THIS weekend’s Emperors Palace National Two-Year-Old Sale, to be held over three days at the TBA Sales Complex at Gosforth Park, features highlights in every session. A host of pedigrees among the 486 lots are stacked with bold black type. As it turns out, four two-year-olds on this auction are closely related to runners from the star three-year-old crop of 2010 that earned Top 5 prize money in the recent Durban July.

The first of them is Keivan Stud’s Captain Al colt King Al (Lot 32), to be sold early on Day One, Friday 13 August. His dam is a half-sister to Clock The Rock, who produced July runner-up and Horse Of The Year candidate Irish Flame. Wilgerbosdrift offers Lot 252, an unnamed half-brother to July fifth-placed and popular grey colt, Happy Valley, as well as graded winner Milk and Honey. This one’s a chestnut colt by Not For Sale, the sire of Asiatic Boy, from the mare Perfect Valley. His other well-know relations are Listed winner Treaj Pots and recent KZN Oaks winner, Sweetie Pie. Watch for a buzz around the sales ring when he makes his appearance on Day Three, Sunday 15 August. Lot 262 is Password Protected, a filly by Kabool from the mare Pin Number, who is a full-sister to Service Ace, placed fourth in the July. He’s a first foal, consigned by Moutonshoek. The talented Grade 1 winner Orbison, third in the July, has a half-brother on sale.

He is Lot 476, Hint Of Blue, by Sadler’s Wells stallion Hinton Wells from Blue Bayou, bred by the Scott Brothers. Other highlights include, but are not limited to: Day One: Lot 63, Eastern Express, a filly by Lecture from Eastern Trade, a full-sister to Arabian Lass from the immediate family of Smart Banker. She’s a first foal from Ascot Stud. Lot 87, Bonnard, a colt by Spectrum from For Rosalind, bred by Highlands Farm. Her first foal Fair Rosalind is a two-time winner from four starts and considered a potential stakes performer. Lot 113, an unnamed colt from The Alchemy, is the first foal of Monet’s half-sister Gossip Column, sired by Badger’s Drift. He’s closely related to Ethereal Lady and Chant De Nuit. Day Two: Lot 217, Jackson, is sure to get tongues wagging. By Dynasty from Moonlit Prairie, by Cozzene, he is the pride of Highlands Farm and stud manager Mike Sharkey says: “He’s a big, strong and beautiful colt, he could be the pick of this sale.’’

Jackson’s fourth dam, the name-defying No Class, Broodmare of the Year in Canada in 1985, is one of the greatest foundation mares in Canadian history. No Class, on her own or through her daughters and granddaughters left an illustrious line of stallions including Sky Classic, Smart Strike and Strike Smartly. Day Three: Lot 251 is another plum picking from Highlands, a colt by Daylami from Perfect Guest, whose previous foals include champion race filly Crimson Palace and more recently stakes-placed Iliad. Lot 419 is a Toreador colt from Riverton Stud, the third produce of Western Smoke. He’s a full-brother to the brilliant Link Man, the winner of last season’s Grade 1 Gold Reef Resorts Medallion. Buyers are reminded to “Tick The Box” on the Vendor Roll to qualify for the 2011 Bloodstock SA Bonus Programme, featuring 14 races and R890 000 in added stakes, with no buy-inns allowed if you miss the boat! The Sale commences at 6pm on Friday and Saturday and 11am on Sunday. Catalogues are available at the TBA Complex and most of the sales lots have arrived and can be inspected