The inaugural Cape Racing Sales Ready To Run & Unbroken 2yo Sale held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday proved a commercial and all-round logistical success according to Kenilworth Racing’s Head Of Racing Operations, Justin Vermaak.
The relatively sudden announcement in early September that the eleven year old local sales company Cape Thoroughbred Sales were to exit the thoroughbred sales arena following an announcement by Cape Racing that they were to launch their own thoroughbred sales division has clearly caused few ripples in the market, and Saturday’s sale was the first platform for the new operation to showcase their skills.
Justin Vermaak – pleased with the inaugural sale (Pic – Lionmane Media)
“For a first holding of our sale at relatively short notice, I feel that things went really well and that showed not only in the numbers, but with the vibe, the good attendance, and the overall reception to the day, with the gallops going smoothly and kicking things off at 10h00 this morning,” Vermaak told the Sporting Post, adding that he was pleased with a reasonably solid clearance rate and an average just a shade under the R200 000 mark.
He also said that the presence of a mixed buying bench that included a number of syndicates, was highly encouraging.
The mixed sale saw 109 lots catalogued, with 103 offered and 86 selling at an aggregate of R16 855 000. The sale average was a very respectable R195 988, with the median levelling at R115 000.
Glen Kotzen is al smiles (Pic – Lionmane Media)
Brett Crawford purchased the top lot, Irish-bred The Abdicator (#48), a son of Gr1 winner No Nay Never out of a full-sister to Equus Champion and triple Gr1 winner Alboran Sea for R1,1 million for Mauritius-based, Mukund Gujadhur.
Top priced filly, and the second highest lot was the very well-related Klawervlei consigned Vercingetorix filly (#36) out of a half-sister to champion sprinter Mythical Flight, who was purchased by leading Gauteng owner Laurence Wernars for R750 000. She will also be trained by Brett Crawford.
Bid-spotter Devon Pretorius (Pic – Lionmane Media)
Maine Chance kingpin Vercingetorix (Silvano) was the leading sire with his 9 lots fetching R3 925 000 at an average of R436 111.
Maine Chance Farms, who were a late withdrawal from the National 2yo Sale due to health and travel precautions, bounced back strongly as top vendors, with their 17 lots boasting an aggregate of R4 230 000 at an average of R248 823.
Julia Pilbeam’s top class Soetendal Estate sold 16 lots for R4 030 000 at an average of R251 875.
Suzette Viljoen chats to Chris Snaith (Pic – Lionmane Media)
Grant Knowles’ Central Route Trading topped the buyers log with 7 purchases grossing R2 395 000 at an average of R342 142, followed closely by Brett Crawford with 6 in the basket at R1 790 000 – an average of R298 333.
The Hollywood Syndicate bought 4 horses for R1 370 000 at an average of R342 500.
The Tattersalls Cape Premier Yearling Sale will be held on 12 January 2023.
- Images supplied by Lionmane Media
See all the prices and buyers – click here.
