Quality at Cape sales not a good bet, says Hunter
Two months ago, yearling buyers must have felt like they were shopping at Harrods in London, while last week’s two Cape sales must have seemed like special offers at the local supermarket.
The CTS Premier Sale in January saw a R6m yearling total and average of R700,000, but the top price last week was only R525,000.
At Bloodstock SA’s yearling sale at the Mistico Equestrian Centre, the average dropped to R60,545 compared with their 2016 Cape sale figure of R134,200. Cape Thoroughbred Sales two-day session at Durbanville racecourse saw the average drop to R78,850 compared with R107,563 in 2016.
Contacted for his opinion on the reason for this downturn, international bloodstock expert Gavin Hunter, who lives in Cape Town, said that he believed some breeders were being left behind “leading to overproduction and mediocrity”.
“With few exceptions, the quality on view at both sales was a bitter disappointment. I have not studied the averages and gross, but if they are down I’m not surprised. Breeders here are
doing a fabulous job with their imports of stallions, mares and yearlings, but they are leaving others behind which leads to overproduction and mediocrity.
“It has happened in Europe and the US and is now happening here and due to rising costs of training bills, the results of lack of quality are starting to show up in the system. A reality check for all in my opinion.”
Gauteng owner Chris van Niekerk bought the top lot at the CTS sale purchasing a Seventh Rock filly from Klawervlei Stud for R525,000. This yearling is a half-sister to Joan Ranger, who has run well all season for trainer Lucky Houdalakis.
The highest-priced colt at the CTS sale came early on the first session when Mayfair Speculators secured a What A Winter colt from Normandy Stud for R400,000. Mayfair were the biggest buyers at the sale spending R1,845,000 on 10 lots while Van Niekerk’s Rainbow Beach Trading took home 11 yearlings for R1,555,000.
At Bloodstock SA’s sale at the Mistico Equestrian Centre, now retired trainer Mike Bass signed for the top lot bidding R350,000 for a son of Twice Over consigned by Drakenstein Stud. Although a stablemate of the mighty Frankel, Twice Over was highly rated by trainer Sir Henry Cecil and won four grade 1 races. Trainer Duncan Howells bought the top filly Mistico with a bid of R240,000 securing a daughter of Jay Peg offered by Varsfontein Stud.
Given the results of these two sales, vendors will be approaching two forthcoming auctions in Gauteng with some nervousness. The CTS Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale is scheduled for April 16 and the National Yearling Sale will take place at Germiston from May 4-6.