News

Aussies dominate rich South African feature

4th Nov 2012

South Africa’s second richest race was held at Turffontein on Saturday and it was the Australian bred and sold gallopers that took the spoils, led by winner Rock Of Arts.

The 2,5million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup (1400m) was highly anticipated in South Africa with a quality field lining up to for their share of the rich purse.

There were only a small handful of three-year-olds carrying the AUS suffix in the race but those sold from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale certainly made their presence felt finishing first, third, fourth and sixth.

Rock Of Arts ($40,000 2011 Premier, 3c Rock Of Gibraltar-Dash On Ruby) was able to cross into a forward position from his wide barrier, with jockey Sean Veale keeping him out of trouble mid race before firing to the front at the 400m mark and the exciting colt showed plenty of strength to hold of the late finishing Negev.

Killua Castle ($50,000 Premier) closed well for third place ahead of Indaba My Children ($40,000 Premier), with Emaliyami ($15,000 Premier) back in sixth position in the lucrative event.

A replay of the R2,5million race can be viewed HERE

Bred by Cranton Bloodstock of Victoria, Rock Of Arts was purchased by Paul Guy’s Heritage Bloodstock for $40,000 from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

Like fellow star Melbourne Premier graduate Igugu, Rock Of Arts was transported to South Africa and sold as a two-year-old at the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale. The Chinsammy family were the buyers of Rock Of Ages at last year’s sale, purchasing the exciting colt for R850,000.

Saturday’s short-head win in a time of 1:25.42secs over the 1400m took Rock Of Arts record to two wins and one placing from six starts with R1,1717,380 in prizemoney earnings.

Rock Of Arts joins the long list of top quality gallopers to carry the AUS brand to success in South Africa, including Horse of the Year Igugu, which is now on her way to Dubai for Mike de Kock.

De Kock was part of a large contingent of South African buyers that purchased 30 yearlings at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and has already thrown his support behind the sale’s new ‘Blue Riband Session’ to be held as part of the auction in 2013.

“The Blue Riband concept being introduced by Inglis will suit our South African buying requirements perfectly,” de Kock said in June when the concept was announced.

Melbourne Premier is well known as the sales source of world class sprinters Black Caviar, Sacred Kingdom and Starspangledbanner. The new Blue Riband Session will further highlight the sale’s growing reputation as a source of outstanding middle distance and staying types the likes of Pinker Pinker, Fields Of Omagh, Littorio, Hollow Bullet, Arapaho Miss and Igugu.

The 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale will be held over the four days of March 3 to 6 next year. Approximately 90 lots will be offered on a Sunday afternoon session followed by three full days of selling on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.