Lifted from the Racing Post
CAPE TOWN, winter holiday location of choice for many racing and breeding folk from Britain and Ireland, has a new attraction in January - an event billed asthe world's only indoor, city-centre bloodstock auction.
The inaugural Cape Premier Yearling Sale, on January 27-28, will be held at the city's convention centre, a short walk from the waterfront, on the two evenings before the running of the one of South Africa's greatest races, the J&B Met at Kenilworth.
Bloodstock, business and pleasure, moulded around one of the world's favourite holiday destinations, are the elements being stressed by Bloodstock South Africa, the promotion arm of the country's Thoroughbred Breeders Association, which has helped to select 300 yearlings for sale over the two sessions.
A month of activities begin with group-class racing at Kenilworth from January 2, but the pace picks up with two events hosted by Klawervlei Stud - a premier sale lunch, on Darley lines, on January 23, and a golf event at Pearl Valley, home of the South African Open, the following day.
Evening racing at Kenilworth on January 25 and a premier sale dinner the next evening lead into the auction business, which Klawervlei Stud racing manager Grant Knowles is already generating enormous interest.
Knowles, who returned to his native South Africa after spells as manager of Plumpton and Newcastle racecourses, said: "The catalogue is the equivalent of a select sale, and 35 per cent of the lots are represented by our three top stallions - Jet Master, Captain Al and Silvano.
"These horses would normally have gone to the National Yearling Sale later in the year, and farms were at first a little nervous about having to prepare their horses earlier, but they realise we have to capitalise on the fact that a lot of visitors, involved in business and racing, and especially from Britain, are in Cape Town at this time of year.
"Previously, owners and potential owners never got to go to the sales with their trainers, but now they can get involved in their own right."
A special website has been created at capepremiersale.co.za, with details of available accommodation and travel, stud visits and the catalogue.
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