With record numbers the order of the two days, Bloodstock South Africa and a host of happy vendors closed off the 2021 renewal of the BSA August Sale at the TBA Sales Complex in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon in a positive spirit.
The all-time high aggregate achieved in 2020 was within touching distance, with 25% less 2yo’s catalogued in the 2021 renewal and the 275 youngsters selling for a gross of R39,640,000.
The average of R141,750 was up 15.3% year-on-year, with the median soaring 28.5% to a new record high of R90,000 at the close on Saturday.
The record top price of R1.2 million achieved in November 2020 was matched when the hammer fell to Form Bloodstock’s bid on a Wilgerbosdrift-bred Dynasty colt, Lot 224.
Second top price, and the leading filly on the sale, was Mauritzfontein’s What A Winter daughter Maggie Smith, Lot 291. Purchased for R850,000 by KZN trainer Sandy Arundel for KZN trainer Wendy Whitehead, she is out of a three-time winning daughter of New Approach.
While champion Dynasty topped the sire averages with his trio averaging R573,333, and the late Silvano on his heels on R365,000 for his quartet, there are a host of new generation stars, including Champion Freshman Rafeef, whose 11 lots averaged R336,818.
Top vendor was Wilgerbosdrift, who sold 19 of their 20 2yo’s for an aggregate of R6,175,000 at an average of R325,000, with Mauritzfontein & Millstream Farm completing the top three vendors.
On the diverse and extremely active buying bench, Form Bloodstock topped the aggregate, with their 14 lots totalling R4,630,000, with Vermaak Equine & Hollywood Syndicate rounding off the leading three buyers.
“The two days of the 2021 BSA National August 2yo Sale will go down as a vote of confidence in the future of SA racing by a broad spectrum of buyers. For many, the bidding proved more competitive than may have been anticipated, with a diverse range of quality two-year-old’s from a wide range of stallions in great demand.
“The proof of the pudding is in the numbers, and we are appreciative of a great team effort that incorporated the vendors, buyers, underbidders and all the support teams.
“The mood augurs well for the BSA November 2yo Sale whose entries close on the 10 September 2021,” said BSA CEO Michael Holmes.