second opportunity for buyers to qualify for the CTS Million Dollar race in January 2016.
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