National Sale Ends With Gains

NATIONAL SALE ENDS WITH GAINS 
By Kelsey Riley 
It took until late in the second session of the Emperor's Palace National Yearling Sale yesterday for the high prices to emerge, but emerge they did, with the top four prices of the day coming in the final two hours of trade. The strength of the middle market, however, had by then became the overriding theme of the day, and the sale as a whole. The two-day stand ended with a median of R240,000, up 20% from 12 months ago, while the average climbed 17.8% to R347,776. The gross of R138,415,000 was up 10% on last year. The buyback rate was down to 15.3% from 19.7%. 
“The median price went up 20%–that shows a very strong middle market,” said Tom Callaghan, Chief Executive Officer of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. “The bottom end struggled a bit, and the top end was a bit patchy at times, but it's very exciting for us. It shows that the price of a Thoroughbred is increasing. It was tough trading for a lot of the smaller breeders and some of the new or unfashionable stallions. What was proved today is that you have to have the right page and the right horse. For overseas clients this sale offers excellent value if you compare our average and median price to other sales. We had a lot of foreign interest, particularly from Hong Kong, the UK and Dubai, and even with these increases there was still incredible value for money.” 
Trainer Mike de Kock also expressed satisfaction from the buyer's point of view. 
“It's been unbelievably strong,” he said. “It's a strong catalogue, and I think breeders are getting what they deserve. The foreign interest we've been getting here has helped the market, and I think with the Rand as weak as it is, it's very attractive to foreign buyers. The breeders are producing horses that are able to compete on the world stage. The pedigrees are there and it's very much a value sale in dollars. It's encouraging; it looks like the industry is very strong in South Africa. I think it'll get even stronger if we sort out export protocol out.” 
Trainer Justin Snaith also noted that the buying market was competitive for quality horses. 
“There are certain horses that are obviously the nicer horses, and a lot of the same people are on those horses,” he said. “A nice horse is getting really good money. It's expensive, but they certainly are worth it. If you like a horse, you really have to go out and pay that little bit extra.” 

Millard Goes Two-For-Two… 
Hong Kong-based trainer Tony Millard got the fireworks started during the sale's first session Sunday when going to a sale-topping R3.75 million for a colt by Silvano (Ger), and the South African native bookended proceedings yesterday when prevailing for the sale's second most expensive youngster, a son of Captain Al (SAf), for R2.4 million (US$225,719) four lots from the end. 
Lot 524 was foaled Nov. 11, a late foal by Southern Hemisphere standards. Noting the strapping bay's potential to fill out yet further, auctioneer Graeme Hawkins asked for a bold opening bid of R2 million, but eventually settled for R500,000. It didn't take long for the bidding to escalate above the R1 million mark, but in the end no one in the pavilion could match the power of Millard, bidding from the back ring. Lot 524 is the sixth foal from champion Promisefrommyheart (SAf) (Elliodor {Fr}), making him a half to the dual Grade 2 scorer Master Of My Fate (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) and the stakes-winning Justthewayyouare (SAf) (Fort Wood). Like Millard's Silvano colt, the Captain Al will be tested with an as yet undecided South African-based trainer before potential export to Hong Kong. 
“We'll just have to bide our time, and hopefully he can run,” Millard said. “He's really big, so we'll just give him a bit of time. He was a lovely big horse. I think he's a lovely balanced horse, and was one of the picks of the sale. I bought both horses I really liked and I'm very happy to go away with them both.” 

