Avontuur’s first entry into the Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale this year is happening in fine style with five excellent colts leading the charge for this prestige event. The group includes two Oratorio’s, and a Var.

“The stand-out for this Sale is Lot 150, a flashy grey by Oratorio out of Gr 1 winner Sarabande, who is beautiful and well-related. The second son of Oratorio is Graduate (Lot 193) out of Varsity Queen from the family of achievers like Mastermind and Schiffer. He is rugged and handsome, and looks like a real winner,“ says Avontuur GM Pippa Mickleburgh.

The rest of the crop includes robust La Scala (Silvano x La Normandie) who is a half-brother to Normanz and exciting newcomer Le Harve, and (Lot 177)Talk of The Town, a smashing chestnut colt (Var x Street Wise) who is big and strong with a stallion’s pedigree.

“The yearlings are available for viewing from Tuesday, 12 April and we are looking forward to the event as I believe that the outstanding group we’re offering is eminently suitable for this Select Sale,” says Pippa.

The National Yearling Sale is more of a mixed bag with Var’s ruling the roost, although an excellent Oratorio and some exciting new blood in the form of sire Gimmethegreenlight and the in-the-news Jay Peg should tickle the buyers’ fancy.

Ladies first, and with four fillies getting ready for the event Avontuur is especially excited about Lot 422 Kindavar, who is the first foal of the Jet Master mare Without Malice, an 8 times race winner herself. “She is tall, a good walker and my pick of the fillies,” Pippa says.

The rest of the Var fillies include Lot 21 Sweet Treat who is correct and athletic and a half-sister to Vous et Var and Lot 163, the first foal from Jeter, who is a real speedball, and closely related to Le Clos, currently proving his class on course. The last filly (Lot 227) is by upcoming sire Jay Peg, a tall racy sort who is the close family of Varbration and Captain’s Lullabye.

The only Oratorio on this Sale is Lot 314 Chantyman out of Sea of Calm (USA), a high quality colt who is a good mover and halfbrother to Balkan and Princess Katrina. Pippa commented especially on Lot 398 Keyboogie (Gimmethegreenlight x Valeta) and said he is a very flashy, good looking colt, who is a half-brother to the exciting 3yo Val et Al and should attract a lot of attention.

Duffield (Lot 452) is a precocious full brother to Twitter (Var x Avian Talk), and is a flashy speed machine. Hampton Court (Lot 192) by Var is a classy, attractive medium-sized colt who is a nice trainer’s horse out of London Belle, now retired as a brood mare.

“I believe Sweet Treat and Kindavar are outstanding on the fillies side, and the three colts which get my pick are Chantyman, Duffield and Keyboogie. The Avontuur Stud Lounge Hospitality area will be open for viewings and socialising from 21 April and we look forward to welcoming all interested parties from then,” Pippa concluded.

Image: Mardi Gras, a colt by Oratorio out of race winner Sarabande is the pick of the
Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale 2016