Sibaya Broodmare Sale : A State Occasion... His Majesty Strikes

Chief Masupha Seeiso and His Majesty King Letsie III
(Heather Morkel)

There were not many highlights at the Sibaya Broodmare sale on Tuesday, but among the few were several connected with Summerhill. The first was Dr Jim Hay’s foray into the market, where he acquired several mares, including the top filly SPIRIT LEADER, in order to utilise the service he purchased at Summerhill’s Stallion Day on Sunday. The Scotsman dished out R300,000 for that one and also acquired a sister to three Group winners, including his trainer Herman Brown’s HOT RECEPTION.

An interesting “newcomer” was Andy Stronach of the American Champion breeder, Adena Springs, who bought four mares on the back of his attending the Summerhill Stallion Day, with a view to supporting the DANEHILL stallions on the farm. Andy came from nowhere toting a file full of Adena Springs pedigrees, which he was hoping to offload on South Africans, and he went home with four new acquisitions. Never at a loss for new ideas, Adena Springs are planning to service a clutch of mares to Southern Hemisphere time and run a special sale in the USA, with a view to enabling breeders from our half of the world to buy into some of their top families, carrying foals to our time.

Finally, Lesotho’s King Letsie III once again exhibited his great passion for horses in acquiring a beautifully-bred daughter of AL MUFTI, following a protracted duel with Mary Slack. We all know Mary has a taste for quality and that is probably the best compliment anyone could pay to ARABIAN MAGIC, who has come home now for a date with one of the Summerhill stallions. The show moved yesterday to the Hallmark Dispersal Sale in Mooi River.