CAPE Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) has announced the eagerly anticipated dates for the renewal of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale in 2019, to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 January.

In an exciting development the sale moves from a weekend schedule to be in closer proximity to Cape Town’s biggest annual race meeting, the Sun Met race day, which is to be held on Saturday 26 January. Sun Met day will again include the CTS Sprint and the CTS Mile for which those who bought their ticket by purchasing at the 2017 CTS yearling sales will be hoping to be rewarded with an entry.

The date shift focuses the attention of both the South African thoroughbred racing and breeding industries and creates a world-class festival that’s sure to bring even more attention to the Cape racing season.

Wéhann Smith, Chief Executive Officer at CTS, explains that they and their shareholders expect the 2019 CPYS draft to be strong. According to Smith, local and international buyers and bloodstock agents have been anxiously awaiting the sale details and he firmly believes the event will again be well attended by those looking for proven Grade 1 pedigrees, as well as the great value in the middle of the market that CPYS and their black type-laden books always deliver. A focus will be to gain broader support from more vendors; and to deliver a sizeable draft of the highest possible quality.

Innovation remains at the heart of the CTS operation and new initiatives will be announced closer to the sale. Explains Smith: “Our introduction of the first ever $1 million sales race in Africa was a game-changer, and our changes the following year to stage races for three-year-old’s bred for both sprinting- and longer-distances grew the opportunities for owners to cash in – a move which was very popular. Our approach is to look globally and think creatively about this sale.”

“We are already changing our approach to pre-selection as this year we are far more breeder-focused and aim to visit more farms to assist and advise. We are also thrilled to have secured the services of leading international bloodstock agent Grant Pritchard-Gordon from Badger Bloodstock to assist our team with the selections from 1 September. Pritchard-Gordon is well known to our breeders, is a huge fan of South Africa, and understands our local bloodlines. It’s a real shot in the arm to have him agree to join us this year.”

“The CTS business remains extremely resilient, and our team is working tirelessly to ensure that we continue to provide buyers and vendors with a platform of international standard at which to showcase the best of South African breeding,” he says.

“We are immensely proud that this event has become renowned as the sale for stakes and graded winners, with many an Equus Champion and Grade 1 winner having previously passed through the ring at the CTICC”.

In fact, CTS graduates have delivered no fewer than 10 individual Grade 1 victories this season alone and amongst all their other achievements have also produced winning trifectas in both the Grade 1 Classic and Listed Highlands Stud Langerman this term, as well as the exacta in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000.

For those who can’t wait until January the popular CTS Ready to Run Sale takes place at Durbanville on 23 November, with entries opening on 31 July – coincidently also the opening date for entries for the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale.  

“Recent developments surrounding AHS and export protocols are really encouraging, and it is hoped that the strides made by the SAEHP team under Adrian Todd’s leadership will result in good news in the not-too-distant future.

We will emerge stronger, more resilient and less divided to the betterment of everyone concerned,” concludes Smith.