A decision to split the longstanding traditional January Premier Yearling Sale into two defined sales platforms has reaped rich rewards for vendors and the Cape Racing Sales team, with Thursday’s inaugural Summer Sale delivering the highest average South African yearling auction price in eight years.
The numbers don’t lie and when the hammer fell on the final lot just after 15h15, 74 of the 86 lots had banked an aggregate of R46 355 000, at an average of R626 419 and a median of R500 000, the latter reflecting a consistent flow of prices across all sectors, without the skewing factor of isolated big ticket bombers.
Kira Pickford, Gaynor Rupert and Kevin Sommerville of Drakenstein Stud survey the arena action, with Pete Carolin also in the frame (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
To find a bigger average, we have to go all the way back to the Premier Sale in the heady days of 2017, where 223 lots went through the ring at an average of R699 000.
But the median of R375 000 then, versus R500 000 on Thursday, probably tells the true story of improved health and a brighter more stable future.
After scorchingly hot weather in the build-up, the first Summer Sale was held in pleasant conditions on Thursday afternoon with a range of diverse buyers present from around South Africa enjoying the WSB Cape Town Met week vibe and related social activities.
And like most anything in life, successful outcomes are achieved through considered timing and properly listening to your market, realities that have not been lost on Cape Racing’s Executive: Racing & Bloodstock, Justin Vermaak, who was delighted to acknowledge the strong statistics as an indication that Cape Racing Sales are headed in the right direction and that their strategic consultation and planning was paying dividends.
“We are thrilled for all stakeholders. The plan was to offer the more precocious, well grown forward types at what is a specimen focused sale in the thrill of the Met build-up, as opposed to a two day March sale that caters for the more classic, pedigreed types. We have had fantastic buy-in from buyers and vendors, and I am so pleased that the rewards were there for the breeders who delivered the goods and staunchly supported us through a few challenges on the venue front,” Vermaak told the Sporting Post.
Triple 8 Clothing’s Laurence Wernars – top buyer (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The buying bench included many of the big hitters, including Laurence Wernars who secured the top lot of both sexes in Triple 8 Clothing’s spend of R10 050 000 for 11 yearlings at an average of R913 635.
Jonathan Snaith bought 10 youngsters for R8 500 000, while Hollywood Racing got 3 for a gross R2 350 000, an average of R783 333.
Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz, who is no doubt eyeing the Met trophy after his Hollywoodbets Durban July success last term, bought 4 for R2 050 000, an average of R512 500.
Highveld-based owner Arun Chadha completed the aggregate top 5 with his 2 yearlings totalling R2 050 000, an average of R512 500.
Drakenstein Stud sold the topseller, a Vercingetorix half-brother to two winners, including the useful Gimmethatpearl.
Falling to the R2,2 million bid of Laurence Wernars’ Triple 8 Clothing, Chestnut Verse (#87) is out of the Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Chestnuts N Pearls.
All smiles! Drakenstein’s topseller, Chestnut Verse (# 87) is a son of Vercingetorix and was purchased by Triple 8 Clothing (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The top filly on the sale was also acquired by Triple 8 Clothing and is also by Vercingetorix.
Bred by Avontuur, the nattily named Proud Mary (#66) fetched R2 million and is bred on the same cross as ill-fated Gr1 winner Alesian Chief. She is a half-sister to champion Thunderstruck, who stands at Ridgemont. Proud Mary is out of Var’s Gr2 Post Merchants winning daughter Varikate.
A pleased Pippa Mickleburgh told the Sporting Post that she was ‘very chuffed’ with Avontuur’s results and lauded the CRS team for a well-run sale.
“Proud Mary is a lovely filly and I am very happy with my other three yearlings. They were a really good bunch and this sale is actually always a good one for us. I took one off the sale as the heat was an issue – in fact the one and only drawback was the heat. But Mother Nature is Mother Nature, and she’s not a controllable. It was a compact catalogue and the strong buying bench meant that the prices were good. Well done Cape Racing Sales!” she concluded.
Avontuur’s quartet sold for an aggregate R3 625 000, at an average of R906 250.
Klawervlei (as agent) topped the vendor charts with their 14 achieving an aggregate of R8 275 000, at an average of R591 071.
Drakenstein sold 7 for R7 850 000 at an average of R1 121 429, while Varsfontein’s 10 lots grossed R4 050 000.
John and Renee Everett were pleased with Narrow Creek’s sextet grossing R3 800 000, at an average of R633 333.
And as history has shown, it was the in-demand proven stallions that again dominated the show.
Vercingetorix has had eight individual stakes winners this term and looks long odds-on to clinch a well-deserved first General Sires title.
The son of Silvano could be on the cusp of an overdue maiden Met success and topped the sire’s averages, his 6 lots selling for R8 275 000 at an average of R1 379 167.
Ridgemont’s Redoute’s Choice star Rafeef is always in demand, and his 6 sold for R5 825 000, an average of R647 222.
Freshman champion One World may be the new kid on the block, but he doesn’t stand back for the proven gang, his 6 selling for R5 350 000, an average of R891 667.
See the CRS Summer Sale full price list here.
Cape Racing Sales will now begin preparations to host the prestigious Premier Sale, scheduled for 14 and 15 March 2025 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. After having received overwhelming support from breeders, this auction will be a two-day sale.
