The Show Goes On (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Selling thoroughbred racehorses on auction is as much about the horses as it is about the people. The Cape Thoroughbred Sales team have been hard at work for months in co-ordinating and organising the logistics and hospitality for this week’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale which is expected to be attended by over 1000 visitors from South Africa and across the globe.
“We are ready to put on a world-class show,” announced CTS Chief Operating Officer Adrian Todd earlier this week as the first of the 200 well-bred yearlings started arriving at the Cape Town International Convention Centre early on Monday.
Todd confirmed that the operation had gone like clockwork.
“We improve every year. From the parking, to the storage facilities and marshalling of the comings and goings of people, goods and vehicles. We are particularly excited this year as our stable hall will have brand new custom built stalls to accommodate the yearlings in optimal comfort. Agri Expo have erected the stables and from Monday already we have had a steady stream of people inspecting and doing their homework. By Sunday we have to be out and nobody will even know then that there was an international sale conducted here,” he said with a smile.
An integral part of the new age theatre of thoroughbred auctions is the opening ceremony.
While refusing to be drawn on the nature of Thursday’s event, Todd said it would remain a surprise but would be ‘short and have plenty of impact.’
Proceedings are scheduled to commence at 17h30, with 100 lots being auctioned on the evening at an average timing of 28 lots per hour.
Adrian Todd – Chief Operating Officer
Chief Operating Officer – Adrian Todd (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
The 39 year old Australian has been a key player in raising the bar to achieving international standards of comfort and service in the new age of inner city auctions.
Whether you may have loved the atmosphere or not, the days of warm beers and trudging around dusty and uncomfortable stable blocks are long past.
“The Cape Town Convention Centre offers international-class facilities against a backdrop of one of the world’s most beautiful cities and is conveniently situated to all the amenities of accommodation, quality restaurants, banks and other facilities. Our hotel partner is The Taj in Wale Street and we have a shuttle service for visitors needing to get to and from the CTICC.”
With experience in his homeland, the UK and a stint in the USA for Airdrie Stud in Kentucky as well as Lane’s End for a number of years before becoming involved in industry development and education of future horseman, Todd has a wide spectrum of exposure to various facets of the industry on which he can draw.
Prior to joining CTS as Chief Operating Officer he facilitated and developed Grooms Co-operatives Programmes and managed the grooms training initiatives.
He also represented the breeding community in parliament and served as government liaison and in industry development and education of future horsemen.
“I also learnt a lot while travelling extensively with the Keeneland Association in order to further develop training programmes for young people in the Thoroughbred industry. I was a member of the Task Team that conducted the 2011 Cape Premier Yearling Sale and that experience provided me with the foundation on which I build and attempt to develop the sales experience every year.”
Amanda Carey – Sales Manager
Sales Manager – Amanda Carey
Adrian’s right-hand is CTS Sales Manager, Amanda Carey, a lifetime horsewoman, who deals with the A to Z of the business and knows and is known to just about everybody in the industry.
Amanda started in the UK, where her father was an amateur jump jockey.
“I show- jumped as a Junior and for a year as an Adult. I also prepared yearlings for the Hon Pat O’ Neill at Broadlands Stud for ten years, in the heyday of Royal Prerogative and Averof,” she says.
Amanda’s first entry into the sales administration arena was when she started with Lionel Cohen, firstly as Secretary Of the Cape Breeders Club and also while managing Odessa Stud.
She also managed the Arc En Ciel administration in the 16 years her and husband Craig (a leading breeder) spent there.
Amanda was one of the founding pillars when Equimark opened its doors and stayed for 14 years until it closed in 2011, when CTS was started.
Amanda has been with CTS ever since.
John O’Kelly – Auctioneer
Auctioneer – John O’ Kelly
Ireland’s John O’Kelly adds an international flavour as a senior auctioneer for Tattersalls, the largest thoroughbred auction house in Europe and rivalling America’s Keeneland as the world’s biggest and most important bloodstock auctioneers in the world.
John has the most experience of selling top grade world class thoroughbreds having plied his craftsmanship of the ring for near on 30 years.
When the youthful, exuberant O’Kelly, steps into the Tattersalls auction rostrum, it’s the equivalent of a cricketer stepping up to the crease at Lords as a member of the national team. It doesn’t get much better.
“The responsibility of wielding the gavel is still a thrill” says O’Kelly. “It frightens the life out of me every time, but it gives me enormous pleasure and professional satisfaction and I regard it as a privilege.”
The Dublin-born O’Kelly, 45, who lives in Ostend with his Belgian wife, Magali, started his career in Ireland, joined Tattersalls eighteen years ago and has international caps from stints with firms in New Zealand, Germany, France, Australia, Dubai, Norway and has been a regular in South Africa at various guest sales.
One highlight for John and for all South Africans was then he sold Zim bred Ipi Tombe at the Tattersalls December Sales after she had proven the champion runner in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Dubai.
She topped the sale at 850,000 Guineas (then around R9 million) achieving the distinction of the high selling mare in all of Europe. Not bad for a little filly that had started out as a R1500 yearling.
Andrew Miller – Auctioneer
Auctioneer – Andrew Miller
Durban based Andrew Miller began his career as an auctioneer in 1982 and since then has conducted thousands of auction sales throughout South Africa and most neighbouring countries.
He gained valuable experience during a period in 1986 by working in America and travelling alongside some of America’s leading purebred livestock auctioneers.
Andrew has conducted just about every National breed stud sale in the livestock and small stock industry during his 29 years as an auctioneer.
Been on the international panel of auctioneers for the Thoroughbred industry since 2000
He has also during this period sold millions of rands worth of extremely high profile and high value commercial and industrial properties
A partner in the property auction business, In2Assets, he also owns a share in one racehorse.
Andrew loves cricket and he is proud to confirm that his son David is a member of the Proteas.
