Normandy Excitement – Entire 2021 Crop Presented At Sunday’s Sale!
Stud farms can be viewed as a static collection of fixed assets that includes land, paddocks and buildings.
That’s true up to a point, but they’re also fluid, in a sense like projects with no end point. Bloodstock decisions are constantly being made, broodmares being added or removed, not to mention stallions making or destroying the herd.
Oscar Foulkes from Normandy writes that the annual harvest of yearlings is a waypoint of sorts that represents a snapshot of the ongoing project. In our case, this project started more than 50 years ago.
Oscar bonds with a foal in Normandy – what a life!
In the case of Normandy Stud’s design for the BSA Cape Yearling Sale, that’s pretty much our overall picture for 2023!
With the exception of the weaners we sold in 2022 and the four fillies that will be retained for breeding, this is our entire 2021 crop. We do not send yearlings to other sales.
All but one of our founding families are represented via various branches, with the exception of the dam line In Camera-Tatler, which began with Entre Nous.
Of course, there are a few other high-profile gaps: Arctic Breeze (Rio Querari’s dam) dropped out of a Legislate, and her full sister Nordic Breeze lost a One World. It was also the year when two of our Mother Russia sisters did not get pregnant.
However, we can only focus on what we have and in that regard there are many reasons to be happy.
For one thing, five of the 15-year-olds are their mothers’ first foals. Another four are from young mares who already have 100% winning records from runners. Who knows which of these mares will be our future stars?
Eruption (Photo: Jeremy Nelson)
It is also worth pointing out that five of the drafts are by Dubawi’s hot young son, Erupt, who produces a high percentage of progressive horses.
He also throws more speed than you would expect from a 2400m Grade 1 winner. Dubawi gets her running all distances and Erupt seems no different.
Before we get to the yearlings themselves, it’s worth mentioning why we’re targeting this sale.
Firstly we want to sell our yearlings in the Western Cape.
Transporting them to Johannesburg – with all the risks and costs involved – especially bringing them back to the Western Cape is insane.
Secondly, although we have a few November foals, the timing works well for a wide range of our yearlings.
Finally, the various BSA incentives, particularly the R100,000 bonus for the first 100 youthful winners, are a huge plus.
Lot 7 c. Outbreak (IRE) – point of order
Long before we knew if Erupt would produce winners we could see how much he was improving on his mares and this colt is a prime example. He’s a good size (especially for a first foal), he’s capable and there’s a lot of him.
He comes from the Cap Alright branch of the Terpsichore family.
Lot 13 c. Querari-Quetta
The half brother of Sachdev, who only won the Cape Derby by an agonizingly close half a length. His dam is a half sister to Bravura, who won the Cape Derby, and is the family of multiple champions Mother Russia and Winter Solstice.
This colt oozes class – he moves like a dream and as a 1st November colt he only gets better as he matures.
Lot 23 f. Oratorio (IRE) – Sabrina Fair
The dam’s only runner is a winner, and Oratorio produces an impressive 60% winners out of foals, so the percentages are on your side. The dam is a half sister to the dam of top sprint filly Sarah and it is the Terpsichore family.
This filly moves very well. She has a very similar build to her mother, whose racing career was just gaining momentum when she pulled a tendon.
Lot 84 f. Potala Palace – Ashram
The dam has a 100% record including Wind Water looking like a handy sprinter.
This is a good sized, powerful filly and she moves very well.
Lot 85 c. Potala Palace – Azarenka
The only runner of this highly placed mare is a winner. It’s a family that has successfully produced winners for us, going back to an intelligent, sprinting filly by Royal Affair that we acquired in the early 1980’s.
This colt is bred from the same cross as the top-class Katak. He’s a top-notch guy and the epitome of athleticism.
Lot 92 f. Eruption (IRE) – Blue Wonder
We couldn’t be happier to have this as the first foal by a new mare. She is a super athletic Erupt filly who should show pace on the straights despite being out of a Silvano mare.
Lot 119 f. Erupt (IRE) – fleece
We often talk about how much Erupt upgrades his mares. This filly comes from a very attractive, ready-to-work mare that needed no upgrading and it is hard to imagine a better first foal. She stands over a lot of ground, she is powerfully built and she has a high quality refined head.
It is the immediate family of Star Empire, Fabiani and GG’s Dynasty.
Lot 126 c. Breakout (IRE) – Good thing
This is a trim, well moving Erupt colt out of a half sister to Rated Stakes winner Crowd Pleaser out of the family of Champion US filly Smart Angle.
Lot 139 c. Twice Over (GB) – Joshua’s Princess
This colt has the classics written on it. It’s big, spacious and of high quality, with a good action. The fact that he descends from the grade 1 sire Twice Over, who comes from the great filly Joshua’s Princess, is of course very important to him. In addition to her own successes on the racetrack, she is a half-sister to the dam of Cape Derby winner Grande Jete.
Lot 150 c. Potala Palace – Lady of the Fleece
We are big supporters of Potala Palace for his proven ability to produce top quality horses from the worst mares in the stud book (not that we would put Lady of the Fleece in that category). This is a high quality, capable colt with a great action. He is a half brother to a couple of winners including a black filly, from the close family of Fabiani, Star Empire and GG’s Dynasty.
Lot 151 c. One World—Lady Wylie
We like the looks of this three piece brother to our Cape Flying Championship winner Sergeant Hardy. He has the nature of a sprinter and moves well.
There are a few firsts here, namely that he comes from the first crop of One World and is the mare’s first foal.
Lot 153 f. Breakout (IRE) – Live Help
This filly is built like a tank – another example of how Erupt improves his mares. It’s a great opportunity to join the Bravura, Winter Solstice, and Mother Russia family.
Lot 161 c. William Long Sword – Marie Antoinette
He’s a really good size for a first-time filly and exceptionally light on his feet for a big guy. Here’s another three-piece brother of Sergeant Hardy.
Lot 172 f. Potala Palace – Night on the Hill
This athletic, high quality filly descends from the Cap Alright branch of the Terpsichore family. Her full sister has been the subject of lively bidding on RTR over the past year and early reports on her are extremely positive.
Lot 174 c. Legislation – Nordic Light
Whenever we’re asked about the perfect feline gait, we feature a video of this foal in action. He is simply the most sensational mover. Of course he is the stallion with the best percentages in the country and his dam’s only runner is the highly competitive Beerenberg who has three wins and seven places from 11 starts.
His dam is a half sister to Rio Querari’s dam and we wouldn’t be surprised if this crisp colt followed those hoofprints.
You can find the catalog here.
Viewing begins Friday 24th February – check out the Normandy crew in A Block at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Exciting times!