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.
A strong and resilient middle market also saw 347 horses of the 363 offered (38 lots being withdrawn) find new homes, with just 16 lots failing to reach their reserve prices. The outstanding clearance rate was a marked factor in both days of this year’s National Yearling Sale and confirms the strength of the market.
Kommetjie Storm (Lot 161), the Elusive Fort own-sister to G1 Vodacom Durban July/G1 WSB Cape Town Met victor Kommetdieding, was the top-lot sold off the sale, with this Oldlands Stud bred filly knocked down to Kestorm Investments for R3 200 000.
Drakenstein Stud consigned the sale’s top priced colt in the form of Air Raid (Lot 318), a son of the farm’s ill-fated War Front horse Lancaster Bomber and five time G1 winner Inara, a daughter of Drakenstein’s champion sire Trippi, with Air Raid knocked down to Bass Racing for R3 000 000.
Former National Sale graduate Vercingetorix had an outstanding sale this year, and the former Equus Champion ended up as the Leading Sire by Aggregate at the National Yearling Sale of 2023. The Maine Chance Farms resident had 35 yearlings gross a total of R29.9 million, with Vercingetorix sired yearlings averaging an impressive R854 286. The son of Silvano had no fewer than 11 yearlings make R1 000 000 or more, with his top lot at this year’s National Sale the Boland Stud consigned, as Agent, colt (Lot 158) who was sold to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for R2 400 000.
Drakenstein Stud brought an exceptional draft to the auction, and the Simondium based farm’s 18 yearlings offered all found new homes while grossing R16 225 000. The draft averaged an impressive R901 389, a great reflection of the quality thoroughbred bred by Drakenstein.
While the buying bench proved a deep one, it was Form Bloodstock who topped the Leading Buyers List at the National Sale this year, with Jehan Malherbe signing for 24 yearlings for an aggregate of R21.84 million. Form’s purchases included the Wilgerbosdrift consigned Gimmethegreenlight colt High Respect (Lot 311), who made R2.7 million, and the Varsfontein Stud consigned Vercingetorix colt Dubbelosix (Lot 211), a R2.4 million purchase.
Bloodstock South Africa would like to thank the vendors for bringing some outstanding prospects to this year’s sale and wish all the buyers at the 2023 National Yearling Sale best wishes with their purchases going forward.
A full list of prices and statistics for the National Sale can be found online at www.bsa.co.za
