IF the 2012 Cape Sale Book Two is regarded as the equivalent of last year’s regional Cape Sale and Equimark Sale combined, then things are very much looking up.

Book Two weighed in with 294 yearlings ‘sold’, at an average price of R83.000. This compares to 267 yearlings sold at the combined Cape & Equimark sale of 2011, at an average of R50.000.

The median prices are even more dramatic in comparison. From a median price of R35k for both sexes in 2011, the Book Two sale got up to R60k overall, with colts on R75k and fillies R55k.

Last year five yearlings broke the R200k barrier, this year Book Two has no less than twenty-two.

Last year 113 yearlings were led out of the ring unsold, this year there were 75.

The overwhelming conclusion must be that in comparison with 2011, the Book Two sale was success.

Highest price at the sale was R400k, achieved twice, for a Silvano colt and a Trippi filly – not unexpectedly, since both sires are riding crest of the wave. The Trippi filly will be trained by Joey Ramsden, and was consigned by Arc-en-Ciel. The youngster is the third foal of her American-bred dam, who had been acquired by Arc-en-Ciel in 2008, for R60k, in foal to Dynasty. Daytona Stud, no stranger to top prices at Cape sales, consigned the Silvano colt. He’s a full brother in blood to Equus Champion Bold Silvano (their dams are full sisters) and will race in the Jooste colours. – (Sporting Post).

Photo: Trippi, the stallion of the moment. – (drakensteinstudfarm.com).