BSA NATIONAL YEARLING SALE ’26
16 & 17 APRIL
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Ascot Stud
Benmarne Stud
Blue Sky Thoroughbreds
BSA
Bush Hill Stud
Camargue Stud
Clifton Stud
Drakenstein Stud
Eden Roc
Klawervlei Stud
Kuda
KZN Breeders
Maine Chance Farms
Moutonshoek
Narrow Creek Stud
Ndoro Stud
Paardeberg Stud
Riverton Stud
Sandown Stud
Soetendal Estate
Summerview Stud
Varsfontein Stud
Vercingetorix
On the cover Flashback to last year at Nationals – A Clifton Stud-bred son of Declarationofpeace and his passionate Groom. Image kind courtesy of Candiese Lenferna.
‘Hopefully,
you can catch that lightning in a bottle again. 4400 registered foals, and only 16 or 18 of them make it to the Derby’
— John Sosby, manager
of Claiborne Farm.
Set to take place at the TBA Complex from April 16th to 17th, the 50th BSA 2026 National Yearling Sale has attracted the cream of the crop from many of our top breeders.
The first 230 of the 376 lots on South Africa’s oldest premier yearling sale will be sold on Thursday April16th, where trading commences at 10h00, with the remaining yearlings to sell on the following day, where the sale will, once again, begin at the same time.
Alumni of past National Yearling Sale graduates have, once again, been dominant in feature races around the country with recent Gr1 winners purchased off the National Sale including Cosmic Speed (Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes), Fire Attack (HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge), Legend Of Arthur (TAB SA Derby), Mia Moo (South African Fillies Sprint), October Morn (South African Fillies Sprint), Oriental Charm (Hollywoodbets Durban July), and Wish List (Cartier Paddock Stakes, Lucky Fish Cape Derby).
South Africa’s reigning Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen is another National Sale star, with the son of Lancaster Bomber knocked down for R700 000 at the 2023 National Yearling Sale.
Top stallions represented at the National Sale in 2026 include Gimmethegreenlight, Legislate, Master Of My Fate, One World, Querari, Rafeef, Vercingetorix and What A Winter, while exciting Australian based stallions Tassort and Wild Ruler, and sensational Darley sire Blue Point, are also represented at the auction.
A number of exciting young stallions will be represented by their first National Sale yearlings, with this number headed by Digital Age, Eden Roc, Got The Greenlight, Jet Dark, Kommetdieding and Master Archie.
Enjoy our lot-by-lot snapshot by clicking here!
A busy time for South African racing’s stakeholders | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
FROM KLAWERVLEI HOMEBRED STARS
Multiple champion breeders, Klawervlei Stud, bred a pair of sire stars in the form of One World and Vercingetorix.
The farm will be offering some exceptionally well-bred yearlings sired by these Equus Champions at the 2026 National Yearling Sale. South Africa’s reigning champion Vercingetorix, whose yearlings have made up to R9 000 000, has four yearlings on offer.
Vercingetorix’s quartet includes a colt (Lot 133) bred on the same cross as Gr1 winners Double Grand Slam, Mia Moo and Vernichey, as well as a filly (Lot 290) out of a winning half-sister to champion, and G1r Cape Fillies Guineas winner, Just Sensual.
Met winner and Equus Champion One World has made an excellent start to his stud career, with his remarkable first crop headed by globetrotting champion One Stripe.
The son of Klawervlei’s late, great sire Captain Al has three well-bred yearlings on offer.
One World’s trio are headed by a colt (Lot 23) whose Gr3 placed dam is a sister in blood to Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas winner Front And Centre, and a colt (Lot 235) out of a four time winning daughter of Silvano. This colt is bred on the same cross as multiple G1 winner, and Equus Champion, One Stripe.
Other attractive prospects to be found in this draft include the Gimmethegreenlight colt (Lot 53) , whose dam is a winning half-sister to Vercingetorix, and the Gimmethegreenlight colt (Lot 334) , whose Gr3 placed dam, Cashel Palace, is a half-sister to multiple Equus Champion Celtic Sea.
Klawervlei’s draft for the National Sale can be found in Block H at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
NATIONAL EXCELLENCE VARSFONTEIN’S
Even by their high standards, Varsfontein Stud will be offering a top-class consignment at this year’s National Yearling Sale.
Their draft includes yearlings by their own top-class resident stallions Erik The Red, Gimmethegreenlight and Master Of My Fate, and also by such standout sires as Digital Age, Fire Away, Jet Dark, Rafeef, The United States and champion sire Vercingetorix.
