Regally bred Silvano colt fetches R7 million at National Yearling Sale

A regally bred son of Silvano - already named Celestial City - topped proceedings on day one of the Bloodstock South Africa National Yearling Sale on Friday when knocked down to Summerhill Stud's Henning Pretorius for R7 million (£313,400/€348,100).

Consigned by Wilgerbosdrift, the colt is a full-brother to Equus champion and five-time Grade 1 winner Hawwaam, and half-brother to Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat and triple Grade 1 winner Rainbow Bridge.

Remarkably, Celestial City is just the fifth foal out of Grade 3 Prix du Cap winner Halfway To Heaven, South Africa's Broodmare of the Year in 2018-19.

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Maine Chance Farms resident Silvano, recently crowned champion sire in South Africa for a fifth time, proved to be the go-to sire on Friday.

Silvano supplied the four top lots, all colts, and ended Friday with eight yearlings bringing total receipts of R15,635,000 at an average spend of R1,954,375.

Wilgerbosdrift also consigned Friday's second top lot, a Silvano colt by the name of Scarlet Ibis who was knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R4.5m.

Very closely related to the Silvano-sired Kings Cup winner Born To Perform, Scarlet Ibis was produced by the dual-winning Western Winter mare Dashing Scarlet, herself a daughter of Equus champion and five-time Grade 1 winner Dancer's Daughter.

Summerhill Stud's Henning Pretorius, who signed for the top lotCredit: Candiese Lenferna

While Silvano topped the sires' standings on Friday, Wilgerbosdrift topped Friday's vendors list, with the Piketberg farm selling eight of their nine yearlings offered for an aggregate of R1,653,125.

Form Bloodstock topped Friday's buyers list, purchasing 12 yearlings for R9.74m.

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