KZN Success At Nationals

KZN Breeders enjoyed a very successful sale at Nationals, which achieved outstanding results in a tumultous current economy.

Bloodstock South Africa hailed the sale a “resounding triumph.”

“An outstanding catalogue and some spirited bidding saw the 2023 National Yearling Sale come to a triumphant conclusion late on Saturday afternoon. The two day auction saw gains in aggregate, and average and median prices, while the clearance rate at the sale improved off results seen last year.”

“The sale’s aggregate rose by more than R16 million, with the 2023 National Sale’s gross aggregate reaching R153.8 million, while the average and median rose to R443 228 and R300 000 respectively. The average rose from R357 454 a year ago, while the median price increased from R250 000 from 2022.”

Rathmor Stud took the leading accolades for the top priced colt of KZN, with a smashing colt by Danon Platina knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R725 000.

The colts groom, Zakhele Biyase, echoed the sentiments of the fantastic price and showed his jubilation as he lead the colt out of the ring with a big smile and a fist in the air!

Sold as Lot 325 and out of the beautifully bred Jane S Piddy, this is the family of Nexus, Lady In Black, Lizarre and The Merry Widow. Rathmor’s acquisition of mares from leading families is paying off, and they brought four quality yearlings to the sale to average an impressive R537 500 for each of them – snapped up by the likes of Glen Kotzen, Form Bloodstock, Hollywood Syndicate and Greg Bortz. The balance of the yearlings sold included a Vercingetorix sibling to Gr1 winner Missisippi Burning and Black Type, Mercury Rising.

Tinus Gericke and Bruce Le Roux’s Blue Sky Thoroughbreds brought a draft that they described as “having something for everyone” – and their impressive sales topper for R700 000 was a magnificent flashy bay colt by Gimmethegreenlight out of Kahal mare, Kahula.

After enthusiastic bidding, he was knocked down to the IRC & Krishnan Nagendran. A second produce for the 5-time winning mare, this is a family that has excelled for Bruce Le Roux’s previous Spring Valley farm in the form of Count The Money and Buy And Sell, as well as Bedloe’s Island. Blue Sky sold 14 yearlings for an impressive average of R280 357 each. Blue Sky consistently bring a well made yearling to the sales each year and its paying off in the sales ring and winners box.

Their draft presented on behalf of Agents yielded seven sold for clients for an average of R185 000. Many of them were by two year sire sensation New Predator, which saw 9 sold under the Blue Sky banner for an average of R216 667 each.

Others sold by Blue Sky sires included one by Willow Magic for R170 000, and the other by Hat Puntano for R180 000.

Peter and Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud brought another fantastic draft to Germiston; all well grown and well related yearlings who consistently earn their owners cheques and accumulate black type, their top price was for a colt named Hair Trigger, by in form sire Fire Away out of Aziza, sold to Peter Moor for R600 000. Clifton sold the highest priced #kznbred filly of the sale – the workmanlike Mai Sensation – a daughter of Rafeef out of Mai Tai by Vercingetorix. She sold for R500 000 to Greg Bortz.

Clifton achieved an average of R336 429 for seven yearlings sold.

Brett Van Laun of Camargue Stud debuted his Caversham-based farm at Nationals this year, and paid off with a smashing What A Winter colt out of Magic Penny knocked down to Greg Bortz for R600 000. The colts full sister to Black Type and 4-time winner Pretty Penny, whilst the second dam is Lady Lexington.

Brett also sold a super Querari colt, a three parts brother to Gr2 winner Ameena for R300 000 to Alyson Wright, and a beautiful sibling to American Grafitti for R250 000, snapped up by Corne Spies. Whilst it can take a while for new farms to establish themselves in the market, Camargue impressed with eight lots selling for R245 625 each.

Colleen and Gary De Klerk’s draft saw their New Predator out of Lady Carter sell for R180 000; they unfortunately had to withdraw their smashing Lancaster Bomber filly from the Nationals, but keep a look out in the catalogues later this year for Miss Munroe – her fourth dam is Imperious Sue and this is the family of Victory Moon.

Summerhill Equestrian and Gr1 producing sire Act Of War saw four lots sold for an average of R295 000 each. The top priced Act Of War, a colt from Clifton Stud named Peace Treaty, sold for R375 000 to Sean Tarry. This quality colt out of a Gimmethegreenlight mare hails from the Varsfontein family of Kochka, Kissable, Dash For Gretna and Moneycantbuymelove.

Well done to the KZN Breeders and thank you to the buyers and underbidders for their appreciated support!