The bay colt, named Torre Del Oro and sold by Ian Heyns, is the second foal of the Fort Wood mare Fort Sylvia who comes from a strong American family with a host of Group 1 winners close up – notably Dayjur.

The price was more than twice the next highest and the Cape Thoroughbred Sales chairman also bought the third top lot, Daytona’s Dynasty colt out of a full sister to the 2001 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Sport’s Chestnut. John O’Kelly, who also sold the sale-topper, brought the hammer down at R500 000.

Sean Tarry, Van Niekerk’s principal trainer, said: “I think he’s a very nice horse and we bought him at a nice price. Certainly, I am happy to have him.”

This bay colt was sold on Friday evening as was the Noordhoek Flyer colt from Graeme Koster’s Rosedene Stud out of four-time winning Western Winter mare Tin Legs. This one made R 600 000 and was one of seven yearlings bought by Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators.

Dominic Zaki, who will train him, said: “He is a very nice horse and, while I haven’t trained any of his relations, I do have a good two-year-old in my yard by Noordhoek Flyer.”

There was only one Captain Al filly in the catalogue – from Klawervlei out of four time winner Blingle Bells whose third dam is the 1986 Horse of the Year Enchanted Garden – and Hassen Adams went to R400 000 to get her.

He said: “I’ve been very lucky with Captain Al fillies and Darryl Hodgson kept putting his hand up for this one.”

Despite a smaller catalogue, the R118 945 average was 18% down on last year but sales boss Adrian Todd explained: “A number of horses which could have been on this sale have been sent to our Johannesburg yearling sale. However we still had a million rand horse which shows that you can get top prices for good horses at it.  Furthermore this sale is a vital part of the cog and has produced some very good value horses.”

Louis Goosen bought the most yearlings (13) closely followed by Nicola Coppez’s Balmoral Stud with 11. David Hepburn-Brown’s Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud sold the most (32) and Dynasty was the sire with the best average (R358 333) for those that sold three or more.

“We had that virus in the yard so we thought we would rather wait with him,” says Justin Snaith, explaining the absence. He believes the horse will be fit enough – “Definitely, and he is doing well.”

The drop in trip could be a problem, particularly against seasoned sprinters. After all, he is Jackson’s full brother and the impression he gave when winning over 1 400m last time was that the further he goes the better he is. “That was a slow run race,” his trainer points out. “But we want to see what he is like in a sprint and also I want to sharpen him up for the Durban season.”

Richard Fourie’s mount was raised 3kg for last time’s win and that shouldn’t stop him – he scored impressively – but the distance might and the 8-10 at which he opened with Betting World yesterday suggests it could pay to look for alternatives.

Mister Matchett (4-1) and Captive Action (10-1) have gone up 2.5kg and 1.5kg for recent wins, suggesting both could struggle to go in again. But Tiger Tiger may prove rewarding at 4-1 as he went close when dropped back to this trip last month and he runs off the same rating.

“We put him back to 1 200m because the pace hadn’t been on in his races over a mile,” says Paul Reeves. “He ran a nice race that day and we are sticking where the form is. He is doing very well.”

Snaith introduces the Singapore import My Son who is a 7-1 chance. “I have had him about four months,” says the champion trainer. “What surprised us was that he raced in Singapore off 82 and they have given him a rating of 95 here so we want to see how he runs.”

The handicappers say they contacted the director of racing in Singapore and were informed that the correct South African mark for the horse is 95.

Prize Peg ran well enough on debut to suggest she could be the one in the first and 35 minutes later Jet Air looks worth an interest. He was heavily backed on his Durbanville debut but lost several lengths at the start.

Captain’s Dove and Annigoni are the form horses in races three and four but the Brett Crawford/Corne Orffer combination have a good chance of collecting both with Amarillo Rose and Silver Snaffles.

“Silver Snaffles is a really nice horse in the making and, while he will probably want a bit further at some stage, I am expecting a competitive run,” says Crawford. “Similarly Amarillo Rose who improved from her first race to her second.”

The well-travelled and internationally respected Marwing appears to be a lot more careful with his choice of rides these days but the results have been positive. His strike rate continues to improve with nine of his last 14 rides earning a stake, including four wins.