Another impressive feature of this string is the quality of broodmare and racemare represented, with many of South Africa’s top thoroughbred families having representatives in Varsfontein’s National draft.
The farm’s multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight has some exceptionally wellbred yearlings on offer.
They include Three Green Lights (Lot 114), a full-brother to Listed Sophomore Sprint winner Green Gateway and three-parts brother to Listed Schweppes Cape Fillies Classic winner Give Me Everything, Its A Me Mario (Lot 150), a halfbrother to Equus Champion and multiple Gr1 winner Double Grand Slam, Cryptogram (Lot 191), a full-brother to this season’s Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes winner Gimme What I Want, and Mary Of Modena (Lot 206), a filly out of Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner Silvano’s Pride.
Champion sire Vercingetorix looks set to be crowned South Africa’s sire yet again this season, and he has three lots on offer. The champion’s trio includes Sent Flying (Lot 195), a
filly, closely related to champion Double Grand Slam, out of Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner Sentbydestiny, and a half-brother (Lot 123) to Listed Irridescence Stakes runner up Electromagnetism from the same family as Northern Dancer.
Varsfontein’s resident sires, and close relatives, Erik The Red and Master Of My Fate, are two other prominent sires with well-bred yearlings to be found here.
Erik The Red, whose first two crops have both yielded at least one graded stakes winner, is responsible for several well-bred yearlings, including Officerofthewatch (Lot 97), a half-brother to Gr3 HSH Princess Charlene Stakes winner One Night In Paris, and Jux Be Good To Me (Lot 71).
The latter, a half-sister to dual Listed winner Daimyo, is out of Gr1 SA Fillies Classic/Gr2 SA Oaks winner Juxtapose, a half-sister to the dam of champion Golden Palm.
The latter was sired by Varsfontein’s hugely successful sire Master Of My Fate, who has some choice lots on offer at this year’s National Sale. They include Postmaster General (Lot 44), a halfbrother to the stakes winners My Best Shot and Questor, Masterofthedance (Lot 138), a colt out of Gr3 Cape Racing Champagne Stakes winner Phil’s Dancer, and Show Master (Lot 268), a colt out of a three time winning half-sister to champion sprinter Russet Air.
Varsfontein’s draft can be found in Blocks A, B and C at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
BUYING A FAB FIRST FOAL?
It is no secret that there are those who shy away from buying first foals - yet history shows that many have gone on to great success on the racetrack!
What do Gr1 winners Kingdundee, Tin Pan Alley and Golden Palm have in common besides class and talent? Easy, all three are the first foals of their dams.
This year’s National Yearling Sales is almost upon us and an analysis of the catalogue shows up 51 mares who will be represented by their first foals!
In fact, the sale kicks off with a first foal, an Act Of War colt out of Gr2-placed Electric Surge.
It is no secret that there are those who shy away from buying first foals - yet history shows that many have gone on to great success on the racetrack.
In addition to the Gr1-winning trio mentioned above, there are such notables as Horse of the Year recipients Rainbow Bridge and Futura, champions Nother Russia and Gimme A Prince, Dunford (Durban July), Past Master (J&B Met) and Snow Pilot (Gr1 Cape Guineas), to mention but a few.
This year’s bunch of first-time mums also features a number of stakes-winning mares, with pride of place going to Dynasty’s accomplished daughter Desert Miracle.
Trained by Mike de Kock for her breeder Mary Slack, she scored at Gr1 level not once, but twice. In the Majorca Stakes, she spoilt the party of no
less than Horse of the Year Captain’s Ransom, who was hotly favoured to make it a third consecutive Majorca success.
The Wilgerbosdrift homebred registered her second Gr1 success in spectacular fashion, coming from stone last to claim the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes from now American-based Feather Boa.
It was a case of ‘breeding the best to the best’ when Wilgerbosdrift sent Desert Miracle to the court of champion Vercingetorix first time round, and on offer in Johannesburg will be the result of that mating, the colt Sahara King (Lot 365), who is guaranteed to draw plenty of admirers.
Mauritzfontein selected Gimmethegreenlight as the first mate for their accomplished Gr2 winner, the Silvano mare Marina, the resultant foal being the colt Starboard Glow, which has been catalogued as Lot 94.
An own sister to champion and Durban July winner Marinaresco, Marina likewise raced from the Bass stable and retired to the paddocks a millionaire and winner of ten races, five of which at stakes level. Her finest hour came in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet at Hollywoodbets Greyville at four, where she scored by over two lengths. Twice victorious in the Gr3 Victress Stakes, she missed out on a Gr1 success when second in the Garden Province Stakes.
