A colt by South African champion sire Silvano (Ger) took top billing at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale staged in Cape Town on Thursday. Offered as lot 99 by Drakenstein Stud, the bay was bought by Nicholas Jonsson for R3-million (£159,394/€187,124). He is the second foal out of Song of Happiness (SAf) (Giant's Causeway), a winning daughter of champion Captain's Lover (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}), who is herself a half-sister to Classic winner and triple Group 1 winner Ebony Flyer (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}). Jonsson had earlier in the session secured another son of Silvano from Drakenstein (lot 15) for R900,000 (£47,817/€56,137).
With similar numbers catalogued to last year's sale and just one fewer horse through the ring this year (215), figures took a tumble. With 117 sold for an aggregate of R40,180,000 (£2,134,762/€2,506,440), the clearance rate was 54.4%, down from 89.3% last year. The average wound up at R343,418 (£18,247/€21,422), plunging 21%, while the median dropped 16.7% to R250,000 (£13,284/€15,592).
Amanda Skiffington was in action as per usual at this sale and the British agent secured the joint second-highest priced lot, a colt by Rafeef (Aus) from Ridgemont Highlands (lot 145) for R2.2-million (£116,892/€137,208). The bay is a grandson of the G1 Manikato S. winner Piavonic (Aus) (Scenic {Ire}) and related to the G2 VRC Sires' Produce S. winner Von Costa de Hero (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). Skiffington also scooped up a colt by Silvano (lot 51) for R975,000 (£51,804/€60,808). Also reaching R2.2-million was Klawervlei Stud's colt by Gimmethegreenlight (Aus) (lot 174) who was hammered down to EI Bloodstock.
The top-priced filly also went the way of an international agent, with the New Zealand-based Ric Wylie signing for lot 120, a Trippi daughter of champion sprinter and stakes producer Val De Ra (SAf) (Var), for R1.65-million (£87,669/€102,906). Val De Ra's first foal was the listed-winning Miss Frankel (SAf) (Frankel {GB}).
Bjorn Nielsen, best known as the owner of the five-time Group 1-winning champion stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), was also in action in Cape Town, and he took home a colt by What A Winter (SAf) (lot 19) from the family of the great producer Fall Aspen for R900,000 (£47,820/€56,133).
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