Building a Dynasty… 
A son of Dynasty (SAf) from Cheveley Stud at last provided the fireworks the session had been lacking approaching the final hour when hammered down to John Freeman, bidding on behalf of owner Jack Mitchell, for R2 million (US$188,099). Lot 487, out of the stakes winner and Group 1-placed Oceana (SAf) (Elliodor {Fr}), is from the immediate family of champion and young sire Argonaut (SAf) (Western Winter). As the owner of three-time Group 1 winner Jackson (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}), Mitchell was going back to a sire that has served him well. 
“He is my favorite sire,” Mitchell noted, adding that he currently has 20 horses in training. His newest acquisition will go into training with Dennis Drier, who has also experienced luck with Dynasty through the likes of current superstar filly Beach Beauty (SAf). 
Of the colt, Mitchell added: “He was the highest quality horse in the sale, especially on the quality of his physical being.” 
The transaction marked a second slam dunk on the day for Cheveley Stud. The small commercial operation, based in Ceres in the Western Cape, earlier in the day sold Lot 381, a daughter of Captain Al (SAf), also to John Freeman for R1.2 million (US$112,859). 
Vaughan Koster of Cheveley was visibly moved after watching Freeman sign for the R2 million colt. 
“You can't describe the feeling I'm feeling right now,” he said. “As a commercial breeder it's phenomenal, and we're very privileged to be getting these kinds of prices. They were both nice horses, but I had no idea. I couldn't have dreamt of this. I must just thank the buyers.” 
Cheveley's success put the Ceres valley in the headlines for the second consecutive day after its neighbouring Boland Stud produced strong results during the sale's first session Sunday. 
“It's been an area that has produced some top racehorses,” Koster noted. “Eugene [Freeman of Boland Stud] lives a stone's throw from me, and I'm very chuffed for him. He's had a great sale too.” 
Koster noted that he is the latest generation of his family at the helm at Cheveley, which is currently the home to 46 mares for commercial breeding. 
“It's been a family business for a number of years, and my father created a legacy in his own right. I hope to continue that legacy. We're very principle-oriented as a farm, and I think we're respected for that in the industry,” he said. 
“It's just an incredible feeling, and I hope every breeder gets this feeling one day,” Koster added. 
The big money continued to roll moments later when Freeman again signed for Lot 490, a filly by Captain Al (SAf), for R1.8 million (US$169,289). The August-foaled bay is the first foal from Grade 1-winner On Her Toes (SAf) (Western Winter), and the family also traces back to Grade 1 winners Follow the Falcon (SAf) and Savannah Queen (SAf). Lot 490 was consigned by Klipdrif Stud, and marked the third seven-figure price of the sale for yearlings bred by Team Valor International, after a pair sold for R2 million during the first session. 

Trip to the Bank… 
G1 Vosburgh S. winner Trippi was Florida's leading sire in 2008 prior to his export to South Africa, and the former Dogwood Stable colorbearer is also beginning to make his mark from his new base at Drakenstein Stud, with the likes of Grade 1 winner For the Lads (SAf) to his credit. Drakenstein last night brought a Trippi half-brother to stakes winner Halve the Deficit (SAf) (Right Approach {GB}) to the ring, and left with R1.6 million (US$150,479) to the bid of Jehan Malherbe's Form Bloodstock, bidding alongside trainer Dear Kannemeyer for owner Lady Laidlaw, the owner of current three-time Grade 1 winner Capetown Noir (SAf) (Western Winter) amongst others. 
“I'm delighted that Dean Kannemeyer has bought him for Lady Laidlaw,” said Drakenstein Stud owner Gaynor Rupert of Lot 473. “I wish them lots of luck, and I know they'll do the best for him.” 
Rupert noted that Halve the Deficit, campaigned by Drakenstein in partnership with Chris van Niekerk, was being prepared for a Grade 1 last Saturday, but was forced to withdraw after suffering a foot abscess. 
“The family has done really well for us,” she noted. “I'm very happy with the price. I was hoping for a big price more or less in that range. [Breeder] Ross Fuller says he's never bred a better looking horse on the farm.” 
Rupert put on her buyer's hat a few 'lots' later when extending to R30,000 to buy 'Harry the Horse', a plush equine who has been traveling the South African sales circuit for the past year to raise money for the Highveld Horse Care Unit for Thoroughbred aftercare. Harry made his debut at this sale a year ago when he was 'purchased' for R6,500 by Cape Thoroughbred Sales. In addition to visiting sales, Harry receives sponsorship to attend events across the country and globally. He has visited the Durban July, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and visited Dubai, and has to date raised R190,000 in support of Thoroughbred athletes. 
Full results of the Emperor's Palace National Yearling Sale are available at www.tba.co.za.