IF THERE has been one success story among this year’s economic turmoil, it has been the outstanding figures returned at bloodstock sales countrywide.

SA’s most important sale, the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sales at Germiston in April, confounded those predicting a downturn. The aggregate rose to R199m and the average soared to a record of R398000.

The next stop on the bloodstock sales circuit is the KwaZulu-Natal Yearling Sale on July 3 and 4, again being hosted by the Sibaya Casino resort near Umhlanga Rocks.

The overall Sibaya sale, which also includes a sale for mares, weanlings and horses in training, saw a phenomenal 60% increase in turnover last year compared with 2006.

Bloodstock CEO Jan Naude is a man with his finger on the pulse of the industry. He said: “The current economic climate may result in a stabilisation of the thoroughbred bloodstock market. Nevertheless, the Sibaya sale has grown fast in popularity and we hope to build on last year’s record turnover.”

It is probable that a number of owners and trainers left the national sales with unfilled orders because of the high prices. If they wanted one of the progeny of top stallions such as Western Winter, Fort Wood or Jet Master, they had to dig deep. Averages for these three sires were R843000, R799000 and R489000 respectively.

None of this trio is represented at the KwaZulu-Natal sale . Popular stallions are likely to be National Assembly, Silvano, Al Mufti, Mogok and Kahal.

Maine Chance Farms is one of the leading studs in SA, and its 30 lots grossed R14m at the national sales. The Robertson-based outfit will consign nine yearlings to next week’s sale.

Its draft includes four daughters of Silvano and two of former champion Victory Moon.

Silvano — an outstanding global performer who won in the US, Germany, Singapore and Hong Kong — proved popular at the national sales. There should be plenty of interest in his daughter out of the Golden Thatch mare, Prussian Princess. The latter is a half-sister to J&B Met winner, Imperious Sue.

Victory Moon, a former United Arab Emirates horse of the year, has eight lots on the sale with Maine Chance offering his daughter out of Perfect Perfume on the first day. This mare has done well at stud .

Jallad, sire of the well fancied Durban July runner Russian Sage, had an R385000 average at the national sales, and buyers are sure to run the rule over his sole Sibaya representative, a colt being offered by Rathmor Stud. This youngster has to be on the short list as a possible sales-topper as he is a half-brother to Dominic Zaki’s useful filly, Surabi.

A daughter of Wolfhound, Surabi scored the biggest win of her career in the Camellia Stakes (Grade 2) on Gommagomma Challenge day last month.

A colt related to another Durban July runner, Buy and Sell, could also attract much interest when he is offered by Spring Valley Stud, while Golden Acres will be selling a half-brother (by Dupont) to Summer Cup hero Tyson.
(Source: Business Day)