Hopes and Dreams Stud enjoyed a respectable average of R324 545 for 11 yearlings sold at April’s Bloodstock SA National Yearling Sale and looks set to attract further strong buyers’ support with a draft of 14 lots for the August Two-Year-Old Sale.
Suzette and Basie Viljoen will be in attendance in Stable Block F, and Basie highlighted a few of the stud’s exciting prospects at this auction. He said: “They may differ from our own subjective favourites, but when pedigree and conformation are assessed together, there are six that stand out.”
Basie reckons that Lot 248 is the first one to look out for, one that has the right pedigree and is also a beautiful specimen. “He is a third colt foal, sired by One World out of Zagara, by Master Of My Fate. The dam is a two-time winning half-sister to Surcharge (Yulong Prince) who won the Grade 1 Daily News before being exported to Australia where he won a Group 1 race and was retired to stud. This is a nice, big filly who should develop into a miler.”
One that looks very speedy is Lot 217, a filly by Var stallion Eden Roc out of Travelling Light, by Gimmethegreenlight. “The signs are good. Her dam won her Maiden at Hollywoodbets Scottsville by a distance in what was then a record time. The female line is prolific with bold black type.”
Lot 222 is a first colt foal sired by Buffalo Bill Cody out of Turkish Kelim, by Rafeef, a huge mare, and with more physically big horses in his female line. He is a rare early cross representing Buffalo Bill Cody over the potent speed influence of National Colour in the damsire – an interesting prospect. “This colt doesn’t have his dam’s massive size, and he is really well-balanced,” Basie said.
Basie’s fourth choice is Lot 151, another first foal sired by the 2024/5 champion freshman Erik The Red out of a Listed-placed mare by Querari, who has moved steadily up the log for top broodmare sires. “He’s a racy, very correct and compact colt and looks like he’ll come early.”
Lot 220 is a Digital Age colt out of Tsitsikamma Pearl, herself a half-sister to Grade 1 Mercury Sprint winner, Pearl Of Asia. “She’s a lovely specimen from a proper female line.”
Basie noted that Lot 219 could be a value buy. “He is by Kommetdieding who could prove to be a good stallion of the future, out of a Captain Al mare True Charm who is a Listed-placed half-sister to a Grade 1 Computaform Sprint winner. He’s the type of colt we wouldn’t mind racing ourselves.”
He concluded: “We’re also selling lot 320 as an agent for a client. She is is a Fire Away filly who was sold at a Race Coast Sale and now comes to the BSA Sale, so will qualify for both Juvenile bonus programmes.”