Drakenstein have an exceptional draft of 23 yearlings (nine offered as agent) on offer at the 2018 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, which commences on Tuesday.
Drakenstein Stud (photo: Michele MacDonald)
Drakenstein Stud Farm comprises of 130 hectares of land situated on the lower slopes of the L’Ormarins Wine Estate. In 1688 Jean Roi, a Huguenot from Lourmarin, Provence, fled France and settled in the Franschhoek Valley where his name was soon changed to JannieRooi.
In 1694 he was granted this land by the Govenor of the Cape, MaurtisPacques de Chevonnes. From the outset it proved to be a bountiful and blessed farm. Today it is the home of Drakenstein Stud Farm.
The 2018 NYS draft includes yearlings by South African standouts such as Captain Al, Dynasty, Silvano, Trippi, Var and Drakenstein’s own What A Winter, as well as Newsells Park’s very exciting Galileo horse Nathaniel.
The latter, winner of both the Gr1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Gr1 Coral-Eclipse, made a devastating start to his stud career with his first crop producing 2017 Cartier Horse Of The Year Enable and four other stakes winners.
Nathaniel’s only lot on the 2018 National Sale is Rain In England (Lot 171) –a grey colt whose winning dam is a half-sister to South African champion Dancer’s Daughter.
Drakenstein’s champion sire Trippi has four lots in the draft. They include an own brother to Winter Derby hero Liquid Mercury (Lot 37), a full-brother to Gr1 Golden Horseshoe hero Afrikaburn (Lot 91), a colt out of Gr1 SA Oaks winner Ash Cloud (Lot 95), and a colt whose four time winning dam is a sister to Horse Of The Year Irish Flame (Lot 174).
What A Winter – top class
Another star sire standing at Drakenstein is four time Gr1 winner and current Leading Second Crop Sire What A Winter. The latter is sire of Winters Calling (Lot 117), a half-brother to the useful Cardinal Call, out of the smart, stakes placed winner of three Clarion Call.
Cartier Champion, and Drakenstein Stud resident, Duke Of Marmalade has seven smart yearlings in the draft. The proven classic sire’s lots include a colt out of a winning half-sister to Trippi sired Gr1 winner Deo Juvente (Lot 81), a filly out of a stakes placed Smarty Jones daughter of champion Circle Of Life (Lot 160), a half-brother to Cape Guineas second White River (Lot 175), and a colt out of a Gr3 daughter of Australian champion sire/broodmare sire Encosta De Lago (Lot 419).
Duke Of Marmalade also has a colt out of Gr3 winner Milden Magic (Lot 203), a colt out of Kahal’s millionaire daughter Mannequin (Lot 479), and a half-brother to eight time stakes winner Silver Bluff (Lot451), who hails from an outstanding family.
Duke Of Marmalade
Deceased champion sire Captain Al has a very smart colt on his hands in the form of Captain Zee (Lot 75). This colt is a full-brother to Irridescence Stakes winner Red Disa and Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Tick Tock (dam of promising 2yo William The Silent).
Reigning champion sire Silvano has a colt out of Jet Master sired stakes winner Star Jet (Lot 47), while European champion Twice Over has a filly whose granddam won the Listed Ladies Mile and hails from the same family as European champion Indian Skimmer (Lot319).
Outstanding sire Dynasty has Oscar Wilde (Lot 189)-a half brother to 3 winners and out of the Western Winter sired Equus Champion and multiple Gr1 winner Lady Windermere.
In-form sire Visionaire has a smashing half-brother to Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes winner Miss Katalin in the form of Magic Vision. This bay colt is out of the Jet Master sired Gr1 Empress Club Stakes winner Little Miss Magic and hails from the wonderful Miss Lindeman family.
Click here for the full story on the National Yearling Sale
Film clip courtesy of Andrew Bon
