The inaugural Cape Town Premier yearling sale closed with across the board gains on Friday night.  The South African auction was conducted over two sessions in the city’s waterfront convention centre and attracted an active international buying bench.

Turnover reached R87.90 million at an average of R410,748.  The clearance rate was also satisfactory at 80%.  

Champion sire Jet Master headed the leader-board with two of his colts making R2.50 million.  The Jet Master – Laptop Lady colt was knocked down to Ebrahim Khan from the Klawervlei consignment.  

The Jet Master – Alexander Bi colt was part of the Varsfontein Stud draft and sold to Patrick Shaw who prepares champion sprinter Rocket Man.  “Horses like him are hard to find,” the Singapore-based trainer said.  “I’ve been very impressed by the sale.  It had a different atmosphere and I’ve seen a lot of new people here.”

Shaw’s Jet Master is a half-brother to South African G2 winner Pavlovich (Soviet Star) and Santa Anita G3 winner Alexandra Rose (Caesour).  He will be trained by Mike de Kock with a view to heading to Singapore if he makes the grade on home turf.

South African born Shaw signed for five lots for a total of R7.25 million.  He reinforced the sale’s trend of buying to feed the home market but with an eye on overseas riches.

De Kock will also train the younger sister to G1 winning mare Mother Russia after the Windrush – Russian Muse filly sold for R1.40 million.  He bought her for Mother Russia’s owner Mary Slack.  “She’s very like Mother Russia, but bigger and stronger,” Slack said.  “And just look at her paddock value, whatever she does on the racecourse.”

Sheikh Hamdan’s bloodstock agent Angus Gold bought six lots for R5.00 million.  Among them was a R1.20 million Western Winter filly who is a sister to Scottsville G1 winner On Her Toes.

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