Gimmethegreenlight also features as the sire of Drakenstein colt Valleyofdesolation (Lot 141), the first foal of Gr2 winner Pink Tourmaline. As befits a daughter of Futura, she showed plenty of stamina, winning both the Gr2 Track & Ball Oaks and Listed Jamaica Handicap in the familiar Drakenstein silks.
Third to Pink Tourmaline in the Gr2 Track & Ball Oaks was Silvano’s blue-blooded daughter Silver Maria, who likewise visited Gimmethegreenlight in her first season at stud, the result of which a filly with tremendous paddock value. Named Gimme Maria, she will be offered by Lammerskraal Stud as Lot 208.
Bred on the proven Silvano x Jet Master cross, Silver Maria is out of Gr1 winner Viva Maria, whose half-brother Warrior’s Rest won the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint and was runner-up in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint.
Another Gr2 winner set to be represented by her first foal is the Flower Alley mare Bold Fortune. She came into her own at four and after winning the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap, made the step up to Gr2 level by denying paternal half-sister Perfect Witness in the Ipi Tombe Challenge, the pair finishing well clear of champion Rain In Holland. Her first foal, a grey filly by Danon Platina, is catalogued as Lot 323.
Gimmethegreenlight’s barnmate Master Of My Fate counted amongst his 2023 mates the maiden mare Phil’s Dancer, a daughter of Philanthropist and Ruffian Stakes winner Velvet Hue. Like her dam, Phil’s Dancer was an accomplished sprinter, her signature victory coming in the Gr3 Champagne Stakes. Now a member of the Varsfontein broodmare band, her first foal, aptly named Masterofthedance (Lot 138), is a member of yet another high-class draft offered by the prominent Cape stud.
Buyers will have to look sharp, for Lot 8 will be the very first yearling by champion Jet Dark to step into the sales ring at the National Sale. The
son of Trippi made a spectacular debut at last month’s Race Coast Cape Premier Yearling Sale, where he was by far the leading first-season sire, returning a whopping average of R877 500.
His Beaumont Stud-consigned son is also the first foal out of Epsom Girl, who landed the Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery as a juvenileremarkable, given that she is by SA Derby winner Pomodoro, while her dam Epsom Downs won the Oaks Trial!
An October-foaled bay, the Epsom Girl colt also boasts an intriguing pedigree, given that he is inbred to the great Jet Master, who features as the broodmare sire of Jet Dark and as the sire of Pomodoro.
Lammerskraal Stud’s first Lot of the sale is Lot 22, a colt by Rafeef. Named Star Reef, he is the first foal out of Listed Stakes winner Follow The Star. Trained by Glen Kotzen, she was a typical, late-maturing daughter of Silvano, winning the Listed Glenlair Trophy at age five before chasing home Marina in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet.
It would be remiss not to make mention of two first foals whose pedigrees are beyond reproach, albeit that their dams lacked racing form.
Wilgerbosdrift consigns the well-named colt Godsend (Lot 31). He is by first-season sire Digital Age, out of the Querari mare Gift From Heaven, a placed half-sister to abovementioned Rainbow Bridge and his Gr1 winning half-brothers Golden Ducat and Hawwaam.
Hawwaam features as the sire of Mauritzfontein’s Sargent Cherry (Lot 33), whose dam Gimmethecherry is an unraced half-sister to none other than Horse of the Year in Summer Pudding.
PAARDEBERG POWER!
Paardeberg Stud recently announced that they had acquired the exceptionally bred Kikkuli for stud duties.
One of the best-bred stallions standing at stud anywhere in the world, Kikkuli looks to be an exciting addition to the South African stallion band. By the once beaten Kingman, and a half-brother to the unbeaten champion and champion sire Frankel, Kikkuli showed smart form, running second in both the Gr3 Jersey Stakes and Listed Chasemore Farm Stud Staff Heron Stakes.
Paardeberg also stand the 2018 Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Expert Eye, and will be offering eight classy yearlings at this year’s National Yearling Sale. Their consignment consists of lots sired by the likes of Jet Dark, Malmoos, Master Of My Fate, Rafeef, The United States and What A Winter, making it a must-see!
Champion and five time G1 winner Jet Dark has two members of his first crop on offer,
including Blanche Louise (Lot 124), a halfsister to G3 Byerley Turk winner Strawberry Bear. Symbol Of Fate (Lot 307) is another attractive prospect -she is a Master Of My Fate filly out of the smart Silvano mare Arissa.
