Graduates of various Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) auctions performed with distinction at the Champions Cup race meeting that drew the curtain on the 2015/16 season at Greyville on Sunday. Runners bought at CTS Sales won two of the three Grade 1 races and a Grade 2 contest on a programme of seven Graded events staged on the well-supported “Super Sunday” at the Durban track.
2015 CTS purchases Querari Falcon (Thekwini Stakes) and Gunner (Premiers Champion Stakes) highlighted the afternoon winning the pair of Grade 1’s for two-year-old fillies and colts, respectively.
Value buy Querari Falcon storms clear
Prominent owner Adriaan van Vuuren paid only R90,000 for Querari Falcon at the first CTS Two-Year-Old Sale, held in August 2015. She is the first Gr 1 winner from a proud new sale, also the first Gr1 winner produced by the promising Oasis Dream stallion Querari (GER), who stands at Main Chance Farms. Trained by Mike Azzie, Querari Falcon was bred by the late Ben Botha, son Arne Botha and family from their Crimson Waves mare, Pretty Waves. “She has a bright future,” said jockey Anthony Delpech.
Gunner was another shrewd purchase, snapped up for only R200,000 at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. Trainer Paul Gadsby loved Gunner as a specimen and a put the partnership of owners together, with breeder Hassen Adams keeping a share in the colt by Champion Freshman Sire Gimmethgreenlight, who stands at Varsfontein Stud. “I have bought more horses by Gimmethegreenlight,” told an excited Gadsby. “I think I’m in the right camp.”
Zodiac Ruler and Africa Rising (both sold at the CTS Ready To Run Sale, 2015), finished second and fourth respectively behind Gunnar in the Premiers.
A Womens Way – unbeaten and looks classy
The CTS show started early when 2015 Cape Premier Yearling Sale buys A Womans Way (VAR) and Arissa (Silvano) fought out the finish of the Gr2 Debutante Stakes over 1200m with victory going to the Duncan Howells-trained A Womans Way, bred by Avontuur Stud and bought for R500,000. Arissa, a R300,000 buy, was gallant in defeat and looks set to recoup her own purchase price in the near future.
Six-year-old gelding Helderberg Blue represented the 2012 CTS Premier Sale in the Gr2 Gold Cup. He ran a game race under 59,5kg, beaten into second by the improving Australian four-year-old, Enaad, who received 6kg from the Mike Bass runner.
*The CTS August Two-Year-Old Sale takes place at Durbanville Racecourse this Saturday, 6 August, starting at 6pm. Pre-sale drinks will be served from 4pm.
