The 2024 renewal of the Cape Racing Winter Yearling Sale at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Thursday proved a winner, despite some stiff opposition from the Cape winter weather.
Described as a ‘Grade 1 event with a fabulous vibe’ by Jonathan Snaith, who signed for seven yearlings on a busy afternoon, the Cape Racing Winter Yearling Sale outstripped the 2023 edition, with 99 of the 115 catalogued lots going through the ring, producing an aggregate of R14 730 000 with an average of R171 279 and median of R135 000.
Topseller – a One World colt (#95) bred by Drakenstein fetched R1 million (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Gina Goldsmith paid R1 million for the top-seller, a handsome son of this season’s fast ascending freshman sire One World (Captain Al). Lot 95 is bred on a similar cross to Gr1 winner Miss Florida, and his dam is a winning daughter of Trippi and Gr3 Champagne Stakes winner State Blue.
Cape Racing Executive: Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak said that it was very pleasing that a regional sale could prove to be an attractive platform for both breeders and buyers, and that the increased size catalogue, and the 75% increase in average price year-on-year, was clear evidence that it was popular on all fronts.
“The results are a reflection of a strong yearling market and that our bonus series, and the pinhooking and syndicate incentive schemes, are popular drivers. Our topseller at R1 million also demonstrates again that good horses put their hands up, and that there is always money for quality,” he added.
Please click on the image below to see all the prices:
On the vendor charts, Klawervlei Std (as agent) topped the aggregate, with turnover of R3 020 000, and their 13 lots averaging R232 308.
Drakenstein sold their 5 yearlings for a total of R1 520 000.
While Gina Goldsmith topped the buyer averages, with her duo grossing R1 030 000 at an average of R515 000, Equine Excellence was top on aggregate, with their spend of R1 220 000 on a quartet, averaging out at R305 000.
On the sire charts, One World (Captain Al) and Vercingetorix (Silvano) paced it out, with the freshman’s aggregate of R2 470 000 for 6 sold at an average of R411 667, marginally pipping the Maine Chance resident, whose 5 yearlings fetched R2 350 000, resulting in a leading average of R470 000.
Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith proudly show off Daniel (#110) a son of One World, who fetched R400 000. Drakenstein Yearling Manager Dassie and new co-owner Alexa Bortz complete the frame (Pic – Dylan Gray)
Jono Snaith said that the rain didn’t dampen the mood of buyers, with the increase of 75% in the average price, ‘a staggering number’.
“The quality of the draft was in no way superior to that of 2023 so this clearly indicates a healthy upward trend. Hopefully the EU protocol will be fully operational soon so yearlings could walk out of the sales ring, across the track and directly into the quarantine station for export,” he added.
The 1881 Lounge was packed and the vibe was good (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Snaith said that he was thrilled to see the owners and buyers having a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in The 1881 Lounge.
“Owner experience is crucial to the success of racing and Cape Racing Sales really produced a Group One event today – the vibe was fabulous,” he concluded.