Master Of My Fate’s close relative Malmoos is represented here by Radium Girl (Lot 92), a filly from the family of such top-class fillies as Little Miss Magic, Tara’s Touch and VJ’s Angel.
Other appealing lots include Hornung (Lot 110), a Rafeef half-brother to the stakes placed Priscilla Maisey, and Fine Emerald (Lot 5), a What A Winter filly from the family of legendary stallions Sadler’s Wells and Nureyev.
This draft can be viewed from Blocks D and E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
THE MRS’ HALF-SISTER SHOULD BE A HIT!
There is no doubt that the brilliant Mrs Geriatrix was one of the finest two-year-old fillies seen in South Africa for many a year
The daughter of Vercingetorix out of the mare Velvet Glove won all of her five starts at two, with Mrs Geriatrix’s winning streak including wins in all of the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship, Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper, Gr2 World Sports Betting SA Fillies Nursery and Listed Ruffian Stakes.
Clifton Stud, the breeders of this wonderful filly, will be offering a Danon Platina half-sister (Lot 263) to Mrs Geriatrix at the 2026 National Yearling Sale.
Named Silk And Satin, the filly in question is out of the Kahal mare Velvet Glove, a full-sister to Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge winner Prince Of Kahal and half-sister to fellow graded stakes winners Fort Vogue and Whatalady.
Clifton Stud will also be offering yearlings by such popular sires as Eden Roc, Fire Away, Hawwaam and Malmoos at this year’s National Sale.
Potential standouts include Hawker Hotspur (Lot 47), a Malmoos filly whose stakes-placed dam is a full-sister to dual stakes winner Matador Man, Search For Gold (Lot 96), a Fire Away colt out of Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift S A Fillies Classic runner-up Marygold, and Snow Fire (Lot 354), a Fire Away half-sister to Gr3 New Turf Carriers Merchants winner Mount Pilatus.
This draft can be found in Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
INTERNATIONAL QUARTET BOOST NATIONALS
There will be an international flavour to this year’s National Yearling Sale. A quartet of stallions standing outside of South Africa have yearlings catalogued.
Darley stallion Blue Point – sire of Nationals Lot 72, a filly out of a dual stakes-winning daughter of high-class US sire Munnings
Credit: Darley
Star sprinter Blue Point is responsible for a filly (Lot 72) out of a dual stakes winning daughter of high-class US sire Munnings (Speightstown).
A son of outstanding sire Shamardal, Blue Point was an exceptional sprinter, whose 11 wins, from 20 starts, including two runnings of the Gr1 King’s Stand Stakes, the 2019 Gr1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, and 2019 Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint.
Blue Point made an immediate impression at stud, with his first crop headed by the Gr1 winners Big Evs, Kind Of Blue and Rosallion, with Big Evs and Rosallion both now standing at stud. To date, Blue Point has been responsible for 30 stakes winners with his offspring having earned more than $40 000 000 in stakes.
The lightly raced Tassort is represented by a filly (Lot 308) out of a Choisir half-sister to multiple Australian Gr1 winner Danleigh.
A grandson of multiple Australian Champion Sire I Am Invincible, Tassort won his first start, the ATC Golden Gift by over five lengths, before finishing second, on his only other start, in the Gr2 ATC Silver Slipper.
A half-brother to Gr1 winners Astern and Alizee, Tassort made his mark with his first crop producing Gr1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Manaal and Gr2 ATC Silver Shadow Stakes winner Ameena. Tassort ended the 2023-2024 season as the second leading 1st Season Sire.
The dual Gr1 winning sprinter Twilight Son is another overseas based sire represented at the 2026 National Sale. The son of Kyllachy
is the sire of a filly (Lot 203), whose dam is a half-sister to Italian classic winner Poeta Diletto.
From the same female line as top-class South African sire What A Winter, among others, Twilight Son won six of ten starts, including the 2015 Gr1 Haydock Sprint Cup and 2016 Gr1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Twilight Son, who currently stands in Ireland, has sired 11 stakes winners, with his progeny having won black type races in all of Australia, Britain, Ireland, Italy and France. His best horses thus far include Gr2 MRC Herbert Power Stakes winner Brayden Star and Irish champion Twilight Jet.
Snitzel horse Wild Ruler is another high-class Gr1 winner represented at the National Sale.
Currently one of the leading Australian first season sires in 2025-2026, Wild Ruler is the sire of a filly (Lot 293), out of a Fastnet Rock 3/4 sister to G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Admiralofthefleet, and this is the family of legendary stallions Danehill and Northern Dancer, among others.
