On a weekend when two smart 3yo’s sent the adrenaline levels soaring, Bloodstock South Africa maintained the extraordinary momentum in the sales ring after some testing years, with another positive outcome to the single session November 2yo Sale at the TBA Sales Complex in Johannesburg.
Everybody wants to own a Charles Dickens or Union Square, and it’s that dream that keeps the fires of passion burning in anybody who has been anywhere near a thoroughbred.
And we saw it in the results of the BSA November 2yo Sale on Sunday, after what has been a long but positive turnaround year for racing in South Africa.
The great news for racing in KwaZulu-Natal is that the top-priced lot off Sunday’s sale will be trained out of Summerveld.
The magnificent topselling Gimmethegreenlight filly – lot 172 (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Sterling Miller of Pound Bloodstock signed the R1,2 million ticket for lot 172, a magnificent Gimmethegreenlight filly consigned by Sandown Stud as agent for Shadwell SA. Miller will race her with veteran owner, Tony Jelinski.
The bay is out of VAR’s daughter Ghaalla, who was the top-priced yearling sold in the very same ring at the 2017 National Yearling Sale, when purchased for R5 million. She was trained by Mike de Kock and went on to win the 2018 Gr3 Fillies Mile. She was bred by Varsfontein and hails from the family of Master Of My Fate, Malmoos, Erik The Red and the well-performed current 3yo, Karangetang
In a chat with the Sporting Post, Sterling Miller confirmed that it was a very ‘fair’ sale in his opinion and that he was thrilled with his six purchases, one of which will be trained by Mike and Adam Azzie, and the balance by his Dad, Mike.
“The top-seller ticked all the boxes for us. Beautiful conformation, blood and track performance-we are very excited and are happy with our basket,” added Miller.
The sale compares favourably year on year, with 40 more lots catalogued this time. The top seller last year was R800 000.
A total of 158 of the 196 lots were sold on Sunday for an aggregate R25 200 000 (2021 – R18 825 000), at an average of R159 494(2021 – R139 444) and a median of R105 000 (2021- R100 000).
Topselling colt hails from Riverton – lot 160 (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Top priced colt was the R650 000 paid by Lynton Ryan for lot 160, Riverton’s Vercingetorix colt out of a winning half-sister to Gr1 Empress Club Stakes winner Fair Maiden. This is a black-type loaded family with a host of winners.
Duncan Barry was understandably thrilled to enjoy the honour and was always upbeat that he held an ace in terms of a 2yo that would attract interest.
Vercingetorix was once again the hot-in-demand sire, with his 12 lots selling for a gross R4 095 000 at an average of R341 250.
Riverton’s Duncan Barry shares a moment with Bruce Le Roux of Blue Sky Thoroughbreds (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Newcomer Danon Platina, a son of Deep Impact, attracted plenty of interest with the one-time Japanese champion juvenile’s 6 lots selling for an aggregate of R2 415 000 at an average of R402 500
Top vendor was Mauritzfontein, whose 11 lots sold for R3 280 000 at an average of R298 182.
Leading buyer was JASM Solutions, whose 11 lots grossed R2 635 000 at an average of R329 375.
