It has been some 48 years since the National Yearling Sale moved from the old Milner Park Showgrounds in Johannesburg to the TBA’s Gosforth Park complex.
But despite the ever-changing precinct environmental dynamics, and a nationally competitive and robust sales landscape, the trusted platform always delivers.
Lammerskraal consigned Feast Of Berries was the top-seller on Day 2 (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
When the hammer fell shortly before 15h00 on Friday on lot 346, a beautiful grey Ascot-bred son of Heavenly Blue, the scoreboard reflected that 303 of the 316 lots had sold over the two days for an aggregate of R171 425 000.
This produced an average of R565 759 with a median of R400 000 matching the 2024 number, with 41 more lots sold last year.
A total of 13 yearlings passed through the ring unsold.
History will reflect that Avontuur’s magnificent Rafeef colt October Rush (#197) was the sale topper, falling to a bid of R4,25 million to Form Bloodstock on Day 1.
The half-brother to Gr1 winners Tempting Fate and October Morn was purchased for leading international owner, Lady Christine Laidlaw.
Form Bloodstock also purchased the top-selling filly, lot 1, a Hemel ‘n Aarde consigned daughter of Vercingetorix out of the Gr1 winning Master Of My Fate mare Zarina, who sold R3 250 000, and was yet another sales record for David Hepburn-Brown’s farm in Hermanus.
The top-seller on day 2 was the Lammerskraal Stud-consigned Feast Of Berries (# 244, Vercingetorix – Redberry Lane by Western Winter) who sold for R3-million to Form Bloodstock.
This is the family of Good Traveller, Flying Ice, Purple Diamond and Silvano’s Pride.
Form Bloodstock certainly brought a big cheque book to the show, buying 15 yearlings – four of the top four moneyspinners – for an aggregate of R27 075 000, at an average of R1 805 000.
Jonathan Snaith was next on aggregate, spending an even R10 million for 16 yearlings at an average of R625 000.
The irrepressible Vercingetorix topped the sires’ charts with 25 of his 26 selling for an aggregate of R35 875 000, an average of R1 435 000.
The Ridgemont team will be over the moon with Rafeef again attracting plenty of attention, with 27 of his 29 selling for an aggregate of R27 125 000, an average of R1 004 630.
Click here for all the sale prices.
Next up is the BSA KZN Yearling Sale at Sun Coast on 3 July.
A detailed report to follow.