One of 26 Gr1 winners (at the time of writing) for his outstanding sire Snitzel, Wild Ruler earned more than AUS2.6 million during his career, which included a triumph in the 2021 Gr1 MVRC A J Moir Stakes.
From the family of South African Gr1 winners Liege (Dynasty) and Lyrical Linda (Jallad) , Wild Ruler made a smart start with his first two-year-olds this season, including Gr2 ATC Silver Slipper Stakes winner Stretan Ruler.
FIVE NATIONAL TRUMP CARDS!
When exciting two-year-old Better Never Ends won the recent TAB Gr2 SA Nursery, he became the first stakes winner and graded stakes winner for his blue-blooded sire Declarationofpeace.
A son of War Front, whose sons Fire Away and the late Lancaster Bomber have both enjoyed notable success in South Africa, Declarationofpeace showed smart form at two when winning three times, notably claiming the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar.
One of more than 120 stakes winners for his sire, Declarationofpeace is a half-brother to US champion, and dual Gr1 winner, Honor Code, and Gr2 American Turf Stakes winner Noble Tune.
War Front stallion Declarationofpeace Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Honor Code enjoyed plenty of success at stud, with his offspring headed by Gr1 winners such as Max Player (Jockey Club Gold Cup), Maracuja (Coaching Club American Oaks), and Honor A.P. (Santa Anita Derby). The latter is now a successful young sire.
Declarationofpeace, one of four stakes horses produced by his dam, is out of the stakeswinning Storm Cat mare Serena’s Cat.
A three-parts sister to Gr1 Coronation Stakes winner Sophisticat, Serena’s Cat, in turn, is out of a stakes winning daughter of Mr Prospector, while Serena’s Cat’s granddam is none other than legendary racemare Serena’s Song. The latter, who recently died at the age of 34, won no fewer than 18 races, of which 11 were Gr1 contests. This is also the family of star miler, and Irish classic winner Field Of Gold.
Declarationofpeace had just a handful of runners in his first crop, with the aforementioned Better Never Ends a member of his second crop to race.
This well-bred young sire will be represented by just five yearlings at this year’s National Yearling Sale – and all five deserve close attention.
Macrath Farm will be bringing four Declarationofpeace yearlings to the sale, with Blue Sky Thoroughbreds also offering a well related Declarationofpeace colt.
Macrath’s quartet includes a filly (Lot 35) out of a winning Global View half-sister to four stakes winners led by Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes winner Storm Destiny, the dam of current smart performer Stormwatch. Closely inbred to Storm Cat, this filly also hails from the same female line as top sprinter William Robertson and top three-year-old, Splittheeights.
One lot from Macrath’s foursome bound to attract attention is the Declarationofpeace half-sister (Lot 347) to this season’s Gr2 Betway Joburg Spring F and M Challenge winner Callmegetrix, while the colt (Lot 174) out of Ruby Dancer is a half-brother to 3 winners, including the useful Reece’s Wish.
Macrath will also be offering a beautifully bred filly (Lot 373), whose dam is a full-sister to Gr3 Diana Stakes third Marmalisa and half-sister to Gr1 winning champion Trip Of Fortune. Her granddam was a Gr2 winner of ten and this the family of G1 winners Sand And Sea, Wainui and Winchester Mansion.
Blue Sky Thoroughbreds are offering a Declarationofpeace half-brother (Lot 310) to the promising two-year-old Prayersandpromises.
The latter won at just the second time of asking before going on to finish second over 1400m. This colt hails from the same family as lightning fast champion Forward Filly, amongst others.
The Raceform Buyers’ Guide and sales toolkit is a detailed summary, amongst other things, of the dam and siblings of the BSA 2026 National Yearling Sale yearlings.
It gives insight as to what to expect of the youngsters in terms of class, stamina, sale price.
It’s essential reading for the prospective buyer!
Please click here to read more .
Well-informed Nationals regulars – Mark and Callum Dixon | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
IF HORSES WERE WISHES…!
Two years ago, Maine Chance Farms sold a Legislate filly for R700 000 at the National Yearling Sale.
Subsequently named Wish List, the star filly recently made history when she won the Lucky Fish Gr1 Cape Derby at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. In the process, Wish List became the first filly this century to win the Cape Derby.
Maine Chance Farms will, once again, offer buyers the chance to acquire a brilliant classic winner when they bring a high-class draft to this year’s National Sale.
Their 2026 draft includes some exceptionally well-bred yearlings by their champion resident sire Vercingetorix.
