Here and Elsewhere Sarah Whitelaw
16 September 2011. (As Published in Sporting Post)Where do SA’s top horses come from?
“It is a well documented fact that a good horse can come from anywhere. Many top horses have been imported into this country, while others are raced by their breeders, or sold privately. The remainder go through the sales ring at some stage in their development. Of the 11,588 horses born between 2004 and 2008, 16.4% of the population went under the hammer at the National Yearling Sale. There have been 63 individual G1 winners bred in this country in the years 2004 to 2008. The years 2009 and 2010 involve horses still too young to have completed statistics. Of these 63 top level winners, no fewer than 39 were bought at the National Yearling Sale. This means that a staggering 61% of G1 winners bred during the period of 2004 and 2008 came off the National Yearling Sale. It is remarkable to think that over a period of four years, nearly two thirds of the country’s top horses all come off one sale.”
With a record like that it is no wonder that the National Yearling Sale is South Africa’s flagship sale!
An important factor for the success and popularity of the NYS is probably its autumnal date. The breeder can allow the yearling to grow and mature at its own steady pace without having to upset nature by pushing it to prepare for an early sale. The buyer is also able to see a horse that is more the finished article. This preference is seen around the world, with leading breeding and racing nations consistently have their major sales taking place in the autumn months. Some early sales have even disappeared altogether (e.g. Keeneland’s July Sale). The result has been the steady stream of Champions and top performers emanating from the NYS over the years – as Sarah Whitelaw points out only 16% of yearlings pass through the NYS yet it has produced 61% of Grade 1 winners. Truly the Source of Champions.
It also seems that buyers are willing to pay higher prices at later sales. The growth in popularity of the BloodStock S.A. Ready-to-Run sale is testament to this. It is interesting to note that in 2011, the four highest prices at the NYS were R3,200,00 – R3,000,000 – R2,100,000 and R2,000,000, surpassing those achieved at CPYS R2,500,000 – R2,500,000 – R2,000,000 and R1,800,000.
The Council and Management of the TBA are committed to ensuring that the National Yearling Sale retains its foremost position and renowned reputation in the South African yearling sales market. Quality is the key – not numbers. The inspection and selection panels will adhere to strict quality standards to ensure that the NYS remains a sale where buyers know they can find well-bred and well conformed yearlings that can become tomorrow’s Champions. It cannot be emphasized more strongly that quality is the prime objective. As a consequence of this policy, it is certain that fewer horses will be catalogued than in previous years.
Entry forms will be sent out soon, and entries will close 4 November 2011. The entry fee will be R2 000 and the acceptance fee R2 500. The latter which will be deducted from proceeds. The sales levy remains at 7%.
Inspections will take place in January and will be carried out by John Kramer, Stanley Bennett and Alan Roux. The selection panel of Jehan Malherbe, Ian Robertson, Koos de Klerk, Alan Laidlaw and Rob Knuppe will sit in early February.
As an innovation for 2012, late entries will be possible up to 1 February on the payment of a R3 000 entry fee (i.e. R3 000 entry plus R2 500 acceptance). Late entries will be allowed for consideration by the selection panel provided that EITHER the yearling was shown to the inspectors during their visit in January OR the yearling was unsold or withdrawn at the CPYS. All late entries will be subject to the normal strict selection criteria and acceptance for the NYS to ensure that quality is not compromised.
We look forward to another successful and rewarding Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale in April 2012.
