The vibe is up and breeders overall should be feeling happier. The fact that owners are prepared to spend is a clear vote of confidence in the future of our racing.
Those were the words of Corne Spies, a vastly experienced trainer and one of the most astute buyers around as the shadows lengthened over the TBA Sales Complex at the end of the final of two sessions that brought the curtain down on the BSA National 2yo Sale on Saturday.
Corne Spies – positive that things are looking up (Pic -Candiese Lenferna)
Corne, who has enjoyed terrific success in the BSA Sales races with his 2020 graduates William Robertson and Supreme Quest, said that he was happy with his 2021 2yo Sale quintet and it was always their philosophy to buy ‘above average horses at below average prices’.
“It was a tiring but satisfying exercise and I’m excited by what we managed to get over the past two days. Also the timing last year in November wasn’t ideal and the traditional August slot works far better in allowing us time to go for the maiden race incentive. So all said, we are restocking and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here for racing,” he told the Sporting Post while loading his new intake and pointing out that shares are available.
The Spies positivity is underscored by the year-on-year numbers, with the aggregate of R39 425 000 (275 lots sold) falling just under R300 000 short of November 2020, with 25% less horses catalogued and 17% less horses sold this time round.
The average went to R143 364, up from R122 957 (November 2020) and R103 028 in August 2019.
The median at the close on Saturday was R90 000, up from R70 000 (2020) and R60 000 in August 2019.
The top price of R1,2 million in November 2020 was matched on Saturday when the hammer fell to Form Bloodstock’s bid on a Dynasty colt, # 224.
Handsome top-seller Herero Secret (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Named Herero Secret, he is a full-brother to Mike de Kock’s impressive Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Desert Miracle and half-brother to Summer Cup third Tree Tumbo. The handsome colt is out of top racemare Welwitschia, a Gr2 winning daughter of leading sire and broodmare sire Oasis Dream.
Second top price, and the leading filly on the sale, was Mauritzfontein’s What A Winter daughter Maggie Smith, #291.
Purchased for R850 000 by KZN trainer Wendy Whitehead, she is out of a three-time winning daughter of New Approach, and from a top family.
See all the sale prices – please click here
While the evergreen champion Dynasty topped the sire averages with his trio averaging R573 333, and Silvano, who only passed away days before the sale, right on his heels on R365 000 for his quartet, it was Champion Freshman Rafeef who got the pulses going with his 11 lots averaging R336 818.
See all the sire numbers – please click here
Wilgerbosdrift sold 19 of their 20 2yo’s for an aggregate of R6 175 000 for an average of R325 000.
Phil Georgiou and Paul Lafferty – serious business (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
See all the vendors – please click here
The buyers turned out in numbers, with Form Bloodstock topping the aggregate, with their 14 lots costing R4 630 000.
Vermaak Bloodstock and the Hollywood Syndicate followed.
See all the buyer stats – please click here
The next major event on the national calendar is the CTS Ready To Run and Unbroken Two-Year-Old Sale scheduled for Sunday 31 October at Kenilworth Racecourse.
The BSA November 2yo Sale is carded for 20 November at the TBA Sales Complex in Johannesburg.
