The 2010 South African Vintage yearling sale held last weekend returned an average of R86, 425 (AUD 12,800) which was on a par with the 2009 figures.

Top price went to the Litchfield Stud’s Captain Al filly from the Lecture mare Wild Oak.  She was purchased by trainer Michael Roberts for R500 000 (AUD  74,045).

Captain Al is a Roberto line stallion and is a Champion 2YO Sire in South Africa.  The sale topper’s dam is a half-sister to the domestic G3 winners Hawthorn (Elliodor) and Forest Ivory (Al Mufti).

Trainer Joey Ramsden was the successful bidder for the Var – La Massine colt who was next on the leader board at R425,000 (AUD  62,935).  Var (Forest Wildcat) was a G1 winner of the Prix de l’Abbeye and his colt from Beaumont Stud is a half-brother to Rhythmically (Joshua Dancer) who was a Horse of the Year in Mauritius.

Litchfield Stud consigned the third highest sale graduate with its National Assembly colt out of Imperial Guest for R375,000 (AUD  55,530).  He was on of 10 buys for trainer Mike Bass.

There were several Australian bred mares with yearlings at the Vintage Sale and Bass bought the dearest when he paid R220,000 (AUD  32,580) for the National Emblem – Discover Diamonds colt.

Bred in December 2008, the chestnut colt is by National Emblem, a G1 winning racehorse and sire from the Danzig sireline.  The colt dam’s is Marscay mare Discover Diamonds who was a G2 winner of the Sceptre Stakes.  She was also placed in four G1 Events.

Her most successful foal to date has been Diamond Quest (Saumarez).  He was a G1 winner in South Africa and also won in Dubai.  Second dam Be Brilliant (Planet Kingdom) was an unraced half-sister to VATC 1000 Guineas winner Kapalaran Showdown).