A tough day of trading on Friday marked the end of Day 1 of the 2013 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale.

The aggregate dropped from R20 585 000 in 2013 to R16 760 000, thus suffering a R4 000 000 decrease, and, while the median fell just 8%, the average price took a hard knock, falling from R223 750 to R192 644.

Day one of the two Ready To Run Sale was topped by an Australian bred colt. Catalogued as lot 104, the son of champion Australian sire Encosta De Lago was snapped up by Norman Wu for R1 800 000.

Intandokazi.

The Summerhill Stud consigned bay is out of a stakes placed daughter of Golden Slipper winner and leading sire Flying Spur (himself a close relation of Encosta De Lago). The handsome colt has been named Intandokazi.

Two fillies fetched R350 000 apiece, to become the top fillies sold on day one of the sale.

The first filly to fetch R350 000 was lot 36, a daughter of the highly successful Trippi, whose daughters include the likes of For The Lads, Hammie’s Hooker, and Franny.

Consigned by Summerhill Sales, the bay was knocked down to H.B. Odendaal.

The attractive bay, cleverly named Defining Looks, is a half-sister to the ill-fated Guineas fourth Lostintranslation, and is out of a full sister to J&B Met winner, Angus.

Second filly to fetch R350 000 in the first session was lot 82, a beautifully bred daughter of KZN’s top sire, Kahal. Another consigned by Summerhill, the chestnut miss is out of the stakes winner of five, Winter Wish (a daughter of the now deceased champion Western Winter). She was purchased by Cape conditioner Dean Kannemeyer, who has enjoyed plenty of success with Ready to Run graduates previously.

While the sale’s start was a tough one, overall there is optimisim that Sunday’s session could boost the overall stats.

TBA CEO, Tom Callaghan, admitted after the sale,” It is definitely a buyer’s market at the moment. While stats dropped markedly, the one positive to be taken is the relatively small decline in median. I am confident that Sunday’s session, with a stronger quality of horse on offer, can prove a competitive and positive result.”

Summerhill Stud’s Mick Goss shared Callaghan’s sentiments following day’s one closure. He commented, “While the first day had its moments, it was without question, a buyer’s market. However, there was good money for the good horses, and I am confident that Sunday’s session will be a good one for all concerned.”