Not Bad For A First Time!

Robyn Klaasen of Suikerbosview Stud was a first-time vendor at the BSA National Yearling Sale last week. With just one lot offered, she and her team are happy at their maiden experience of South Africa’s longest standing sale.

Charismatic Hollywoodbets-sponsored Summerveld trainer MJ Odendaal signed the chit at R150 000 for their sole lot, a handsome well-related colt (#434) from a winning family. He is by multiple Gr1 winner Rabada out of the Kingmambo mare, Depective Charm(IRE).

“We are a new stud and our boy is by a new stallion. We understand why people could’ve been a bit sceptical! We do, however, believe that the buyers picked up a bargain and we wish them well. The mare has already proven herself, having produced black type winners with various other stallions – so I don’t believe that him being by a new stallion should’ve been a ‘deterrent’. But it was a very competitive sale with lots of quality horses, and we are happy with how he sold,” Robyn told the Sporting Post.

She labelled it a ‘fantastic sale for buyers’.

“But not as much for the sellers. The quality of horses was unbelievable. But they just didn’t fetch the prices they probably warranted.”

She added that, on the flipside and given the current state  of South African horseracing, she felt a buyers’ market is exactly what was needed.

“We need owners, and that means we need to try and make racing more affordable to the middle class,” she muses.

She pointed out the positives – the slow emergence out of the covid-19 pandemic as a primary catalyst.

“We’ve also had a few stakes increases. Hollywoodbets are doing phenomenal work with racing in KZN. And MOD have taken over Phumelela and are investing a lot of money to keep racing going,” she enthused.

She says that she initially hoped that all of this would mean that buyers would feel a sense of  encouragement and perhaps be willing to spend more money.

“But that just wasn’t the case. To be realistic, we need to also realise that many individuals from all walks of life have been affected all round and are still recovering.”

Now that the sale is behind them, Robyn and her team intend to continue upgrading their stud and facilities, with their exciting long-term goal being a move to the Cape, where they will have easier access to stallions.

“We are also on the lookout for a few more mares. And we are rebuilding our track so that hopefully this time next year, we can add pre-training to our lists of services. We are also currently looking at our options to stand our own stallion – and even bring some breeders to Johannesburg for once!”

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