This group includes Granzin (Lot 41), a colt from the immediate family of 2026 German classic hope Gostam, Vulpix (Lot 199), a colt out of Gr3 Starling Stakes winner She’s A Giver, Snow Legend (Lot 214), a colt out of the high-class racemare Slalom Queen, and Sommerzauber (Lot 221). The latter, from one of the best families in the stud book, is a filly out of Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Sommerlied.
Another champion sire represented in this draft is Gimmethegreenlight. That multiple champion sire has two blue-blooded yearlings on offer, namely Silver Heart (Lot 209), a filly out of the Silvano sired Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain, and Cosmic Fire (Lot 352). The latter, a three-parts brother to multiple graded stakes winner Cosmic Highway, is a half-brother to a pair of Listed Allied Steelrode Golden Loom Handicap winners in the form of Chyavana and Cosmic Star respectively.
Other eyecatching lots on sale include Palace Of Gold (Lot 152), a Malmoos out of a stakes winning daughter of Querari, and Bavaro (Lot 317), a Querari full-brother to G1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes winner Bavarian Beauty.
This draft can be found at Blocks B, C and D at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
MOUTONSHOEK ON TOP OF THE WORLD!
Piketberg farm Moutonshoek recently had a feature race double when the Moutonshoek bred pair of Tin Pan Alley (9th joint highest-rated horse in the world per the LONGINES ratings) and Care Forgot won the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and Listed Wilgerbosdrift Acacia Stakes.
The top-class Tin Pan Alley took his tally of graded stakes wins to three with his Horse Chestnut Stakes victory, with the gelding having also won this season’s Gr2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge and G3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes.
Excitingly, Moutonshoek will be offering a full-sister (Lot 248) to Tin Pan Alley and halfsister (Lot 90) to Care Forgot at this year’s National Sale.
Both Tin Pan Alley and Care Forgot were sired by Moutonshoek’s high-class sire The United States, who also enjoyed a Gr3 strike courtesy of Keukenhof who stormed home
from the widest draw to win the R250 000 Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville under the lights at end March.
Moutonshoek will be offering six superbly bred yearlings, headed by Tin Pan Alley’s sister Mary Pickford, by The United States, whose progeny also include this season’s Gr1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship winner Kingdundee, at this year’s National Yearling Sale.
Bear Bryant (Lot 63) , is a half-brother to Listed Dahlia Plate winner Joking, and Stick Together (Lot 117) is a colt out of a four time winning daughter of Silvano from an outstanding female line.
The United States is also responsible for Delta Air (Lot 198) , a colt out of Listed Spook Express Handicap winner She’s A Cracker, and The Hawk (Lot 321) , a colt out of Listed Oaks Trial winner Bize, whose relatives including July winner Power King and Equus Champion Wendywood.
This draft can be viewed from Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
FROM ASCOT NATIONAL ROYALTY
Ascot Stud, the breeders of top-class performers who have left their mark the world over, is home to some exceptionally well-bred mares.
The farm’s paddocks include mares who hail from many of the world’s great families as well as from some of South Africa’s top female lines. This influence can clearly be seen in the draft that Dr Ashley Parker is bringing to the 2026 National Yearling Sale.
Ascot’s draft also includes yearlings by such outstanding stallions as Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, and Vercingetorix, while the farm will also be offering three yearlings on behalf of Riyo Stud.
Riyo’s trio is made up of a colt and filly sired by Ascot’s Gr1 winning stallion Heavenly Blue as well as well related colt by proven Gr1 sire Fire Away.
Ashley mentioned the following yearlings as especially attractive:
Lot
86: Liwa’s Song f Danon Platina
-Liwa
A powerful, big but racy filly with an exceptional girth and hindquarter. She is a half-sister to Explosive Bond from the family of Gimme A Prince and The Real Prince
Lot 157: Gimmeapopstar c Gimmethegreenlight -Queen Of Pop
A colt who is an exceptionally powerful and strong bodied individual. He is a half-brother to Pop Chart, who ran third in the recent Gr3 TAB National Currency Sprint. Queen Of Pop is a full sister to Gr1 Cape Flying Championship winner Gulf Storm and Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner Seattle Singer from family of champion Rock Opera
Lot 167: Light The Stars f Jet Dark -Rockie Bright
A well balanced, strong half-sister to Gr3 winner Rockie Reef and stakes winner Three Rocks from an illustrious English family including numerous champions
Lot 173: Royal Bliss f Vercingetorix -Royal Fantasy
A truly exceptional and beautiful filly. She is out of the Gr1 winning Royal Fantasy, dam of Gr3 winner Simply Royal and the stakes winning Winter Fantasy. This is the family of champions Summer Pudding, Cherry on the Top etc.
