The 2011 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale ended on a high, when lot 599, the penultimate lot on sale, was knocked for R1.2 million to John Freeman. The chestnut colt, consigned by Varsfontein Stud, is named True Master. A son of Jet Master, he is out of G3 winner Bushra.
Overall, the sale posted an aggregate of R115 310 000. Of the 600 yearlings catalogued, 557 went through the ring, and just 65 failed to find homes.
The sale’s average price was R244 301, down slightly from last year’s average of R324 557. No fewer than 16 yearlings made R1 million plus. The top priced yearling to sell was Heart’s Content, lot 196. The filly, consigned by Varsfontein, is by champion sire Jet Master out of the stakes winning mare, Jalberry.
Varsfontein Stud enjoyed a fantastic sale, and ended up as the leading vendors by aggregate. Their 17 lots to sell made R7.055 million, and averaged R415 000.
Leading vendor, by average, was Varsfontein Stud (As Agent), they sold seven yearlings for an average price of R 706 429.
Form Bloodstock were the most prolific buyers, and purchased 20 yearlings for an aggregate of R10.2 million.
Champion sire, Jet Master, enjoyed a truly phenomenal sire. The great horse sold 35 of his 37 yearlings on offer, for an aggregate of R21 325 000, making him the leading stallion by aggregate. He averaged R609 286, which made him the leading sire by average, with five or more sold.
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The second day of the 2011 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale was topped by lot 352. Named Master of My Fate, the flashy bay colt is a son of Jet Master, whose progeny have been much sought after the sale. Consigned by Varsfontein Stud, the colt is out of champion racemare Promisefrommyheart. He is also a half-brother to recent Listed Spook Express Handicap winner Justthewayyouare. Master Of My Fate was knocked down, at R3 million, to A Papageorgiou. Varsfontein have enjoyed a magnificent sale, having sold both the highest priced colt and filly, at the time of writing. The sale has also been a great triumph for Jet Master, sire of six yearlings to sell for R1 million plus.
Good horses continued to attract good money on the second day of the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale. Lot 546, a brown colt named Custodian, was knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R1 million. Custodian, consigned by Lammerskraal, is a son of champion sire Western Winter. His dam, the Fort Wood mare Akinfeet, was the first South African bred to win in Dubai and also ran third in the UAE 1000 Guineas.
Form Bloodstock also snapped up lot 553 for R650 000. Unnamed, the chestnut filly is a daughter of world champion Rock of Gibraltar. Consigned by Summerhill Sales, the filly is out of an unraced Zeditave mare, Alborada.
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On the final day lot 421 was knocked down for R2 million. A beautiful chestnut, the filly was bought by Markus Jooste. Named Blue Ridge Mountain, the chestnut is by champion US sire, Giant’s Causeway. She is out of the Distant View mare, and hails from the same family as last year’s Cartier Champion 2YO filly, Misty For Me. Summerhill Sales consigned the filly, who looks a beautiful type.
Early on day three, lot 398 was knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock for R800 000. Consigned by Klawervlei, the grey filly is a daughter of champion juvenile sire Captain Al. She is out of the top-class mare Secret of Victoria – a half-sister to ill fated champion Rabiya.
TBA’s CEO, Jan Naude, was resigned about the sale,” These prices are a realistic reflection of the economy. There was plenty of good money for the top horses, but the middle market struggled.”