Similarly, the Alexander stable have been selective with their runners and the Turffontein-based yard appear to be turning the corner with five of their last six runners finishing in the first four. However, visits to the winners box have been few and far between but that could change in the second tomorrow when they send out King And Empire to contest a Maiden Plate.

Similar to his yard’s recent fortunes, the son of Brave Tin Soldier has had a recurring habit of featuring in the boxes adjacent to the winner’s enclosure but the recent addition of blinkers appears to have solved the problem. King And Empire was a strong finisher when fitted with the equipment for the first time at the Vaal recently and he looks set to run a big race back at a more suitable track.

Any support for the improving Pataudi and Counterstroke should be respected but King And Empire’s experience, together with Marwing’s handling, is expected to give the Alexander runner the edge.

The pair combine again with Mr Mulliner in the seventh and the four-year-old gelding looks well-weighted, back in a handicap, based on his second to Exelero at level weights in a Graduation Plate last time out. Mr Mulliner is 5kg better off this time around for a four-length defeat. Add to that the services of Marwing, as well as a good draw of three, and a form reversal looks likely.

Marwing and Alexander also combine with the consistent Classic Illusion in the eighth, a Pinnacle Stakes over a mile, but the mare looks up against it at the weights which clearly favour the classy Arcetri Pink.

It’s rare to see Marwing ride for the Alexander yard but the timing of this collaboration appears spot on and it could pay to follow them at Turffontein tomorrow.

The betting suggests a wide open race with Honolulu a marginal 4-1 favourite. Mark Dixon’s runner has taken to the poly in her last two starts and can defy top weight however, Stirling Leaves was a touch unlucky behind Don’t Mention It last time out and can make amends. Flash McQueen showed promise before a lengthy break and any market support should be taken seriously.

Course and distance specialist Nitro Nori took an eight-point penalty for his last win that could put a spanner in the works as far has making it four wins on the bounce. Supreme Power gets the services of Anton Marcus but Glen Kotzen’s runner took a hefty penalty for beating Black Jaguar three runs back and his subsequent second to Nitro Nori saw another four added to his handicap mark which will make things even tougher. Firewood was tossed into a strong handicap first up out of the maidens and the drop in class here may make him the one to beat.

First Sea Lord caught the eye when third behind All Together Now at only his second outing and looks the part in the third as he steps up to a “mile”. Baltic Amber should prefer this trip and was not far off Firewood in his last start which makes him a big runner while Colchis has been knocking at the door for some time now and was only caught late last time out.

The Sir Juice Durban Progress Plate heads the card and Fly Peg Fly returns to the turf, having run all her races on the poly since the surface was commissioned back in August last year.

The switch back to grass does raise concerns but Paul Gadsby’s runner has exemplary poly form and should make a bold showing. She was up against the highly rated African Dream last time out and finished under two lengths to Mark Dixon’s charge after moving up smartly in the straight.

Four-claiming apprentice Nicholas Patel gets the leg up tonight and from a plum draw, Fly Peg Fly should be a big runner.

However, there are only seven runners carded and if the handicappers have added their numbers up correctly then recent Maiden winner Dreya’s Gold is the filly they all have to beat. She is rated 3,5kg better than the opposition and has a light weight with apprentice Jose Barnes taking 2,5kg off her back. Last time out she took on a very smart field of males in a Graduation Plate won by London Call and this field is arguably weaker.

Top weight Imperial Faberge has some useful sprint form but has not been out since December last year. However, horses from this yard seldom step out short of a gallop but if it comes to a really tight finish she may just be found wanting.

The seventh sees a couple of promising sophomores in action with Highway Explorer, Hunting Owl and Fortissimo seemingly the pick. Highway Explorer has been fitted with blinkers for the first time and there was a lot to like about his third behind London Call at Scottsville recently. Blinkers and a plum draw see him 12-10 favourite ahead of recent poly track winner Fortissimo on offer at 5-2.

Majmu is apparently not yet at her best and the decision has been taken by De Kock not to run her in the SA Fillies Classic. That opens the way for Sean Tarry’s charge, Siren’s Call, to stake her claim for the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara and the R1-million bonus that goes with it.