Lot 205: Silva Secret f Heavenly Blue -Silva Key
A strong, racy filly and half-sister to the stakes placed Silva City. Her dam is a six-time winner from the blue hen Soho Secret family
Lot 233: Island Storm c Heavenly Blue -Stormy Coast
A good walking, scopy colt. His dam is a Fort Wood sired stakes winning full sister to Fort Petersburg and half-sister to Storm Destiny and Stormy Eclipse. Second dam Stormy Appeal is a multiple stakes winning, 14 time winner.
Lot 264: Mister Menace c Master Of My Fate -Via Seattle
An imposing, strong-quartered and scopy colt. His dam is a Gr3 winner from the family of Mermaids Song, Arctic Song and Yorker.
Lot 284: United Lady f The United States -Yourethetops
A racy, beautiful full-sister to Gr3 winning and multiple Gr1 placed Billy Bowlegs from the family of Gr1 winning Top Seller, The Sheik and Al Nitak
This draft can be found in Blocks B and C at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
BOMBS FROM BOTHA’S BENMARNE
Benmarne Stud, whose past alumni include the likes of Querari Falcon and Monks Hood, look to have bred another smart sort in the form of Queen Leila.
The daughter of Heavenly Blue claimed a R100 000 Bloodstock South Africa bonus when she won impressively at just the second time of asking and she looks to have a bright future.
The farm will be offering two choicely bred colts at this year’s National Yearling Sale.
Arne Botha had the following to say about his pair:
Lot 21: Darksideofthemoon c Jet Dark -Fly
Rebecca Fly
By a five time Gr1 winner and multiple Equus Champion, this colt is from the immediate
family of SA Oaks winner Serena and her US Gr1 winning son Broadway Flyer. This is a scopey son of Jet Dark, and a very good mover. His five time winning dam has had three runners for three winners -her son Bellerophon is a two time winner now.
Lot 99: Bright Moon Rising c Heavenly Blue
By the sire of the likes of Trust and Truth, this colt’s stakes winning granddam is a half-sister to dual Gr1 winner Surveyor. He is a beautiful son of Heavenly Blue. This colt’s dam has had two runners for two winners. He is a very good walker.
These two colts can be viewed from Block B at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
-Mirror The Moon
BUSH HILL OFFER
WELL-RELATED COLTS
Long regarded as one of the top stud farms in KwaZulu-Natal, Bush Hill Stud continues to produce top-class thoroughbreds.
From the now retired dual Gr1 winner Purple Pitcher and smart performers Cocomelon and Magic Tattoo, Bush Hill Stud bred thoroughbreds continue to perform well at the highest level.
Bush Hill will be offering two well related colts at this year’s National Yearling Sale, with their pair consisting of sons of champions Danon Platina and Hawwaam.
Warwick Render had the following to say about his two colts:
Lot 282: Alykhan c Hawwaam -Wukkin’ Up
By the same sire as recent Listed WSB Hawwaam Stakes winner Diogenes, this colt
is out of Listed Off To Stud Stakes winner Wukkin’ Up and is a half-brother to the highclass sprinter Magic Tattoo. He is a big strong quartered colt, well topped with loads of substance.
Lot 335: Danon Platina -Cassie O’ Malley
This is a high quality, scopey individual, stands over ground and has a great attitude. His half-brother Dawson’s Anvil made an impressive winning debut, and Cassie O’Malley has three winners, from four runners, including the smart Shanta’s Pride.
These two colts can be found in Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
DRAKENSTEIN SETTING THE BENCHMARK
Drakenstein Stud, one of South Africa’s premier stud farms, has a superb record at the National Yearling Sale.
Past champions and Grade One winners sold by Drakenstein at the National Sale in years gone by include South Africa’s reigning Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen, as well as the likes of Future Pearl, Legend Of Arthur, King Pelles, Safe Passage and Trip Of Fortune.
This year, Drakenstein will be offering another outstanding draft at the National Yearling Sale. Their draft not only includes yearlings by their own highly popular resident sires Futura, Jet Dark, and What A Winter, but also yearlings by such top-class stallions as Gimmethegreenlight, Legislate, Rafeef, and Vercingetorix.
Multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight has two well bred colts on offer.
Valleyofdesolation (Lot 141) is out of Gr2 Track And Ball Oaks winner Pink Tourmaline, a half-sister to graded stakes winners King Of Gems and Green Sapphire, while Green Mosaic (Lot 276), who is bred on similar lines to Gr1 winners Lucky Lad and VJ’s Angel, is a colt out of the What A Winter sired Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery runner up Winter Mosaic.
