CRS MARCH SALE ACHIEVES PREMIER RESULTS
Prices soared at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Thursday evening, when the March Yearling Sale kicked off to a remarkable start. The well attended auction, which took place in the glorious Cape Town weather, saw records fall and new highs achieved on what proved an unforgettable evening.
Drakenstein Stud who consigned Wreath Of Snow (Lot 85) looked set to be one of the stars of the show and so it proved. The Vercingetorix half-brother to Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot and classy stakes placed filly Symphony In White is a colt with a stallion’s pedigree, and he duly lived up to the high expectations surrounding him.
Bidding was fast and furious on Wreath Of Snow with Greg Bortz eventually prevailing, after laying out R9 000 000 to acquire the colt. The sales topping colt is out of the Captain Al sired Snowdance, whose five wins included triumphs in both the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Majorca Stakes, with Snowdance herself a granddaughter of the legendary Mystic Spring. Wreath Of Snow’s other notable relatives include none other than 2025 Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met and Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby winner Eight On Eighteen, as well as such champions as Bela-Bela and Rabiya.
Ironically, Snowdance’s close relative The Secret Is Out provided the second top lot sold on the first day of this year’s March Yearling Sale, with that Vercingetorix sired filly making R4.1 million. The progeny of star stallions Vercingetorix and Gimmethegreenlight dominated proceedings on Thursday, with the pair responsible for seven of the top ten lots sold on Thursday. Vercingetorix, South Africa’s Leading Sire for 2024-2025, was responsible for five yearlings who made R2 000 000 or more on Thursday, while Gimmethegreenlight yearlings made up to R2 100 000 on the first day of the March Yearling Sale. In total, Vercingetorix had 22 lots fetching R36.55 million, with the champion son of Silvano responsible for no fewer than 12 yearlings to fetch R1 000 000 or more.
Jonathan Snaith was the Leading Buyer, purchasing 23 yearlings for R21.7 million, with Snaith’s tally including a R2.8 million Vercingetorix colt (Lot 68) out of champion Return Flight, consigned to the auction by Klawervlei Stud, as Agent.
Klawervlei, acting as agent, enjoyed a wonderful sale on Thursday, and ended the day as the March Sale’s Leading Vendor. The Bonnievale based farm sold 27 yearlings for R24.55 million on Thursday, with their draft headed by a regally bred Vercingetorix filly (Lot 97) out of the Captain Al sired G1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship winner The Secret Is Out, who was knocked down to Darryl Yutar for R4.1 million.
A lively crowd including buyers such as the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Form Bloodstock and Mike and Mathew de Kock to mention a few were present. Buyers were treated with excellent food and free flowing wine, adding to the wonderful atmosphere surrounding Thursday’s sale. In addition, there was also plenty of excitement building towards Sunday’s Royal Race Meeting, with HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap favourite One Stripe featuring tenth in the latest LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2025, with the likes of Beach Bomb, Gimme A Nother and Isivunguvungu all shining overseas, the future looks very bright indeed for South African thoroughbreds.
The second day of the sale commences at 16:00 this afternoon, make sure you have registered for your buyers card and booked your seat.
A full list of prices and statistics for the March Yearling Sale can be found online at www.caperacingsales.co.za
