Friday's third and final session of the TBA National Yearling Sale in Johannesburg, South Africa saw a record price of R5-million set for the sale when Shadwell South Africa picked up a daughter of Var from Varsfontein Stud. Lot 395 is a granddaughter of champion Promisefrommyheart (SAf) (Elliodor {Fr}), who has also produced the stakes winners Justthewayyouare (SAf) (Fort Wood) and Master of My Fate (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}). The filly was the first of two seven-figure yearlings secured by Shadwell on the sale's final day; later in the session, Sheikh Hamdan's operation signed at R1-million for lot 432, a son of Silvano (Ger) who is out of Group 3 winner Halfway To Heaven (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}).
The session's highest-priced colt was lot 380, a son of Oratorio (Ire) secured by William Mocatta for R2.2-million. Out of the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Emerald Beauty (Arg) (Equalize), he is a half-brother to four winners.
A colt from the first South African-sired crop of European champion Duke of Marmalade (Ire) also featured among the top sellers on Friday after Howells Racing went to R1.4-million for lot 478. The chestnut is closely related to the sale topper, being a son of listed winner Justthewayyouare, who has already produced the G3 East Cape Derby victor Captain Splendid (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}).
Despite the record price and an increased aggregate, the average and median each took a hit. Thirty-eight more horses were catalogued this year and 33 more sold (367), for a total of R11,770,000, compared to R106,885,000 last year. The buyback rate was up 3% to 15%, while the average dipped 4.8% to R304,550 and the median was down 10% to R180,000.
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