Bloodstock South Africa's National Yearling Sale, delayed from its original April calendar date, at last got off and running for its two-day stand on Friday. Topping trade during the opening session was Wilgerbosdrift Stud's Silvano (Ger) colt out of local wondermare Halfway To Heaven (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) (lot 185), whose first two foals are the triple Group 1 winner Rainbow Bridge (SAf) (Ideal World) and champion 3-year-old and five-time Group 1 winner Hawwaam (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}). Hawwaam had been a R1-million yearling purchase by Shadwell South Africa, but his full-brother far outpointed that pricetag when bringing R7-million (£312,679/€347,508) on Friday from Summerhill Equestrian.
In fact, it was sons of Silvano who dominated trade on the day, in the end responsible for the top four prices. Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock signed for the session's second and third highest-priced colts at R4.5-million (£201,008/€223,384) and R1.8-million (£80,390/€89,353): lot 106, a grandson of multiple champion mare Dancer's Daughter (GB) (Act One {GB}), and lot 186, whose dam is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Futura (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}).
John Freeman purchased the fourth Silvano colt, the only other yearling in the session to crack seven figures: lot 109, the third foal out of Group 2 winner Demanding Lady (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}) and half-brother to the G1 Cape Derby second Charles (SAf) (Trippi) made R1.3-million (£58,059/€64,533).
From 230 yearlings catalogued on the day, 158 were offered and 121 sold for an aggregate of R37,250,000 (£1,663,640/€1,849,127), an average of R307,851 (£13,749/€15,283) and a median of R150,000 (£6,700/€7,447). Comparative statistics will be published after Saturday's second session of the sale.
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