The Robertson based Ridgemont Highlands will be bringing a superb draft of regally bred yearlings to this year’s Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.
Not only does this draft include yearlings by such stellar and exciting stallions as Dynasty, Gimmethegreenlight, Rafeef, Silvano and Var, Ridgemont Highlands will also be offering yearlings from some of the best families in the South African studbook.
Ridgemont Highlands – champion territory (Pic -Ridgemont Highlands)
Van Hunks (Lot 318) may just be the standout in this impressive draft –not only is this colt, sired by South Africa’s reigning champion sire Silvano, a full-brother to Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain, but he also counts Equus Champion, and exported Gr1 SA Nursery winner Cloth Of Cloud and Aquanaut Handicap hero Wonderous Climber as half-siblings.
Look Homeward (Lot 72) is a three-parts sister to Van Hunks, with this Silvano filly a daughter of Silver Mountain’s Gr1 Thekwini Stakes placed half-sister Careful Hiker, while yet another regally bred Silvano filly in this draft is Quiet Rebellion (Lot 75), who is from the immediate family of outstanding racehorse and top class sire Rock Of Gibraltar.
The farm’s deceased top sire Dynasty also has some smashing yearlings in the draft, including Sage King (Lot 370), a full-brother to high-class gallopers Smiling Blue Eyes and Sage Throne, and a half-brother to dual Gr1 winning Equus Champion Russian Sage.
Dynasty is also responsible for Rebel (Lot 233), a daughter of Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery winner King’s Temptress, as well as Conifer (Lot 376), a half or full brother to 4 winners notably Gr1 SA Oaks winner Pine Princess.
Resident sire, and Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner, Rafeef, has already impressed with his first yearlings this season, and the son of Redoute’s Choice has three lots in Ridgemont Highlands’ draft. His colt (Lot 24) out of the Al Mufti mare Arabian Secret is a half-brother to Gr1 SA Derby third placegetter Noble Secret and six other winners, while Shimmer (Lot 91) is a half-brother to 3 winners including KZN Guineas Trial victor Stream Ahead.
Rafeef (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Special Variety (Lot 457) is the only Rafeef filly in this draft, and she is out of the Var sired Milkwood Stakes winner Variety Star.
Red hot More Than Ready horse Gimmethegreenlight has three in this draft, namely a filly (Lot 73) from the same family as multiple Gr1 winner and promising young Cape sire Wylie Hall, a half-brother to Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes winner Red Chesnut Road, and a filly (Lot 416) out of the stakes winning Strong Scent.
Other attractive lots on offer include Savannah Winter (Lot 369), a What A Winter filly closely related to the Western Winter sired Gr1 winning filly On Her Toes, Walkonthewildside (Lot 443), a Var colt out of Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner Tiger’s Touch, and Team Gold (Lot 229). The latter is a Twice Over half-brother to four stakes horses notably the graded stakes winners Speedy Suzy and Olympic Owen.
As previously advised. the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale has been postponed from its original date of 22, 23 & 24 April 2020.
The proposed new dates are 20, 21 & 22 May 2020, but remain provisional and will be reviewed on 16 April 2020. This mirrors government’s target date for the evaluation of the situation surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.
