The 2020 Emperors Palace National 2yo Sale came to a close on Friday evening, and despite the nervous and uncertain climate in which the industry finds itself during an unparalleled year in our history, the long delayed national platform produced a pleasantly positive outcome, with the R39,7 million aggregate a new high, and other indicators showing an encouraging upward tendency in year-on-year statistics.
“The sale again demonstrated that there is always an appetite for a good looking well-bred horse. And it also underscored the enormous resilience of our racing folk! It might be a cliché for some, but let’s be frank – this game is so much bigger than any one individual,” a thrilled veteran Stallion Manager John Freeman, in his 46th year of attending thoroughbred auctions, told the Sporting Post on Friday evening.
Over 46 years later – John Freeman is thrilled with Friday’s results (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“The issues facing the country and the industry are well documented. But we have people that are heavily invested in the horse and the sport through their passion, and in commercial terms, and they have all come to the party again. And the wonderful reality is that the investment is being recycled,” he said.
Freeman cited the example of Susan Rowett and the Varsfontein team – one minute they were selling the Gimmethegreenlight third highest priced lot on the sale for R1 million – and moments later they bought Cheveley Stud’s Mystic Spring filly, the highest fairer sex 2yo on the sale, for R900 000.
“I could quote other examples. We just have so many dedicated people who love this game. And we have new buyers that attended the sale too. Cap that with the topseller going to a KZN trainer – that’s just good for the game! When the tide turns, this industry is going to take off again,” added Freeman who said that the vibe and atmosphere at the TBA Sales Complex was ‘terrific’.
He said that he considered himself a reasonable judge of value, but had been pleasantly surprised when a Futura colt he had liked and earmarked, and budgeted at securing for between R300 000 and R400 000, went for R900 000.
The hard results clearly underscored the Freeman positivity, with both the aggregate and average price up on last year, the aggregate rising 22% from R32 660 00 to R39 715 000, and the average increasing 18,4 % from R103 028 to R122 957.
The median price also rose from 2019, increasing by 16,7% from R60 000 to R70 000.
The increases in aggregate and average are a positive reflection on the quality of horse presented to the sale by breeders, while an active buying bench gives considerable hope for future sales in the coming seasons.
Top of the pops! Lamborghreeni (Lot 285) was the topseller (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Eastern Cape-based Danika Stud consigned the top lot of the two day sale, with their Gimmethegreenlight colt Lamborghreeni (Lot 285) knocked down to Team G Racing for R1 200 000. This was Danika’s highest sale price ever.
Consigned on behalf of the Missing U Syndicate – Rob Knuppe’s strike rate is world class – Lamborghreeni is out of the Trippi mare San Trippi, a four time winner, who ran third in the Listed Scarlet Lady.
The sale also proved a great result for the John Freeman managed Varsfontein sire Gimmethegreenlight. Varsfontein bred East Of The Sun (Lot221), who fetched the third highest price of R1 000 000 to the bid of Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe.
A son of More Than Ready, Gimmethegreenlight ended the sale as the Leading Sire by Aggregate, with his 13 lots to sell grossing R4 745 000.
Wilgerbosdrift, the second leading vendor by aggregate, consigned the sale’s second top lot, Lord Heathfield (Lot 100), with the latter knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R1 100 000.
Lord Heathfield (Lot 100) was the second highest priced lot (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A colt by Maine Chance Farms’ recently retired champion sire Silvano, the well-related Lord Heathfield is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar sired Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge/Gr1 Empress Club Stakes winner Europa Point.
Varsfontein Stud purchased the top filly, when the Paarl farm acquired a daughter of multiple Gr1 winner Wylie Hall and former Broodmare Of The Year Mystic Spring, who last offspring she is, for R900 000. A half-sister to champions Bela-Bela and Rabiya, the filly was consigned to the sale by the Cheveley Stud. (Ed – did you read the Mystic Spring story? See lower down)
Ridgemont Highlands ended the 2020 National 2YO Sale as the Leading Vendor by Aggregate, with the Robertson based nursery selling 11 two-year-olds for a gross total of R2 880 000, while Form Bloodstock topped the sale’s leading buyers list, purchasing 12 two-year-olds for R5 160 000.
A full list of prices and statistics for the National 2YO Sale can be viewed online at www.bsa.co.za
You can read the Mystic Spring background story in the Sprint – click on the image:
