{"id":59336,"date":"2014-05-06T08:50:00","date_gmt":"2014-05-06T06:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/59336\/south-africas-top-foals\/"},"modified":"2014-05-06T09:24:32","modified_gmt":"2014-05-06T07:24:32","slug":"south-africas-top-foals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2014\/05\/06\/south-africas-top-foals\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa’s top foals"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale was held at the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) of South Africa this past weekend.<\/p>\n

The sale took place over two days and although the first day’s top price of R3.75-million was never in danger of being breached, the solid prices of the opening day spilled over to the second and final day of sales.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

BloodStock South Africa was thrilled with this year’s sales, the overall results showed a 13 percent increase in turnover from R122 533 000 in 2013 to R138 415 000 this year.<\/p>\n

While the average stood at R347 776 up almost 18 percent on the R295 260 of 2013.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

The median soared 20 percent from R200 000 to R240 000.<\/p>\n

A total of 15 lots managed to break through the magical million barrier.<\/p>\n

The top priced lot of the sales was Lot 38, a Silvano colt, offered by Wilgerbosdrift.<\/p>\n

The colt named Nebula was purchased for R3.75-million by Hong Kong trainer Millard.<\/p>\n

His dam is Grade Three winner Seeking The Wind, who has given birth to seven winners.<\/p>\n

Just as he had done on the first day, Millard snared the second day’s most expensive lot when he out-bided Michael Azzie, giving R2.4-million for a son of Captain Al offered by Varsfontein Stud.<\/p>\n

Sold as the sale’s fifth-last lot, Captain Nemo (Lot 524) was one of the most talked about horses all week and boasted a pedigree page out of the very top drawer.<\/p>\n

His dam is none other than champion Promisefrommyheart.<\/p>\n

Promisefrommyheart, not only a champion but also an impressive broodmare, has delivered five winners.<\/p>\n

“He was one of my picks of the sale, a big, balanced colt and hopefully he will run,” said Millard.<\/p>\n

“He too, will eventually find his way to Hong Kong.”<\/p>\n

Captain Al was also the sire of the sale’s most expensive filly, Lot 490 12on Her Toes, was snapped up for R1.8-million by bloodstock agent John Freeman on behalf of owner Sabine Plattner.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on what proved to be a successful sale, Tom Callaghan, CEO of Bloodstock SA, said “I’m absolute ecstatic, how can one not be.<\/p>\n

“It was a genuine sale, money changed hands and it turned out that the right page and the right horse got the right money.<\/p>\n

“What really pleased me was the median price which went up by 20 percent.<\/p>\n

“While the top end of the buying bench lacked depth, the middle market was unbelievably strong.”<\/p>\n

Top Lots from day one:<\/p>\n