Christmas may be over for another year, but for buyers and vendors alike, this only means one thing. The final countdown to the 2014 Cape Premier Yearling Sale has begun. In an unprecedented move, CTS stunned the thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industry in October this year, when announcing Africa’s richest race for graduates of the 2014 Cape Premier Yearling Sale and the 2014 CTS March Yearling Sale.

With a staggering value of $1 000 000, the race far surpasses the current richest race in Africa, the R3.5 million, Vodacom Durban July. The CTS Million Dollar race is scheduled to be run over 1400m at Kenilworth Racecourse in January 2016 and for a buy in of a mere R5000 per horse, buyers can look forward to an extraordinary return on investment. Prize money is apportioned over the first five places, with the winner receiving $500 000, 2nd place $200 000, 3rd $150 000, 4th $100 000 and with $40 000 to the 5th placed horse. The vendor of the winning horse will receive $10 000 as well.

Two hundred and two select lots will be offered for sale and after the announcement of the CTS Million dollar race, the catalogue has been eagerly awaited. A sneak preview shows that there are forty-three stallions represented, with a good cross section from well established to first season sires. Popular 2013 Champion sire, Silvano(GER), is well represented by 25 yearlings, while Western Winter(USA), who was sadly lost this year, has nine yearlings on offer. Dynasty, with his magical first four home in the Gr.2 Selangor Cup at Kenilworth recently, is represented by 16 yearlings, while speed sensation Var(USA) goes one better with 17 yearlings on offer.

Var getting ready for morning turnout

Captain Al (21), Trippi(USA) (18) and Count Dubois(GB) (12) can be counted on to produce champions and are all well represented. New sire sensation Judpot(USA), who was crowned 2013 Equus outstanding stallion, has four yearlings on offer and buyers are likely to be fighting over those. Seventh Rock(AUS), who has had two impressive winners from two runners, is appropriately represented by seven yearlings, while globe-trotting Jaypeg has nine yearlings flying the flag.

Only three first season sires, Great Britian(GB), Querari(GER) and Warm White Night have yearlings on offer including a colt by Great Britain that is sure to get the catalogues waving. Out of Balabos(USA), the bay colt, consigned as Lot 42 by Highlands Farm Stud is a half brother to the exciting juvenile Antonius Du Bois. Antonius Du Bois won the Gr. 3 Langerman before travelling to Port Elizabeth where he accounted for the Gr.3 Champion Juvenile Cup in a facile fashion.

Interestingly a number of overseas-based sires are also represented in the catalogue. Distorted Humor(USA) sire of Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide(USA) and recently imported Pathfork(USA) has three yearlings on offer and it is Lot 184 that is likely to have buyers drooling. A chestnut filly out of the A.P Indy mare Seattle Weekend(USA) from the sire producing family of Lassie Dear(USA), Lot 184 is consigned by Klawervlei Stud and sports the likes of stars such as Duke Of Marmalade(IRE) and 2013 Investec Derby winner Ruler Of The World(IRE) in her pedigree.

Other overseas sires include Tapit(USA), Danehill Dancer(IRE), Giant’s Causeway(USA) and Speightstown(USA), one of North America’s leading sires of 2012. Germany has been in the news recently with outstanding performances from the likes of Danedream(GER), Pastorius(GER) and Novelist(GER), so a colt by German sire Tiger Hill(IRE) and a filly by Sabiango(GER), Silvano’s half brother are not to be overlooked. Talented racehorse Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) is another with a very exciting representative. Lot 169 is a bay filly out of Pure Perfection(IRE), a half sister to the sire King’s Apostle(IRE), who himself has four yearlings on offer.

- Liesl King

Sabiango at Gestut Faehrhof