Jessica Slack's Mauritzfontein Stud sold the top lot on day 1 of Nationals 2018. It also proved to be a great day for the late sire Captain Al, as he had numerous lots selling for top dollar.

The select session, and first day, of the 2018 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale proved a resounding success, with a buoyant market ensuring a brisk day of trade throughout Tuesday's sale.

Just 36 yearlings failed to make their reserve, with Tuesday's sale seeing an impressive clearance rate of 77 percent. The first day of the National Sale saw the aggregate reach R64 755 000, and the average fetch a more than healthy R535 165.

No fewer than 12 yearlings made R1 000 000 plus on Tuesday, with a colt by former champion sire Captain Al topping the session. Consigned by Mauritzfontein, the regally bred colt (Lot 113) was knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R4 750 000.

The colt, who has been named Captain Cherry, is the second foal out of Triple Tiara winner and Equus Champion Cherry On The Top. A daughter of Tiger Ridge and the Fort Wood sired Gold Circle Oaks winner Carolina Cherry and this is the same family as G1 winner Royal Fantasy - whose Silvano filly Pure Fantasy was knocked down to Hartley SA for R1 100 000 on Tuesday.

Klawervlei's late, great sire Captain Al dominated Tuesday's trading, and was responsible for the top three lots. That trio included the select sale's top filly, Cousin Liz (Lot 150), who was knocked down to Kerry Jack Bloodstock for R2 900 000. The Riverton Stud bred bay was produced by the winning Parade Leader mare Fiesta Queen - a half-sister to four stakes horses headed by G1 Empress Club Stakes winner Fair Maiden. It was particularly pleasing to see the success of Riverton's much loved Duncan Barry, who is well respected and liked throughout the industry.

One of the most impressive features of the sale was the participation of international buyers, with all of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, John Ferguson, Antony Beck, David Ferraris, Mr Guo and Shadwell South Africa active at the National Sale, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club bought the day's second top - an unnamed Captain Al colt (Lot 63) for R3.3 million.

Blooodstock SA's Gary Grant was delighted by the success of Tuesday's day of trading, saying, "A positive pre-sale atmosphere translated into excellent results. The complex's new look has also been really well received by buyers and vendors alike. I am especially pleased by the great clearance rate and am positive it can remain at a similar level through the next few days. There is still a lot of quality on offer over the next two days, which bodes well for the results remaining strong. Encouragingly, we sold roughly a third of the horses at this year's sale for more than 55% percent of last year's turnover! It was especially pleasing to see many smaller breeders being well rewarded at the sale, and many can now take heart after today. We are grateful to all the loyal buyers and vendors who supported the National Sale."