The progeny of Maine Chance Farms’ star stallion Vercingetorix proved hugely popular at Thursday’s Summer Sale, which took place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
South Africa’s Champion Sire elect for 2024-2025 supplied the sales topper and the auction’s top-priced filly.
Consigned by Drakenstein Stud, Vercingetorix colt Chestnut Verse (Lot 87) made R2 200 000 to top the 2025 Summer Sale. Knocked down to Laurence Wernars, the regally bred colt, a half-brother to useful performers Chestnut Bomber and Gimmethatpearl, was produced by G1 Golden Slipper winner Chestnuts N Pearls.
Wernars’ Triple 8 Clothing also signed for the sale’s top-priced filly, the Avontuur Estate consigned Vercingetorix filly Proud Mary (Lot 66), who was sold for R2 000 000. A half-sister to champion, and Ridgemont’s new sire, Thunderstruck, Proud Mary was produced by Var’s G2 Post Merchants winning daughter Varikate.
In total, Vercingetorix had four yearlings make upwards of R1 000 000 with the former Equus Champion responsible for four of the top seven lots on Thursday.
Vercingetorix ended the 2025 Summer Sale with his six lots to sell grossing R8.275 million. His Summer Sale yearlings averaged a very impressive R1 379 167, with Vercingetorix the top Sire by Aggregate and Average at Thursday’s auction.
The champion son of Silvano also enjoyed racetrack success on Thursday. Vercingetorix colt Immediate Edge got his career off to a perfect start when he made a winning debut at Turffontein on Thursday.
Trained, like his sire, by Mike De Kock, the three-year-old came with a late rattle to win Thursday’s Play Soccer 6,10 and 13 Maiden Plate (1600m) by just under a length and a half.
Bred by Shadwell Stud, Immediate Edge is out of the Commands mare Anhaar. Immediate Edge was a R1 200 000 buy from the 2023 National Yearling Sale.
His sire Vercingetorix has had a wonderful season in 2024-2025 thus far, with his flagbearers including such graded stakes winners as Celtic Rumours, Greaterix Oriental Charm, Rascallion, and G1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Double Grand Slam.