A new record price was set for the 2014 Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale on its concluding day, Friday, when Form Bloodstock spent R2.6 million on a Western Winter colt.

This is the highest price ever paid in the long history of this Sale, and was a result which added cheer to proceedings on the final day of the sale. The colt, catalogued as lot 481, was consigned by Varsfontein Stud and is a half-brother to highly rated 3yo colt MLJet.

Form Bloodstock ended the sale as leading buyers, having spent R2 900 000 to buy two lots.

Lot 481: Bombardino, record buy.

Both the median and average prices fell considerably from 2013, and while the sale aggregate of R33 500 000 was up 25% on last year’s total of R26 735 000, this can largely be attributed to a much larger catalogue.

Overall the average price dropped 14 percent with the prices dropping to R84 810 from R99 019 a year ago. The median also suffered a severe decrease, falling by 17% from R60 000 to R50 000 in 2014.

The now deceased Western Winter led the sires standing, both by average and aggregate. The champion son of Gone West had four lots sell for an aggregate of R3 050 000, with his horses averaging R762 500. In form stallion Dynasty was another horse whose offspring proved popular with buyers. The former Horse Of The Year had eight lots sell for an aggregate of R2 915 000 which placed him second leading sire both by aggregate and average.

A daughter of Dynasty was the top priced filly at the sale. Consigned by Cheveley Stud, the unnamed bay was knocked down to Varsfontein Stud for R1.4 million. Catalogued as lot 354, the filly has an exceptional pedigree, being a half sister to five stakes winners including ill fated champion Rabiya.

BloodStock SA CEO Jan Naude was delighted by the history made on Friday. He commented: “It was a very exciting day with a new record price fetched. While both the average and median prices dropped significantly, the overall increase in turnover for the sale is pleasing.”