A lack of a strong presence in the upper end of the market saw both aggregate and average fall at the 2016 National Yearling Sale, which came to an end at Gemiston on Friday evening. The three day sale, South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious thoroughbred auction, closed with the aggregate dropping by 16 percent.

Last year’s sale was topped by a Fort Wood filly who fetched R4 750 000. A sign of the tough economic climate was visible when looking at the price of the 2016 sale topper. This was a Trippi filly, consigned by Wilgerbosdrift, who fetched than R2 000 000 less than the previous year’s top lot.

Yarmato, Lot 389.

The third and final day of the National Sale saw a Dynasty colt, out of G2 Fillies Championship winner Townsend, top the billing. The colt, catalogued as lot 389 was knocked down to Form Bloodstock, for R2 200 000. Consigned by the sale’s leading vendors, Varsfontein Stud, his dam is a half sister to former G1 Champions Challenge winner Regal Ransom.

There was also overseas presence felt at the National Sale this year, albeit in small quantity than previous years. Chinese investor, Mr H Guo, trading as BIT Thoroughbreds South Africa, bought seven lots, including a beautifully bred daughter of Trippi for R450 000 (Lot 427), from Wilgerbosdrift Stud to add to his growing broodmare collection.

Guo, who is the majority shareholder of the new Giant’s Causeway stallion Eightfold Path (USA), standing at Highdown Stud in KZN, is creating a bloodstock platform to supply markets particularly in Asia and believes the South African thoroughbred industry offers exceptional value.

Form Bloodstock were by far and away the leading buyers at the sale, with Jehan Malherbe purchasing 26 yearlings for a gross total of R19 195 000. Next top buyer was John Freeman, whose 14 lots bought grossed R7 965 000. The Kalmanson family’s Varsfontein Stud enjoyed a superb sale, with all 18 of their yearlings selling for a gross of R11 965 000, and averaging R664 722.

Silvano was leading sire of the sale, with his 16 yearlings to sell fetching R13 735 000 and his top lot being a colt out of Jodie that fetched R2 300 000. Silvano averaged an impressive R858 437 – more than double the sale’s overall average price.

The sale’s aggregate fell by over R20 000 000, dropping from R127 827 500 last year to R107 010 000 in 2016. Kevin Woolward, CEO of the TBA, admitted it had been a tough sale, with only a solid middle market providing much comfort.  “It was a very tough sale. With both the aggregate and average dropping markedly, the only consolation was the middle market, which reflected a wide array of different buyers.”

A full list of results and statistics for the National Yearling Sale can be viewed at www.tba.co.za The next BSA auction is the Cape Mare and Mixed Sale which will take place at Kleinplasie on May 19th.