Power Players and Bargain Hunters - National Sale Delivered For All
A record R207,8-million turnover at last week’s Bloodstock SA National Yearling Sale once again reflected the strength of South Africa’s major bloodstock buyers, with Form Bloodstock, Jonathan Snaith and Vermaak Equine to the fore. But it wasn’t only the big fish making waves. Smaller buyers were also in the mix and making their presence felt.
That balance is central to the identity of the National Sale, with Bloodstock SA CEO Michael Holmes welcoming a result that once again delivered for the full spectrum of the industry – ranging from leading farms to smaller breeders and buyers with varying budgets.
One of the more heartening stories came from veteran trainer Doug Campbell (82), who beamed with excitement after securing Lot 74 from Heversham Park Farm – the very filly he had come to buy. She will be named ‘Home Sweet Home’.
Above: Doug Campbell with Lot 74, Soqrat filly (image: supplied)
He said: “I am very familiar with this family and I was lucky to get her for R250,000. She is a beautiful specimen by Soqrat out of Kinematic Countess and her female line goes back to Combat Man (Lords), one of the first horses I trained back in the 1970s. I also trained Chase Me Home (Rocky Marriage), from the same family, and her daughter National Navigator (National Emblem) who won seven races.”
Doug’s shopping did not end there. He added another filly (Lot 162, One World) and a colt (Lot 181, Danon Platina) to his tally, the former coming about through a chance meeting on the sales grounds.
“I bumped into one of my former patrons, Stuart Macgregor,” he explained. “He bought this daughter of One World from Duncan Barry’s Riverton Stud. She’s nice too, and we are excited.”
Their new acquisitions will be broken in and prepared at the Campbell family’s Sugar Hill Stables outside Pietermaritzburg, where Doug and his wife, Di, have lived and trained for 56 years. While they have fewer horses to compete with these days, they have built up a solid client base for spelling and pre-training. Doug is still up for his regular duties at 4:30 each morning, while Di, now 81, continues to ride out daily.
Never short of humour, Doug made light of his years in the game. “More than 70 of my patrons have passed away in recent years, and owners seem to prefer younger trainers,” he said. “I can’t party as hard as I used to, but I can still train winners!”
Retired accountant Willie Coates joined forces with three friends to secure Lot 313, a filly by Eden Roc out of Bad Habit, from Blue Sky Thoroughbreds for R200,000.
“That was really all us pensioners could afford,” Coates said. “We nearly came away empty-handed. Everything on my list was snapped up. This was one of the last lots through the ring and the last one on the list. We got lucky.”
Coates, a close friend of the late trainer Barend Botes, said the purchase carried added meaning.
“Barend and I spent many hours studying pedigrees on the software programme he had developed so successfully,” he said. “I was born ‘BC’ – before computers – so while I took it all in, I tried to translate his system into my own way of working with numbers. I use a numeric chart to match stallions to dams and look for the less obvious, knowing most buyers will focus on the popular bloodlines.
“I selected this filly as a cross of the Storm Cat line over Silvano. Her dam showed good speed figures and her sire, Eden Roc, stamps his progeny. This one has substance so we’ll be crossing fingers. She will go into training with Roy Magner.”
Above: Lot 67, Rafeef filly, Paddy Kruyer (image: BSA)
The word “luck” certainly applies to trainer Paddy Kruyer’s purchase of Lot 67, a filly by Rafeef out of the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes winner Jo’s Bond, a daughter of reigning Champion Broodmare Sire Captain Al.
With Rafeef’s 29 lots averaging over R907,000, one could be forgiven for thinking the R225,000 price reflected on the BSA website was a capturing error early in the sale, but it wasn’t. Considering the celebratory drinks that flowed upon her acquisition, she is aptly named, ‘Vodka Martini’.
Robert Bloomberg, who retained a 50% share before assembling a six-member partnership for the balance within an hour of the hammer falling, explained the thinking: “I spotted her in the catalogue and, after I spoke with Paddy, he went to look at her a second time and said she had a lot of scope.
“Coming from a small stud like Ten Einde, we thought she might slip under the radar. I did think that Glen Kotzen (who trains her half-brother Connery) and Fabian Habib (who trains her full-brother Dante’s Bond) would have a dip at her, so I told Paddy he could go to R400,000.
“There are no guarantees in life bar tax and death, but she does seem like a ‘steal’ at 225k. With the natural speed that both Connery and Dante’s Bond have shown, Vodka Martini should come to hand early as well.”
Above: Lot 273, Erik The Red filly, Juan Nel (image: BSA)
Fairview-based Juan Nel acknowledged the going was tough in the auction ring, but still managed to come away with what could prove a value buy, also from Ten Einde Stud.
Nel secured Lot 273, Red Rain, an athletic son of Erik The Red – last season’s leading freshman sire – for R150,000, a figure that may yet look particularly sharp in hindsight.
He said: “Red Rain’s dam has thrown seven winners from eight runners, including Global Speak, a colt by One World that I’ve won a race with. He is a bit of a plodder, so if this one has just a bit more speed, I think he will win races.”
Trainer Grant Maroun came away with Lot 25 Eden Lass (Eden Rock, R200,000, Jabulani Stud) and Lot 175, an unnamed colt by Pathfork (Beaumont Stud), for R175,000.
“I bought Eden Lass for a couple of friends. She’s a nice solid filly from a good female line and I trained her sibling Soleil Royal (Daylami), who won seven races. The colt is a typical Pathfork, a lovely half-brother to Dubai Hills bought for owner Sitha Govender.”
Both youngsters have already checked in at Maroun’s Randjesfontein yard, where he personally oversees all spelling procedures, ensuring they settle and strengthen under his direct care.
Above: Lot 242, Danon Platina filly, Marwing (image: BSA)
At Turffontein, Weichong Marwing has welcomed four new additions to his yard, including a pair secured by his emerging patron, Michael Havenga.
Havenga went to R200,000 for Lot 80 (Macrath Stud), a filly by Kommetdieding from the family of Singapore Sling, and matched that bid for Lot 296 (Riethuiskraal), a colt by Master Of My Fate related to Super Quality.
Marwing commented: “Michael has already enjoyed Listed success with Diogenes in the Hawwaam Stakes and he finished fourth in the Derby. We’re keen to build on that. He’s really enjoying his racing, and we’re looking forward to more winners.”
Marwing closed a bid on two others he liked when doing his sales inspection. Lot 242 (Riethuiskraal) is an athletic Danon Platina filly from the close family of champion sprinter Carry On Alice, and Lot 247 (Blue Sky) is a solid Erupt colt out of the Listed winner, The Angelus.
Marwing said: “They are value buys, both nice. The Erupt colt looks like he will come to hand quickly. I’ll be putting syndicates together to race them. New owners are welcome to contact me.”