The curtain came down on the 2022 BSA National Yearling Sale in Johannesburg on Friday after two days of spirited bidding that would have given renewed hope and provided some fiscal and emotional stimulus to an industry that simply never says die.
Greg Bortz bought the Day 2 topseller, #378 (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
While the heady days of telephone number top lots are seemingly behind us – certainly in the prevailing economic climate – Day 1 provided the sales topper in the shape of the Varsfontein-bred son of multiple SA champion sire Silvano, Forest God (# 226), who was snapped up by Form Bloodstock in tandem with Vermaak Equine for R3,3 million on behalf of a unique power partnership of leading breeders.
Cape owner Greg Bortz has had a tremendous run again this season and he grabbed the limelight on Friday when buying lot 378, a colt named Steadfast by Gimmethegreenlight out of Fidelity by Captain Al, for a day-topper of R2 million.
The handsome fellow is well-related, being a half-brother to Ghaalla and Due Diligence, from the family of Malmoos, Master Of My Fate, Plush, Erik The Red and London News. After a few quiet years, Bortz has bounced back with vigour and his shopping basket totalled 13 lots for R9 705 000 at an average of R746 538.
While we are always mindful of getting lost in the stats fog in an era of global pandemics and failed racing operators, the year-on-year numbers showed remarkable growth on all fronts, with the 2022 aggregate of R136 355 000 outstripping the 2021 total by 33%, with a similar amount of horses going through the ring.
A total of 451 lots were catalogued, with 40 withdrawals. 388 sold, and 30 not finding a new home.
The sale average of R357 887 showed a year-on-year increase of 29%, while the median of R250 000 was 25% higher than last year.
Wilgerbosrdift’s much anticipated lot 407! (Pic- Candiese Lenferna)
Hope And Dreams, the Fire Away colt out of Equus Broodmare Of The Year Halfway To Heaven and the half-brother to Gr1 winners Hawaam, Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat was knocked down to Form Bloodstock on behalf of Candice Bass Robinson for R1,6-million
Champion sire Gimmethegreenlight came through against some popular and tough competition to lead the sires table and registered an aggregate of R26 020 000, with his 37 lots averaging R703 243.
Always an industry leader, Varsfontein Stud sold 24 of their 25 lots for an aggregate of R17 530 000, at a healthy average of R730 417.
On the buying bench we saw a pleasing spread of familiar and new faces, with Form Bloodstock the leading purchaser, buying 34 lots for a total of R22 610 000, at an average of R665 000.
Fast growing Vermaak Equine purchased 20 lots for an aggregate of R9 980 000, marking an average of R499 000. Veteran John Freeman was right on the young gun’s heels, also buying 20 lots for an aggregate of just R20 000 less.
Sabine Plattner topped the buyer averages at R1 160 000 per lot, her quality quintet setting her back R5,8 million.
