Lot 141 – What A Player x William Longsword
William Longsword colt ticks all the boxes!
Boland Stud will be offering a colt from one of the very best families in the world at the 2023 National Yearling Sale. The colt, who has been named Rollo The Viking, is a son of Gr.1 Cape Guineas winner William Longsword, whose offspring have been firing on all cylinders this season, and the classy racemare What A Player. The latter, a daughter of multiple Equus Champion and very successful stallion What A Winter, won twice and finished second in the Listed East Cape Guineas and third in the Listed Breeders Guineas.
Gr.2 Winner Dyce (by William Longsward)
A three-parts sister to Gr.2 Debutante Stakes third Winter Sun, What A Player is a half-sister to the classy galloper S’il Vous Plait who earned more than R800 000 in prize money. What A Player and S’il Vous Plait were produced by the well bred mare Shaan Madary. The latter was sired by French Derby winner and outstanding sire and broodmare sire Darshaan -whose daughters have produced more than 200 stakes winners including English Derby winners High Chaparral and Pour Moi, French Derby winner Darsi and four time Gr.1 winner Al Kazeem. Shaan Madary, whose half-sister produced Gr.2 Celebration Mile winner and successful sire Kodi Bear and who is from the immediate family of French champion and triple Gr.1 winner Esoterique, is directly descended in female line from 1000 Guineas winner Picture Play.
The latter, herself a descendant of the hugely influential taprootmare Paradoxical, is ancestress of a host of high-class performers including British classic winners Fairy Footsteps, Light Cavalry, User Friendly, Moonshell, and Royal Palace, as well as the hugely successful sire and broodmare sire Welsh Pageant, Golden Slipper queen Miss Finland, and King George IV & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes winner Doyen -to name just a few! Rollo The Viking’s sire William Longsword has been in tremendous form this season with his flagbearers including World Sports Betting Grand Heritage runner up Dyce, smart debut winner Back In Business, and promising two-year-olds Dumbledore and Ice Star. As well as top-class 3YO’s Cain The Conqueror and Melech. William Longsword’s sire Captain Al has enjoyed notable success when mated to mares hailing from the same female line as Rollo The Viking. This mating has not only produced triple Gr.1 winner Captain America (Horse Chestnut Stakes, Gold Challenge, Champions Cup), but also Gardenia Handicap second Adorable. The latter is best known as the dam of Gr.1 Vodacom Durban July/G1 WSB Cape Town Met winner Kommetdieding, who is now standing at stud.
Gr.2 Winner DYCE (by William Longsward)
Cape Guineas (RSA) – William Longsword
“Some dreams can be bought – buy this colt and the world is your oyster”
Boland Stud invites you to make an excursion to Ceres to view their impressive draft of yearlings for the BloodStock South Africa National Yearling Sale.
From today, until Wednesday 13th April at a time suitable to you. To schedule your visit please contact Eugene Freeman on +27848163741 or email him at eugenefreeman@bolandstud.co.za Make a day or a long weekend of your trip and enjoy all that the beautiful Ceres valley has to offer. We look forward to the pleasure of your company.
From Saturday 15th April, yearlings will be at TBA Complex in Johannesburg for viewing. The BloodStock South Africa National Yearling Sale is taking place on Friday 21st & Saturday 22nd April at the TBA Complex, Gosforth Park, Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa.
If you are unable to attend the sale in person please make sure you register to bid online. Online bidding registration and buyer’s card applications can be done by emailing Ashley De Klerk at ashley@equine.co.za or contacting her on +27845141723.