Siren’s Call won the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and will prefer the extra 200m but she could face a tougher challenge from Same Jurisdiction. In the Fillies Guineas she had to overcome a wide draw and also suffered interference. This time Duncan Howells’ charge has a very decent No 2 draw and Anton Marcus in the irons.

De Kock saddles Estidraaj, who scored an impressive win last time out but takes a jump in class.

Harry’s Son, winner of the Betting World Gauteng Guineas, will take his place in the Classic despite his No 17 draw, and is the only runner who is capable of claiming the R2-million bonus for winning SA Triple Crown.

Piere Strydom has retained the ride but there are stamina doubts about the Paul Lafferty-trained Australian-bred runner. Even if he does win the SA Classic it is questionable whether the connections will be tempted to try him over 2450m in the SA Derby on Saturday 25 April.

Ertijaal, impressive winner of the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby in January, will take his place in the final SA Classic field. He is another with a wide raw but over 1800m on the standside track jockey Gavin Lerena will have the opportunity to position his charge as they have around 400m of back straight before they hit the turn. In addition, based on the manner in which he won the Cape Derby, it would come as no surprise to see the Mike de Kock-trained runner go off to the front.

French Navy, a flying second in the Guineas, is well drawn at No 2 and will have many supporters over this extra 200m. Raymond Danielson retains the ride.

Only 16 runners can go to post for the race which means one runner has to be a reserve runner. Racegoers might find it strange that Unparalleled, the second highest rated runner in the race, has landed up in that position.

Unfortunately trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren did not declare his horse before the stipulated deadline. In terms of the rules his horse remains a declared runner but goes to the bottom of the pack. As more than 16 runners accepted, Unparalleled becomes the reserve and will only race if there is a withdrawal.

 

Final field for the R2-million SA Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m

1 – 17 HARRY’S SON (P V Lafferty) P Strydom 58.0 – 114

2 – 16 ERTIJAAL (M F De Kock) G Lerena 58.0 – 107

3 – 2 FRENCH NAVY (S G Tarry) R Danielson 58.0 – 105

4 – 1 MLJET (V H Marshall) M Byleveld 58.0 – 105

5 – 6 FOREST FOX (P A Peter) A Marcus 58.0 – 102

6 – 13 ILLUMINATI (W H Marwing) S Cormack 58.0 – 100

7 – 11 PRINCE OF ORANGE (R R Magner) G van Niekerk 58.0 – 99

8 – 10 MUTAMAKKIN (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 97

9 – 3 ARNISTON (J A Soma) …………… 58.0 – 94

10 – 15 DEPUTY JUD (M G Azzie) B Fayd’Herbe 58.0 – 94

11 – 14 GREEK LEGEND (M G Azzie) J P v’d Merwe 58.0 – 94

12 – 9 AMSTERDAM (P A Peter) I Sturgeon 58.0 – 88

13 – 5 DIESEL JET (E Verdonese) M Yeni 58.0 – 88

14 – 8 MAC DE LAGO (W H Marwing) W Marwing 58.0 – 86

15 – 7 RAMPANT ICE (W H Marwing) M V’Rensburg 58.0 – 86

16 – 12 FINCHATTON (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 58.0 – 83

Reserve Runners

17 – 4 UNPARALLELED (J A Janse van Vuuren) Reserve 1 58.0 – 112

Same Trainer: (2,8) (3,16) (5,12) (6,14,15) (10,11)

 

Final field for the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m

1 – 2 SAME JURISDICTION (D C Howells) A Marcus 58.0 – 110

2 – 7 SIREN’S CALL (S G Tarry) P Strydom 58.0 – 105

3 – 6 BANBURY (G H Van Zyl) B Fayd’Herbe 58.0 – 104

4 – 8 PINE PRINCESS (M F De Kock) G Lerena 58.0 – 103

5 – 3 TROPHY WIFE (S G Tarry) R Danielson 58.0 – 103

6 – 5 SMART CALL (A G Laird) W Marwing 58.0 – 101

7 – 4 SENSIBLE LOVER (W H Marwing) M V’Rensburg 58.0 – 99

8 – 9 TAMAANEE (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 58.0 – 99

9 – 1 ESTIDRAAJ (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 93

10 – 10 ZRINSKI (R R Sage) G Wrogemann 58.0 – 84

Same Trainer: (2,5,8) (4,9)

 

• Phumelela Racing