Broken records during prestigious racehorse auction

 

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ne of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious racehorse auction, the Bloodstock South Africa National Yearling Sale took place from 3-5 May. The auction was held at the Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s (TBA) purpose built sales complex in Germiston. With a general decline in international Thoroughbred Markets, vendors expected worse results for the annual auction. But, on the last day, Goddess Var is a bay filly by European champion sprinter Var out of Fidelity by Captain Al. Goddess Var’s dam is also a winner and is out of the Champion race mare Promisefrommyheart. The filly was sold by Varsfontein Stud to UK based Shadwell Racing for a record breaking R5 million. R5 million makes it the highest paid for a Thoroughbred during the sale’s 40 year history.

The top selling colt of the auction was Matador Step who was sold to Lammerskraal Stud for R4 million. The Bay Colt, is by seven-time international winner Silvano and out of Maxixe, a five time winner and full sister to Capetown Noir and Across the Ice.

Catherine Hartley, TBA Head of Breed Affairs, commented that while their top sellers were sold at job-dropping prices, there were many Thoroughbreds that were sold for bargain prices: “The sale’s average and median price fell signaling that, for the most part, it is still a buyers’ market.” Hartley further encouraged those interested in the pursuit of racehorse ownership that now is a great time to get involved.

The three day event sold a total of 369 lots and generated an overall aggregate of over R112 million.