The South African horseracing and breeding industry again showed its extraordinary resilience and passion for the game with Sunday’s Bloodstock South Africa Cape Yearling Sale breaking all past records.
While comparisons to the testing times of the height of the Covid-19 pandemic can distort the reality of any given situation, history will show that the 2022 BSA Cape Yearling Sale broke genuine new ground on merit, with the magic million rand marker also being reached for the first time – and then twice!
Millstream’s Lot 61 – sold for R1 million (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The numbers simply don’t lie!
With 145 lots catalogued (141 in 2021), year-on-year the aggregate soared 92% to R22 570 000 from 2021’s R11 785 000, while the average rocketed 86% from R83 582 to R155 655, with the median rising very favourably from R65 000 to R110 000 (69%).
Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby winning owner Greg Bortz, no doubt fired up by Pomp And Power’s thrilling win in Saturday’s final Gr1 of the Cape Summer Season, was in fine form and signed both chits for the R1 million joint top lots – a Vercingetorix colt (#61) from Millstream Farm and a handsome son of Champion Sire Gimmethegreenlight (# 101) from the Varsfontein draft.
Mr Bortz led the buyer tables on average and aggregate – his quartet averaging R737 500 for an aggregate of R2 950 000.
Varsfontein Lot 101 – sold for R1 million (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A renowned producer of class, Varsfontein, the leading vendor with their 14 selling for R4 235 000 at an average ticket of R302 500, also provided the top filly of the sale, when SA Champion Owner Suzette Viljoen went to R700 000 for #89, a beautiful daughter of current SA General Sires log leader Vercingetorix.
A half-sister to 3 winners, including Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes runner up Master Of Illusion, Golden Sickle is out of Listed Laisserfaire Stakes/Lady’s Pendant winner Victorian Secret – a full-sister to dual Gr1 winner Snowdance.
Maine Chance kingpin Vercingetorix was the flavour of the day after celebrating his fourth Gr1 winner in Saturday’s Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby. The champion son of Silvano was sire one of the two R1 000 000 sales-topping colts, the top-selling filly and also topped the sale’s Leading Sires list.
Vercingetorix had five yearlings on the sale, selling for a gross total of R3 000 000, and averaging an impressive R600 000.
The BSA marquee in the Kenilworth Parade Ring (Pic – Tony Mincione)
BSA CEO Michael Holmes was thrilled by the record-breaking results of the regional sale and the fact that there was standing room only in the marquee bordering the Kenilworth parade ring.
“We have come out of some of the most trying times for our industry and the country. But clearly racing folk are both resilient and positive about the sport’s prospects. While most do it for the love and passion, the fact that we have introduced increased incentives and have six well endowed related races across the country next year, certainly boosts the attraction of getting involved. We had a fantastic day at Kenilworth on Saturday and the venue was a real winner. Thanks to Cape Racing, our hosts for the outstanding hospitality. And of course, a word of gratitude and appreciation to all our vendors and buyers. I hope that there are many champions to come out of this sale!”
