The 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale came to a close on Friday with Antony Beck signing for a Gimmethegreenlight filly at R650 000 to top the final day charts.
Lot 517 – topped a quieter day 3 (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
The Day 3 top seller came from Boland Stud as Agent, selling Lot 517, bred on the same cross as Gr3 winning stayer Gimme One Night – who runs in Sunday’s Listed The Sledgehammer. The good-looking filly is out of Scarlet Grits (Parade Leader) a winning half-sister to August Stakes winner Storm Crossing, from the family of Horse Of The Year Irish Flame.
In terms of the structure of the three day sale, the highs of the first day on Wednesday, where a new South African sales record of R9 million was set for a Wilgerbosdrift bred Silvano colt, not unexpectedly hit a sober plateau in the final hours.
Left, Wright or wrong? Hollywood’s James Everett, Kevin Wright and Clint Binda in search of a champion (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Ultimately, the 43rd renewal of South Africa’s longest standing sale will be remembered as ‘tough’ by the majority of breeders, with foreign money providing the fuel for the fire.
Maine Chance Farms evergreen Silvano topped the sire charts with his 20 offspring totalling R20 180 000 at an average of R1 009 000.
Ridgemont Highlands Dynasty was hot on his heel also achieving an average over R1 million, while Captain Al’s final appearance at this sale saw him grossing third highest aggregate of R15 525 000 – and joined the top two with an average over R1 million.
Top vendor Wilgerbosdrift sold 23 of their 27 lots for a gross R17 645 000 at an average of R767 174.
Well read! Koos de Klerk reads a leading racing & breeding publication (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
Form Bloodstock was the top buyer with their 32 lots aggregating R18 365 000 at an average of R573 906.
434 of the 565 lots catalogued were sold for R139 030 000, marginally down on last year.
The average of R320 346 and the median of R175 000 were both down around 12% on last year.
With the export protocol pot simmering, we are all hungry to see what’s for lunch. 2020 is going to be an interesting year!
- The Cape Mare Sale on 21 May is next on the calendar
