South Africa’s top yearlings go under the hammer

The annual National Yearling Sales was a success with some of South Africa’s top yearlings selling for millions.

May 24, 2016

1 minute read

The annual National Yearling Sales were held at the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, in Gosforth Park, recently. One of the top selling yearlings was a colt named Pietro Mascagni (Lot 166) out of Silvano-Jodie, by Western Winter, from Varsfontein Stud, which was sold to Shadwell for R2.3-million.

The Thoroughbred Breeders Association and its sales arm, Bloodstock South Africa (BSA), held their 40th National Yearling Sale at the TBA Sales Complex, in Gosforth Park, recently.

The thoroughbred yearlings sold at the sales can fetch millions and historically go on to compete on the international and local horse racing circuit, including races like the Durban July, J&B Met and L’Omarins Queen’s Plate.

The sale realised an aggregate of R107-million, with an average of R325 258 and a median of R200 000.

Both the aggregate and median prices had decreased by nine per cent year-on-year.

Kevin Woolward, CEO of BSA, said: “Although it was a tough sale on the whole, considering the current economic climate, you would have to call it a very fair sale.

“We had quite a vast spread of different buyers this year and, on the positive side, there was a fairly strong middle market.”

The top selling yearlings included:

A filly named Lara Yara (Lot 142) from Wilgebosdrift Stud, daughter of Trippi, out of Ilha Grande, by Tiger Ridge, sold to Form Bloodstock for R2.5-m.
A colt named Pietro Mascagni (Lot 166) from Silvano-Jodie, by Western Winter, from Varsfontein Stud, sold to Shadwell for R2.3-m.
A colt named Yamoto (Lot 389) from Varsfontein Stud, sold to Form Bloodstock for R2.2-m.

The top sire at this year’s sales was Silvano, with South Africa’s Oratorio named the top first season sire.

The top buyer was Form Bloodstock and top vendor Varsfontein Stud.

This year marks a significant milestone as the 110th year of national yearling sales.

The sales started in 1907, when the predecessor to the current National Yearling Sales held its first auctions under the auspices of the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society, in Johannesburg.