IN a further interesting development in the recently turbulent South African Breeders’ arena, the high-profile corporate Peermont Emperors Palace, a long-time promotional partner of BloodStock SA (BSA), has pledged its support for the Cape Thoroughbred Sales Company (CTS).

Following the news that CTS is stepping into the Johannesburg Sales arena, it was announced on Friday that Emperors will be the new partner and sponsor of all CTS Johannesburg Sales from 1 January 2015.

Bob Yearham of Emperors Palace:  Changing sides, or pleasing all?

It was also rumoured on Friday evening that Emperors would be terminating their association with BSA at the end of December this year to throw all their weight behind the Cape Town-based upstart in 2015.

CTS also announced the date of their new Ready To Run Sale. The first CTS Johannesburg sale will be the CTS Ready To Run Sale to be held on the 2nd November 2014 at the Inanda Country Club, coinciding with the last day of BSA’s 2014 renewal of the Emperors Ready To Run Sale.

Adrian Todd, COO of CTS, commented: “The CTS team are delighted to welcome Emperors Palace on board as our sponsor and look forward to working with Bob Yearham and his exceptional team. Both companies share the same philosophy that the customer always comes first and as such, this partnership is sure to deliver Sales to Johannesburg, that are on par with any International sale.”

Adrian  Todd: CTS sees wood for the trees.

CTS stated about their first R2R Sale in Johannesburg: “After careful consideration, we have decided to hold our Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale on the 2nd November in order to afford buyers the opportunity to inspect and bid on horses on offer at both the CTS Ready to Run Sale as well as the Bloodstock SA Ready To Run Sale, which will precede the Raceday at Turffontein. This is in keeping with the historic pattern of sales over this weekend.

“Several vendors have already confirmed their support of the new Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale and CTS is delighted with the quality of horses that have been entered. All graduates of the CTS 2014 Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale will be eligible for the R2 million 2015 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup presented by CTS and with a R7500 buy in and 90 days credit terms being offered to buyers, this is a Sale not to be missed. In true CTS style, the CTS team are dedicated to serving not only the needs of the buyers but also of the vendors and vendors can be assured of the CTS feature of guaranteed payments.”

Susan Rowett:  Not exactly impressed.

In a press release issued earlier this week Susan Rowett, the Chairperson of BSA, suggested that CTS’s decisions bordered on hostile and argued that  “…it just does not make good business sense to hold sales on top of each other”.  She urged breeders to consider their prospects carefully in the light of what has transpired. (Read Rowett’s letter here.)

Todd had stated earlier: “We were approached by several vendors who requested this move and we are definitely not trying to kill the TBA, we are merely catering for our clients. It must be remembered that most of our clients are members of the TBA.”