PRICES realised at yesterday’s Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale exceeded all expectations and in the process smashed records set at last year’s auction. The R11 million aggregate rose a massive 49% from R7,4 million in 2005 while the average price of R100 245 represents a jump of 53% from R65 705.

Byron Kennedy, Marketing Manager of BloodStock SA, reckons “the stronger catalogue, coupled with the Emperors Palace Sweepstakes race restricted to graduates from the sale, clearly contributed to the sales’ amazing success.”

The Emperors Palace Sweepstakes will carry a stake of at least R450 000 and will be run at Turffontein over 1400m on 3 November 2007, the same day as the innovative and highly successful Charity Mile racemeeting.

Looking ahead, Kennedy says “it may be early days but next year’s catalogue could swell to 250 entries,” which brings with it “the possibility of a R1 million Sweepstake or even two races worth R500 000 each.”

“Now that the Ready To Run Sale is firmly entrenched as one of the country’s most important, we’re hoping to attract a wider spread of vendors from breeders to pinhookers in 2007,” he adds.

Of the stallions represented by two or more progeny, Kahal emerged as the leading sire by aggregate and average as his 13 offspring fetched R2,2 million at R169 615 a piece.
Kahal was also responsible for all four of the sales’ top priced lots including the R380 000 paid for Noma-India by Randjesfontein-based trainer Michael Azzie. The bay filly was responsible for yet another benchmark as her price tag was R100 000 superior to the previous Ready To Run record set by Rose Window in 2005.

Noma-India is the second produce of Braashee mare Bridal Paths, a winner of three races including the Grade 2 Thekweni Fillies Stakes and formed part of the powerful draft entered by Equus Champion Breeder Summerhill Stud.

Mick Goss, CEO of Summerhill, also points to the vital contribution that foreign buyers made in this year’s sale. “Five horses have been sold to Dubai, four to Hong Kong, two to Singapore, and one to Australia,” reports Goss.

“The local market also embraced this market with their heart and soul. Everyone wants to be part of this race next year. The concept of the sponsored race has drawn immense interest and added great value to the sale,” adds the sales’ largest consignor.

Equine Group, the insurance and VAT administration specialists, topped the buyer’s log having signed R1,32 million for seven lots at an average of R188 571.