BSA Yearling Sale in Durban reaches big new highs

There were particularly encouraging results at Thursday's Bloodstock South Africa KZN Yearling Sale, where previous benchmarks were broken across the board.

The event was held at the Suncoast Casino in the build up towards the Durban July, the country's most famous race. With an aggregate of R44,725,000 (£1,861,000/€2,157,000), this year’s sale surged past last year’s figure by over R5,600,000, also setting a new record in the sale’s statistical timeline.

The average price rose to an all-time high of R229,359 (£9,500/ €11,000) while the median jumped similarly to a new best of R180,000 (£7,500/€8,700). A total of 195 yearlings changed hands from 209 catalogued, with the clearance rate of 96 per cent further indicating strong demand for horses.

The day’s top price of R1,300,000 came late in the sale as Jonathan Snaith won out on V Squared (lot 202), bred by Hemel ’n Aarde Stud.  A daughter of Vercingetorix and Victoriana, by Jet Master, her dam is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Hammie’s Hooker and Gem King, whose foals include Quickstepgal, one of this season’s leading two-year-old performers. 

Snaith works side-by-side with his brother Justin, one of the country's leading trainers and saddles stable star Eight On Eighteen in Saturday's Durban July, who is bidding to become the first three-year-old to complete the double with the Cape Town Met. The son of Lancaster Bomber is back at Greyville after an impressive performance in May’s Grade 1 Daily News 2000. He races on handicap terms but is still likely to be a hot favourite in a big field of 18 which includes last year's winner Oriental Charm.

Cape Town Met winner Eight On Eighteen bids for a significant double this weekendCredit: Chase Liebenberg

Snaith was the top buyer at the sale, securing six lots for R2,825,000, at an average price of R470,833. Other regulars from the top end of the national buyers bench also featuring prominently included Form Bloodstock, Kannemeyer Racing and Pound Bloodstock.

KwaZulu-Natal's contingent of enthusiastic buyers was well represented. Yogas Govender purchased three lots for R1,930,000 including the third-highest lot Trip To Venus, a colt by Gimmethegreenlight out of champion three-year-old Lady Wintermere, at R1,100,000.

Kenneth Pillay’s Kestorm Investments made two purchases totalling R2,000,000, including a Rafeef filly from the distant family of Eight On Eighteen, for R1,200,000. Hemel ’n Aarde’s top-selling pair took David Hepburn-Brown’s Hermanus establishment to the top of the vendors list.

Bloodstock SA CEO Michael Holmes said: "One of our core objectives is to create auction platforms that reach the broadest possible base of buyers and to ensure that all vendors get their fair share of opportunities. We’re pleased to have played our part in delivering that again this year, and we wish all our clients the best with their purchases.

"I’d like to convey our thanks to Suncoast Casino for supporting BSA. Suncoast is a landmark on Durban’s Golden Mile and the perfect setting for an auction during the city’s most exciting week of racing. There is no better place to share the energy and exuberance of Hollywoodbets Durban July week with fellow bloodstock enthusiasts and racing fans."

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