An Irish bred colt by Darley sire Singspiel sold for a record R3.60 million (AUD 522,565) during the first session of the 2010 South African National yearling sale on Friday night.  Bred to southern hemisphere time, the colt beat the previous record of R3.30 million paid for a Fort Wood colt in 2005.

Consigned by Highlands Farm, the Singspiel colt was knocked down to leading trainer Mike Azzie.  He is out of the G3 placed mare Alignment (Alzao) who is a half-sister to the dam of G1 English 2000 Guineas winner and former NZ shuttler Golan.

Alignment was trained by Sir Michael Stoute and was runner-up in the 1997 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood before going to stud.  She was sold to South African interests for 27,000 guineas (AUD 71,135) at the 2006 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.  

A Fort Wood colt brought the second highest price at R1.70  million (AUD 246,765) to Form Bloodstock.   He is out of Copper Horizon (Al Mufti) and is a half-brother to Listed winner Copper Parade (Lecture) who is one of South Africa’s top juveniles this season.

The top-priced filly on Day 1 was a flashy daughter of Jet Master.  The chestnut was purchased by Cape trainer Glen Kotzen for R500,000 (AUD 72,580).  She is out of stakes winning mare Capture the Wind (Al Mufti) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Enchanted Garden (Roland Gardens).

The first yearlings by Zabeel sire Grey’s Inn were headed by a colt from G1 performer Canterbury Tale who also made R500,000.  Grey’s Inn was a G1 winner of the Durban July, SA Classic, SA Derby and added a G3 in Dubai.  He also raced in Australia when a close fourth in the G1 Yalumba Stakes behind El Segundo despite being underweight and way below his best due to travel and quarantine regulations.  

Grey’s Inn stands at Graeme Koster’s Rosedene Stud at Karoo in the Western Cape.  Zabeel got him from the Christmas Tree mare Great Verdict and she is a half-sister to leading sire Zedative.

A total of 72 horses sold for an average of R323,286 (AUD 46,670) which was 5.5% up on last year.  The sale continues on Sunday and Monday when another 400 yearlings will go under the hammer.

Included among the last two sessions are yearlings by Australian sires and/or shuttlers Nadeem, Oratorio (Ire), Hussonet, Elusive Quality, Zeditave and Fusaichi Pegasus.

The 2010 South African yearling sale catalogue can be viewed at:   www.tba.co.za