Reigning champion sire Vercingetorix continues to dominate sales rings around South Africa, and he is represented here by Snap Out Of It (Lot 217), a colt out of multiple graded stakes winner Snapscan, with this colt bred on similar lines to the Vercingetorix sired champion and promising sire Cousin Casey.
Resident sire, and multiple Equus Champion, Jet Dark has made a blistering impression with his first yearlings this season. The champion son of Trippi has two lots on offer, including the regally bred Take Five (Lot 115). The latter, whose dam won four times including the Gr2 The Debutante, is a half-brother to five winners led by Equus Champion, and Gr1 Daily News 2000 winner, Safe Passage, and G1 Woolavington 2000 winner Silver Sanctuary.
Other eye catching lots on offer include Twickenham (Lot 82), a Rafeef half-brother to Gr2 TAB SA Nursery/Gr3 TAB Protea Stakes winner Green Diamond, Fine Winter Day (Lot 128), a What A Winter full-brother to Gr3 TAB Pretty Polly Stakes winner One Fine Winter, and Sweet Winter (Lot 239), a What A Winter colt out of Listed Bauhinia Handicap winner Sweet Future.
This draft can be viewed from Blocks A, B and D at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
ROBERTSON ROYALTY FROM RIVERTON
Riverton Stud, breeders of such stars as Astrix, Captain Of All, Domino Man and Pearl Of Asia, continue to churn out smart winners all over South Africa.
Recent Riverton flagbearers include this season’s Listed Southeaster Sprint winner The US Of A, the useful Master Josh, and feature race contender Count Of Rouen.
Duncan Barry will be offering a very classy draft at the 2026 National Yearling Sale, with Riverton’s draft comprised of yearlings sired by all of Digital Age, Erik The Red, Jet Dark, Kommetdieding and One World. The latter continues to impress as a sire, with One World’s unbeaten son World Attraction making a big impression when winning the Listed TAB Storm Bird Stakes.
Duncan had the following comments to make about his draft for the National Sale.
Lot 49: f Jet Dark - Heliane
By a five time Gr1 winning son of champion sire Trippi, this filly is from the family of such Gr1 winning fillies as Helenita and Little Ballerina. She is a scopey, leggy, well-made filly.
Lot 127: c Kommetdieding - On High
From the eagerly awaited first crop of his July/Met winning sire, this colt hails from the
immediate family of globetrotting champion Jay Peg and fellow Equus Champion Kochka.
A tall, well-balanced, good walking colt.
Lot 156: f Digital Age - Queen Of Alamo
From the first crop of a Gr1 winning son of Invincible Spirit, this filly is out of a stakes placed half-sister to the graded stakes winners Cousin Liz and Gimme One Night. Very strong, big, correct, well-balanced filly. A gem!
Lot 162: f One World - Red Eminence
By the sire of such star performers as One Stripe and World Attraction, this filly is a halfsister to Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery/ Listed Lady’s Slipper winner Chere For Me.
A big, strong, attractive, great walking filly!
Lot 326: f Erik The Red - Brigtnumberfour
A three parts sister to Listed East Cape Sprint winner Anuschka’s World, this filly is out of a stakes placed full-sister to Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Noble Heir, dam of Australian Gr3 winner Crown Witness.
This draft can be found in Block H at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
SUNSTONE OFFER AN EDEN ROC FILLY
The well performed and blue-blooded Eden Roc looks to be a very exciting stallion prospect.
A son of top sire Var, whose daughters have produced, among others, current unbeaten sensation Autumn Glow, Eden Roc was a topclass performer who won graded stakes at both two and three.
Eden Roc, who earned more than R1.4 million in stakes, won the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe at two. He trained on well to land the Gr2 Post Merchants at three, and finish second in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint at four.
Out of the Captain Al mare Townsend, winner of both the G2 Odessa Stud Fillies Championship and Gr3 Diana Stakes, Eden Roc is a half-brother to Equus Champion, and promising young sire, Sandringham Summit.
Sunstone Farming will be offering a filly (Lot 249) by this exciting young sire at the 2026 National Sale.
Courtney Soal had the following to say about this well-bred filly, “We are proud to present this remarkable filly by the explosive Gr1 winner Eden Roc out of the winning mare, The Fifth Wave. This filly represents an exciting blend of speed, precocity and structural quality. She embodies the classic, neat, athletic type, a lovely strong and wellbalanced filly, she is definitely reminding us of group winning mare, Gimme A Shot at this age.”
This filly can be found in Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
