The launch platform of some outstanding horses over the years, the Bloodstock South Africa Cape Yearling Sale was held at a sunny Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday and maintained the positivity and upward curve of recent times with encouraging improved year-on-year stats.
BSA’s R12 million added stakes incentives for owners, and Cape Racing’s serious efforts to improve the playing fields, which include the restructure of their juvenile racing programme, which saw One World’s smart son One Stripe bank the R593 750 first cheque in Saturday’s stakes boosted R1 million City Of Cape Town Gr3 Cape Nursery, have contributed in no small measure to the all-round improved ball game.
And while many breeders may still be under pressure, things are improving gradually, even if the turnaround is clearly a five day game!
With 21 less yearlings sold at the same sale last year, the aggregate on Sunday was up from R26 015 000 in 2023 to R27 085 000, with the average tag stepping up 20% to R206 756, and the median jumping 38% to R180 000.
Leading the buyer charts, the Hollywood Syndicate enjoyed one of their busiest sales and walked off with 20 lots, including the joint topseller at R900 000, for an aggregate of R5 260 000 at an average of R263 000.
Hollywood Syndicate’s joint top seller purchase – lot 113 a son of One World (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Hollywood Syndicate purchased the Soetendal Estate consigned Godric Gryffindor (#113) for R900 000.
A son of One World, the athletic specimen is out of Master Of My Fate’s daughter Preferential, a six time winning three-parts sister to the stakes placed Berlinetta, and half-sister to Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes runner up Kilcoy Castle.
Owner Sandy Arundel was the buyer of the R800 000 top-selling filly, and recent eyecatching winner Prom Queen, at the Cape Racing Ready To Run and Unbroken 2yo Sale in October last year, and she went to R900 000 on Sunday for the handsome grey Undivided (#37), a Wilgerbosdrift bred son of One World out of a winning Flower Alley half-sister to the smart performer Silvano’s Dasher.
Sandy Arundel’s joint topseller purchase – lot 37, another smashing son of One World (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Roy Magner went to R475 000 for the top-selling filly on the sale. Named Witching Hour (#115), the Wilgerbosdrift bred daughter of Rafeef is out of a twice winning three-parts sister to former South African Horse Of The Year, and outstanding sire, Dynasty, and is a direct descendant of the hugely influential broodmare Lavendula.
On the sire’s charts, Varsfontein resident Erik The Red was in demand at his first appearance at this sale, with his 16 selling for R3 540 000 at an average of R221 250.
Drakenstein-based One World has made a flying start with his first crop on the track and his timeous impressive first stakes winner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday no doubt awoke further interest.
Like Erik The Red, he is yet another outstanding son of champion Captain Al, and his 10 yearlings sold for R3 370 000 at an average of R337 000.
Wilgerbosdrift resident Buffalo Bill Cody has been something of a newsmaker after the exploits of his first crop son Pistol Pete, and the Wilgerbosdrift flag bearer had 9 sell for R2 840 000, an average of R315 556.
Top vendor was Wilgerbosdrift with the champion farm’s 18 yearlings grossing R7 005 000 at an average of R389 167. The in-form Varsfontein also sold 18 for R4 080 000, at an average of R226 667.
See who bought what, by clicking here.
The BSA National Yearling Sale will be held at the TBA Sales Complex in Gosforth Park on 18 and 19 April.
