REVIEW & RESULTS OF THE 2021 AUCTION

After this impressive display, Henning Pretorius gave an opening speech to welcome the assembled crowd. In his own words:

“With all of the changes over the past 12 months both globally and here at the Stud, I can honestly say that my love for sport horses and my vision to see South African horses and teams competing at international levels has never been surer. Aside from my love and focus on bloodlines and genetics, I am more committed than ever to the development of our young horses and the Capital Stud team. We continue to seek better ways to give our young horses the best introduction and exposure in their formative years, with all of our horses now spending an extra year under saddle. We feel this and the idyllic conditions at Summerhill will ensure our horses have the time and space to grow and develop into the world-class athletes they are bred to be.”

There is no doubt that the work Henning and his dedicated
team have put into creating this collection has produced some exceptional athletes, and a glance at the young stallions on display and the damlines he has imported, shows how committed he is to the future of the sport.

Henning then went on to look at the successes of the Stud in the past 12 months. In his words:

• ◊  “Capital My Lady needs no introduction, winning everything there is to win with her wise beyond his years, Thomas van Rijckevorsel. After selecting her on our 2017 auction himself, he has certainly proven that this partnership is the one to beat, and we look forward to seeing where Thomas will go with his vision, determination and the sheer weight of his talent.

• ◊  Capital Moonlight and Capital Kamron, again a pair needing no introduction, arrived in Belgium with Kelly O’Connor earlier this year. The two of them are excelling under the Rotoflo banner, with Capital Moonlight coming 7th in his first-ever 1.40m competition. We know that big news is sure to come from Kelly and her overseas team.

• ◊  Then, Capital Levubu, another of our magnificent stallions, is performing exceptionally under Bronywn Meredith Dos Santos and now flying around the 1.50m tracks with ease and consistent podium finishes.

• ◊ Capital Hurley and Capital Don Castello with Jorja Rorich are also ascending the showjumping ranks at impressive speed. With podium finishes under their belts, we know we’ll see much more of this team next year.
• ◊ Then, of course, there is Capital Magic Boy – excelling at the top of the sport with Ronnie Healy. We’ve been delighted to see him progressing through the grades and know there are big things to come from this talented horse.
• ◊ In other exciting news, Capital Night Star, the full-brother of Capital Magic Boy, has been bought back by the Stud, as Nicole Horwood and I are in no doubt of his talent and plan to send him overseas to show his quality on the international circuit.”

THE COLLECTION

The selection of horses on offer on this auction should make the Capital Stud Team incredibly proud. Henning’s vision, the talented team of riders and, of course, the horses themselves are all responsible for the success of this auction. From top international level competitors to the best amateur horses available, there really was a horse for everyone on this auction.

To reflect on this collection and its origins, one also has to look at the stallions who have produced them. Homerus, Kronos and of course, Colnardo had a large influence on this collection, and these stallions are deservedly a great source of pride for all at Capital. And, yet, the biggest influence, with seven spectacular progeny on the auction, was undoubtedly Rendement. Henning fittingly finished his speech with a very emotional tribute to Rendement:

“As most of you will almost certainly know, we lost Rendement suddenly just a few months ago. This horse was a true gentleman,
with endless talent and, in the words of Johan Lotter, the heart of a
lion. Rendement competed internationally with Johan, achieving great acclaim overseas; all of which culminated in a wonderful performance at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010. We couldn’t be more proud to have provided this stallion with the retirement he so well deserved at Summerhill Equestrian for the last few years, and just wish that he could have had a few more years to further bask in the glory of his achievements. We feel his passing keenly. Our only consolation is the talent and temperament he so clearly passes onto his offspring. For anyone taking home a Rendement youngster tonight, please know that you are sitting on a truly great horse, carrying the genes of the most decorated stallion, who until very recently, stood on South African soil. He was a special horse and his offspring are no different.”

With this demonstration of Henning’s dedication and love for his sporthorses, the auction commenced with Capital Cadillac, Lot 1, entering the room. As soon as he entered the arena, the energy grew to a new level. For the next few hours, the bids flew with a mixture of bids from the floor, and the ‘ping’ of the online bidders. Cheers of excitement and pure exhilaration filled the room, culminating in emotional meetings between horse and rider as the hammer came down. If the love felt in the room was anything to go by, these horses are going to some very special homes. We are certain that it will not be long before these horses are clearing up in the showjumping arena.

YOUNG AND CURRENT STALLIONS

• ◊  Capital Toulouse (2019) (Diarado x Cha-Cha (Chacco Blue). This stallion is out of the same mother as Capital Moonlight.

• ◊  Capital Jaures (2019) (Baloubet du Rouet x Hera van’T Roosakker (Wandor van de Mispelaere))

• ◊  Capital Todos de Regor (2019) (Chacco Blue x Centa de Muze (Cento))

• ◊  Capital Hermes Pommex Z (2019) (Halifax van her Kluizebos x Nusha (Emerald van’T Ruytershof))

• ◊  Capital Harton vd Berghoeve Z (2019) (Heartbreaker x Hiamant van’T Roosakker (Diamant de Semilly))

• ◊  Then the young stallions already on the showjumping circuit and those soon to join, Capital Impossible, Figaro d’Isigny, Qorland and Cornet Blue.

• ◊  We also had a chance to see Levubu and Kronos, who need no introduction, but it was beautiful to see them under a different spotlight.

RESULTS