While the Dubai World Cup and Classic Day are two pressing short-term commitments for Mike de Kock, the multiple champion will also be eyeing an elite offering of 534 top-level yearlings catalogued for the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale at Riverside Stables from 9 to 11 April.
Mike de Kock – great success with this family
It’s a busy few weeks ahead and there will be one lot on the first Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to be held at the new state of the art Riverside Stables, that Mike will have pencilled in at the top of his shopping list.
De Kock has a terrific track record with his Australian purchases and after his recent buying activity at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, he will no doubt have his heart set on Lot 259 at the Easter Sale.
Lot 259 – looks likely to get the hearts afluttering!
He is a handsome Redoute’s Choice colt out of former SA Horse Of The Year National Colour, being offered by Arrowfield Stud.
National Colour won 8 races from 1000m to1200m in SA, UAE & UK.
De Kock has a strong affinity with this family – he has trained this yearling’s two Gr1 winning brothers, who were purchased at this sale.
Rafeef – horse of the season
They are exciting new Highlands stallion Rafeef and breathtaking 3yo Mustaaqeem, both Gr1 winners racing in the famous Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum blue and white.
Labelled the ‘Thunder From Down Under’, Rafeef was purchased by Shadwell Australia for A$800 000 at the 2014 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. He won 6 races from 1000m to 1400m at 3 to 4,and achieved a highest official rating of 116. His victories included the Gr1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m and the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes run over 1400m.
Rafeef was crowned Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Horse at the 2017 Highveld Feature Awards
Gr1 runaway winner Muustaaqeem
The younger Mustaaqeem, an A$1,7 million buy, has won two of his three starts, including a rout in the 2017 Gr1 SA Nursery. He was beaten on his return to racing last month after a nine month rest, and when in obvious need of the outing.
The Easter catalogue is now available online – click here
It includes 38 siblings to Gr1 winners such as Catchy, Starspangledbanner, Mighty Boss, Shoals, Buffering, Mossfun, Lankan Rupee, Flying Artie, Press Statement, Sebring, English, Shooting To Win, The Quarterback and Lucia Valentina.
There are also progeny of 31 Gr1-winning mares including Peggy Jean, Secret Admirer, Amanpour, Go Indy Go, Plucky Belle, Norzita, Sacred Choice, Snitzerland, Bonaria and Steps In Time.
Snitzel – 64 lots
Super stallion Snitzel is the leading sire with 64 progeny, while I Am Invincible (41), Fastnet Rock (39), Sebring (34), Redoute’s Choice (23), Pierro (21), Dissident (20), Not A Single Doubt (19), Exceed And Excel (17) and Deep Field (16) round out the top 10.
There is, as always, a strong international flavour to the catalogue, this year headlined by three outstanding Deep Impact fillies, three Tapits and two Frankels.
Arrowfield Stud is leading vendor with 51 entries ahead of Coolmore Stud (39), Widden Stud (30) and Kitchwin Hills and Segenhoe Stud (24).
Arrowfield also offer the first yearling in the world to be sold at public auction by the dual Gr1-winning Japanese stallion Epiphaneia.
The sale will begin with an afternoon session on Monday April 9, with approximately 120 Lots to be offered from 2pm on Day 1. The next two days begin at 11h00.
