Up, up and away! Bloodstock South Africa’s beautiful balloon of post-covid sales results continued its flight to the stars when the curtain came down on the final day of the August 2yo Sale at Germiston on Friday with results that endorsed the upward trajectory of improved results, with the dream merchants playing to a robust and positive market.
While 44 (15%) more lots were sold these past two days, the aggregate of R80 515 000 for the 288 2yo’s sold was a shade over 34% up on the 2023 gross of just under R60 million, which in turn had lumped 23% on 2022 – pleasing numbers in anybody’s book.
The 2024 average of R279 566 was up 14 % on the R244 631 of 2023, which increased 10% from the R220 608 of 2022.
Vercingetorix colt – lot 29, the sales-topper!(Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The year on year median remained constant at R160 000, improving on the R140 000 in 2022, and the abysmal R90 000 of the year covid knocked us all out of the park.
The top-priced lot of the sale was purchased quite early on Day 1 when Rakesh Singh and Zane Kirsten paid R2,8 million for a magnificent Wilgerbosdrift-consigned Vercingetorix colt named Torremolinos (#29). The colt who ‘ticked all the boxes, in the words of his thrilled trainer Tienie Prinsloo, is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar champion racemare Alboran Sea.
He was one of 14 Vercingetorix progeny to find new homes, the Maine Chance kingpin grossing R13,4 million at an impressive average of R957 143.
Multiple SA Champion sire Gimmethegreenlight sold his 10 for R7 675 000, at an average of R767 500.
The versatile Ridgemont star Rafeef remains popular, and he grossed R7 275 000 for his 18, averaging R404 167.
Seasoned sales faces – Sandown’s James Armitage and Summerveld trainer Louis Goosen (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Last season’s record-breaking freshman sensation One World saw his 11 gross R6 175 000, an average of R561 364.
One World notably accounted for the top-selling filly of the sale, the unnamed Klawervlei (as agent) consigned lot 306, who sold to Capital Stud for R1 million. She is a lovely specimen and is bred on the same cross as dual Gr3 winner One Stripe, being out of a four-time winning Silvano half-sister to Gr3 Final Fling Stakes winner Cat And The Moon.
Wilgerbosdrift topped the vendor charts, selling 16 for R12 235 000, an average of R764 688, while Varsfontein, in their golden jubilee year, were next on R8 160 000, averaging R510 000.
A diverse buying bench saw the three leading buyers all grossing over R5 million, with JASM Solutions purchasing 7 2yo’s for R5 725 000, an average of R817 857, while tradition big-hitters Form Bloodstock purchased their 7 for R5,6 million, averaging R800 000. Laurence Wernars’ Triple 8 Clothing boosted the leading owner’s already powerful string, with their 11 strong basket costing R5 170 000, an average of R470 000.
An interesting name on the buyer’s roll from yesteryear was Ebrahim Khan, a leading owner of 20 years ago whose brown and while silks won many Grade 1 races. Mr Khan built on his recent comeback to the game with 8 youngsters at a gross R4 480 000, averaging R560 000. That will no doubt be music to trainer Mark Khan’s ears and a welcome boost for the former champion jockey’s fledgling Highveld yard.
Vasrfontein consigned #330 – Go Johnny Go (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The turnout at the sale, coupled with the positive vibe was described as ‘top-class’, and the market’s appetite for smart horses was underscored when the third last lot to go through the ring, Go Johnny Go (# 330), fetched R2 million to the bid of top buyer, JASM Solutions.
Consigned by Varsfontein Stud, the Gimmethegreenlight colt is from the immediate family of Mystic Spring, which includes Snowdance, Bela-bela, Golden Sickle, Snow Pilot and All Is Secret.
