2012 Emperors Palace Ready-To-Run Sale Wrap Up

2012 Emperors Palace Ready-To-Run Sale Wrap Up

The 2012 Emperors Palace Ready to Run Sale proved a tremendous success. The aggregate jumped from R30 835 million in 2011 to R38 840 million. The average price also rose considerably from R177 213 to R229 822, which was extremely pleasing considering the current fragile economic situation. Vendor buy backs, a system implemented earlier this year, accounted for 11 lots.

The top price paid for a horse rose from R1.5 million in 2011 to R2 million a year later and no fewer than six lots went for R1 million plus.

The sales topper came in the form of lot 157, a colt by leading US sire Tale of the Cat. Consigned by Summerhill, the colt, named Die Kat, was knocked down to Adriaan van Vuuren. The bay colt, from the family of champion Dancing Brave, attracted plenty of attention at the Ready to Run gallops last month, and confirmed his popularity in the sales ring. His R2 million price tag was the highest achieved at a Ready To Run Sale since 2009.

Van Vuuren also purchased the sale’s top priced filly, lot 47, a daughter of the late, great sire, Jet Master. An own sister to the top-class performers Lizarre and Lake Arthur, the filly was knocked down for R1.5 million. Given the moniker of Mystical Star, the bay filly was consigned by Summerhill – as Property of a Gentleman.

Well done to the KZN consignors on a hugely successful sale, with five of the six horses sold for over R1 million being bred or prepared in KZN. Balmoral, owned by Nicola and Marc Coppez, sold two of their significant draft (Lot 31 and Lot 94) for R1 million and R1,6 million respectively and achieved an excellent average.

Balmoral announced on their Facebook page: “Balmoral Stud fielded 29 lots of which 25 were sold for a total of R6,85 million with an average of R273,000 which is 20% above the sale average of R228,000. A huge thank you to all our patrons that have trusted us with their quality horses to prep and sell on their behalf! We look forward to lifting the bar even higher in 2013.”

Young KZN sires such as the exciting A.P. Arrow, saw a filly and a colt both sell for R320 000. The first – bought by Mr Brian Burnard – is named Flight Check. Sold as Lot 192 and consigned by Balmoral Stud, she is out of a mare named Diligence by Kahal. The filly is a half-sister to Hard To Resist, a winner by Muhtafal, from the family of Desert Links.

The top-priced A.P. Arrow colt named Arch Rival is out of Competitive Edge by National Emblem, sold to Hill Racing as Lot 182, consigned by Summerhill Stud. The colt is a half-brother to two winners, from the family of Skeem Team.

Admire Main has got off to an admirable start overseas with several winners in Japan from his first crop, selling two top-priced fillies – Lot 199 Ikamasu and Lot 120 Admiral’s Eye – for R340 000 each. Alesh Naidoo clearly wasn’t going to let the latter slip through his fingers, as this is a half-sister to two horses he had a lot of success with at the track – mares Saltwater Girl and Rapid Flow – both full-sisters by Modern Day now retired to stud. They in turn are half-sisters to Shogunnar – a colt by Solskjaer up for nomination this year at the KZN Breeders Awards.

Green Stud bought Lot 199 Ikamasu, out of the mare Ispinado by Joshua Dancer. An impressive individual who cropped as a favourite amongst the judges selections, the filly is a half-sister to Corredor has placed twice from four starts to date. She descends from the family of Gr 1 winner San Carlos and Durban July winner Gondolier.

Kahal’s top seller was Lot 106 named Indie Pop. The colt sold for R470 000 to Mr T Mok. Out of the mare Shoreline Symphony by National Emblem, this colt descends from a top international dam-line that contains the likes of Alidiva – the dam of Sleepytime (dam of Middlefield sire Spanish Harlem(IRE), as well as Overarching to mention but a few. Indie Pop is half-brother to a winner and full-brother to Invictus who has placed from four starts.

Muhtafal had a colt sold for R550 000, named There Is A Dream. Bred and consigned by Summerhill Stud, the colt was sold to Andre Vorster. There Is A Dream was Lot 127, out of the mare Theres The Light by Jallad, descends from a strong New Zealand dam-line filled with Bold Black Type and includes Goyougoodthinggo.

Far End Pre-training sold Lot 118, the top-priced Mullins Bay filly named Sugar Bay, out of mare Sugar Biscuit by National Assembly to Mayfair Speculators for R450 000. The filly is a half-sister to two winners. This dam-line includes the likes of Irish Flame, Lions Blood and Vertical Takeoff.

Ambleway Thoroughbreds’ top seller was a colt named High Stakes(AUS), by Casino Prince for R500 000. Sold to Prancing Horse, the colt has an interesting dam-line albeit imported – he is closely related to KZN sire Announce and Sarge. This family includes dual hemisphere champion sire Danehill, Eagle Eyed, Lady Broadhurst, Daphne Donnelly and Bouquet Garni – to name but a few.

Summerhill Stud’s Mick Goss was thrilled by the sale’s remarkable success, commenting “The figures of this sale (aggregate up 26%) speak for themselves. This is a wonderful tribute to the toughness of South Africans, determined to overcome the gloomy current economy, and to support the escapism provided by the racing industry.”

The TBA’s Jan Naude was equally pleased by the results of the sale, saying, “This was a phenomenal sale. The aggregate was up 26%, and the average 30%! Well done to all involved for this sale.”

Congratulations to all the farms for fantastic achievements, and to Summerhill and the TBA for hosting a very successful sale.

Information courtesy www.tba.co.za