Sunday’s Cape Racing Sales Thoroughbred Stud Mixed Sale, featuring the Nadeson Park Stud dispersal, signalled the end of an era for South African racing and breeding as a large portion of the equine interests of the late Hassen Adams, who passed away in March this year, were liquidated.
The sale was held at the magnificent Nadeson Park Stud in Hermanus and was an emotional occasion for the family of the man who had a lifelong passion for the horse.
The late Hassen Adams pictured with son Rayaan at Nadeson Park (Pic – Supplied)
“My Dad had a personal connection to every horse on this farm and I felt some mixed feelings seeing his pride and joy fetching R5 000 in some cases. But we wish the buyers well and we hope that their dreams come true,” Rayaan Adams, CEO of Nadeson, told the Sporting Post.
He confirmed that the family would maintain their racing interests, but that that they would not be pursuing the breeding side of their business.
“We will be restructuring our operation and apportioning sections of the farm for rental. Breeding racehorses on a large scale is definitely not for the financially frail of heart and we will use the valuable land to greater benefit,” confirmed Rayaan Adams.
The dispersal sale represented a unique opportunity to acquire high-quality thoroughbreds, including exceptional breeding stock, racehorses, and yearlings and that is confirmed in the fact that 81 of the 88 lots sold for R7 780 000 at an average of R96 049 and a median of R40 000.
Sally Bruss (right) chats to daughter Caitlin at the sale on Sunday (Pic – Wayne Marks)
Paardeberg Stud purchased the sale topseller Sunset Tripp in foal to champion sire Gimmethegreenlight for R700 000.
Paardeberg’s Sally Bruss told the Sporting Post that it was ‘a competitive market’ and that the positivity of recent years was in evidence.
“At a dispersal sale of quality just two years or so ago, we never saw anything near these kind of prices. This is very encouraging for the industry,” added Sally.
Top buyer on aggregate was Jonathan Snaith who bought three lots for R1 100 000 at an average of R366 667.
“A very healthy market,” the astute Snaith told the Sporting Post.
