Just take a look at Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July field. They didn’t all cost the earth. Having a runner in the big one is every owner’s dream. To have a runner on the big day is an achievement in itself.
For the fourteen connections with runners in the KZN Yearling Sale Million, it’s the satisfying outcome of bidding on the right horse at the value-packed regional sale that gets under way at 12h00 today.
With a first cheque of R625 000 up for grabs, right down to the R25 000 for a fifth place, the 1300m restricted race is a golden incentive and a quick return on investment for a qualifying graduate of the 2018 sale.
And two R100 000 purchases from last year top the Sporting Post ratings for Saturday’s race. The Scott Bros bred Wave, a son of Mogok, who has already earned 150 percent of his purchase price and the Boland Stud bred Vercingetorix gelding African Warrior – a stakes winner who has earned 220 percent of his price tag, look set to fight out the top cheque.
Godoplhin Barb winner African Warrior cost just R100k (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Dean Kannemeyer, who trains African Warrior, told the Sporting Post that the gelding had proven a fairytale first runner for the DK Racing Syndicate.
“I love the Vercingetorix progeny and the youngster caught my eye the moment they pulled him out. They are always good buys when they win 2 of their first 4 starts – but he showed promise from early on and underscored the value and quality of this sale. Our syndicate are thrilled to have a runner on the big day and hopefully we can find another few of similar quality on Thursday or Friday at Sibaya,” he said.
We have said it before that there’s opportunity across the board – July fancy Eyes Wide Open, a son of Dynasty and a genuine sire prospect, cost R850k, while Magnificent Seven – unfortunately since scratched from Africa’s Greatest race – was acquired for R140k.
The sale honour roll includes the Gr1 winners Happy Valentine, Same Jurisdiction, Seal, and Wild One – and the most recent renewal has already produced a number of talented gallopers – including Kannemeyer’s graded stakes winner African Warrior and Twilight Moon, as well as smart recent Dahlia Plate victor Hooves Of Troy.
Find the full sale preview on www.sportingpost.co.za
Day One: Thursday 4 July at 12h00 : lot 1 – 158
Day Two: Friday 5 July at 12h00 : lot 159 – 289
