When the going gets tough, the tough get bidding!
The 2019 Emperors Palace National 2yo Sale wrapped up on Friday with some pleasing numbers – and the highest aggregate in five renewals.
Comparisons can be misleading and we are not out of the woods yet.
Joint topseller – a full brother to Bela-Bela and Rabiya (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
But if any Bookmaker had offered odds on the 2019 final statistics projections prior to Thursday, it would have been a case of how much of that do you want!
In the final analysis, 316 of the 392 catalogued lots found a buyer, with an aggregate of R32 575 000(10% up on 2018 when 328 lots sold), an average of R103 085(15% up on 2018) and a median of R60 000 (20% up on 2018).
Last year’s top-price of R1,2 million was out of reach, with R800 000 (the lowest top mark in seven years) the joint top ticket for a Silvano colt (#89) on day 1, and equalled on day 2 by # 267, the Cheveley Stud-bred handsome grey full-brother to past graduate and Equus champion Bela-Bela and the champion male, Rabiya.
The well-related Dynasty colt was always the potential sale benchmark on paper and was signed for by Kestorm Investments.
Skhwelemthini Investements were Leading Buyers at the 2019 National 2YO Sale, purchasing five two-year-olds for R2.365 million. Their tally included the Dynasty colt Victor Emmanuel (Lot 385) –a R700 000 buy from Wilgerbosdrift.
Klipdrif Stud, as agent, ended up as the Leading Vendors, with the Robertson based farm selling 15 of their 20 lots offered for a gross amount of R3.655 million.
Short-lived Equus champion Soft Falling Rain, whose first crop winners last season included G2 Gagasi FM Debutante winner Montreal Mist, was the top Sire at the sale, with all of his 14 lots on offer selling for R2.74 million. His top lot was the Wilgerbosdrift consigned colt named Herecomestherain (Lot 46) who made R600 000.
Bloodstock South Africa’s Gary Grant was understandably upbeat after the sale, commenting, “I think it is safe to say that this sale was a resounding success. It gave vendors some hope in what can best be described as uncertain times in this industry. One of the most pleasing aspects of the sale was the significant part played by several newcomers to the racing industry.”
