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RINGSIDER - WHEN it comes to a thoroughbred making R2 million, you’d imagine you’re at the National Yearling Sales.
Not on Sunday. Trainer Mike de Kock has made headlines all over the world in the last two decades and he chalked up another first yesterday when bidding R2.1 million for the Galileo filly, Uthawini, at the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale in Germiston.
Auctioneer Andrew Miller was expecting the bay filly to sell well, but the first bid was only R200,000 before De Kock and well-known Gauteng owner Andre Macdonald got into a bidding war. The price soared over R2 million, beating last year’s top price of R1.5 million, and De Kock was clearly overjoyed with his purchase as he signed the sale slip. "She’s been bought for Sheikh Mohammed - the pedigree is all there and she galloped impressively.
"When you consider that Galileo stands at a fee of €300,000 - this has to be a good buy,’’ added De Kock.
The stable filled second and third places in Saturday’s Ready To Run Cup at Turffontein and De Kock said Uthawini (it will be interesting to see if the Sheikh decides to keep this name) will have next year’s R1.5-million race as her major objective.
This sale prompted Summerhill Stud chief Mick Goss to comment: "Spectacular - that’s the right word to describe this sale, particularly when you consider 60% of the lots catalogued are fillies.’’
Another of Galileo’s progeny, a filly named Igugu, failed to match the price paid for Uthawini, but she made R1 million to a bid from Macdonald, who was clearly determined not to leave the sales complex without one of the stallion’s offspring.
Early in the sale, one of Summerhill’s Muhtafal colts had caught De Kock’s eye and he went to R700,000 to secure the fifth produce of the mare, Game. She has produced a nine-time winner Freecell as well as recent impressive Cape winner Double Dash.
A daughter of a Dubai World Cup victor is a rarity on South African soil, so it was no surprise that the Australian-bred Street Cry filly, Emakhava, was all the rage when she entered the ring. Miller was bombarded with bids for the filly but trainer Charles Laird was determined to take her home and the hammer came down at R900,000.
Laird’s chief patron, Markus Jooste, was in attendance and the youngster seems certain to carry his silks, which were seen to such good effect at the Charity Mile meeting on Saturday. Laird saddled four winners, but the Ready To Run Cup eluded him, with victory going to Gary Alexander’s three-year-old Pierre Jourdan. Street Cry’s daughter has the pedigree to be a leading Cup contender in 12 months time.
Michael Azzie has found the Ready To Run Sale a happy hunting ground and the Gauteng trainer was in the thick of the action once again. Top horses he has bought at this sale previously include Imperial Despatch, Dignify and Bridal Paths and he had to go to R800,000 to acquire Summerhill’s Kahal colt Emperor Augustus.
One might have thought the well-named youngster hailed from Coolmore in Ireland where they pick strong and often historical names and Emperor Augustus certainly attracted some spirited bidding before Azzie had the final say.
"He’s a quality colt and has been bought for a number of my loyal clients,’’ Azzie said.
Emperor Augustus is a half brother to trainer Gavin Van Zyl’s filly Onehundredacrewood. His dam, Roman Dream, has produced a number of winners including The General, Roman Friend and Amaphupho.
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