Not even icy winter weather could prevent a large crowd from attending the 2018 Cape Mare Sale at Mistico Equestrian Centre on Thursday.

Despite a number of withdrawals, and heavy rain, there was a largely positive atmosphere at the sale, which featured a combination of broodmares and weanlings on offer.

Breeders from around South Africa turned up for the Mare Sale, which was preceded by the Cape Breeders’ Club’s annual Stallion Services Auction.

The regally bred Amber Orchid, who was covered by Cape Guineas winner William Longsword, proved the star attraction at the Mare Sale.

Consigned by Klawervlei Stud, as agent, the bay daughter of Dubawi was knocked down to her original part-owner Hassen Adams for R700 000. Amber Orchid, who was produced by the winning Hennessy mare Amber Shore, was a high-class racemare in her own right, winning the G3 Jacaranda Handicap and five other races during her career. Not only is the mare a daughter of one of the world’s elite stallions in Dubawi, Amber Orchid is a direct descendent of important taproot mare Pelting.

Amber Orchid (Lot 86) was also responsible for the top priced weanling, a colt (Lot 235) by July winner Pomodoro, who fetched R130 000 to the bid from the Van Zyl Stud.

Second top priced mare sold was the Drakenstein Stud consigned Gift Of Rain (Lot 141), with that bay daughter of the world’s premier sire, Galileo, making R260 000 to the bid from Sorrento Stud’s Terry Andrews. Offered in foal to Duke Of Marmalade, the three time winning Gift Of Rain’s fourth dam is Irish 1000 Guineas winner Al Bahathri-dam of 2000 Guineas winner Haafhd.

The 175 horses to sell at the 2018 Cape Mare Sale reached an aggregate of R6.825 million, and averaged R39 000.