Noble Tune Tops #KZNbreds At National 2YO Sale
Kjell Foundation’s spectacular son of Noble Tune was the leading colt of the 35 #kznbreds consigned to the 447 strong National 2YO Sale catalogue, whilst Spring Valley’s athletic Oratorio lead the fillies.
Mike Benson of Spurwing Horse Feeds and Kjell Foundation has had a phenomenal strike rate over the years, breeding Graded Stakes Winners and multiple winners from his handful of mares based in Karkloof.
His Noble Tune colt Praise Singer was striking at the sale, and bore a striking resemblance to his great ‘uncle’ Honor Code (Noble Tune’s half-brother), with his black coat and four white socks and outstanding conformation. Interestingly, Honor Code’s first yearlings sold for up to $850 000 at the Saratoga Select Sales at the beginning of August.
Always a major supporter of Noble Tune, Lynton Ryan went to R300 000 to secure Praise Singer as Lot 403. As it happens, Noble Tune had his fourth winner on Wednesday at Greyville with Rathmor-bred Paths Of Victory.
Praise Singer is out of the mare Natasha’s Pride, from their great family that served Kjell so well – that of Kalaam, Eastern Greeting and Kwinta – great racemares who have been acquired for stud duties at our leading country Thoroughbred nurseries.
Bruce Le Roux’s Spring Valley Stud who were KZN’s leading vendors, presented a beautiful Oratorio filly, a first foal that sold for R140 000 to Gavin Smith. Named Flame Up and sold as Lot 258, she is a first foal for her dam Flame Cat (AUS) by Tale Of The Cat. A striking bay filly, she has a beautiful walk and powerful hindquarters with plenty of speed in her pedigree.
The 2018 Emperors Palace National Two Year Old Sale ended on a positive note on Friday evening, with a high clearance rate and median increase among the notable results.
The two day auction, long renown as one of South Africa’s best value for money sales, had an aggregate of R29.33 million- up nearly 12% on the 2017 Two Year Old Sale aggregate of R26.255 million.
The average rose impressively, given a tough economic climate, from R80 785 to R90 246 (an increase of 12%), while the median reached R50 000 -a25% up on last year’s median of R40 000. Perhaps, however, the most encouraging aspect of the National Two Year Old Sale was the consistent clearance rate.
Bloodstock South Africa’s Gary Grant was delighted by the sale’s overall results, saying, “We are heartened and grateful-yet again-by the loyal suppor that both vendors and buyers have shown, with both having played a major role in creating yet another successful BSA sale. I am particularly pleased with the clearance rate and the 25% increase in the median. This sale is another ringing endorsement that the market has given Bloodstock South Africa.”
The full list of results and statistics for the 2018 National Two Year Old Sale can be viewed at www.bsa.co.za
