Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Ready To Run Sale bucks the trend

THE 2009 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale ended on a high note at the TBA Sales Complex, Gosforth Park, on Sunday night when last year’s phenomenal record aggregate of R26,74 million was marginally bettered and the average price per lot was well up on the 2008 figure.
The event realized a turnover of R27,155 million, up 1.5% on last year and the only major sale to have improved its aggregate amidst the worldwide economic slump this year. The average price was up 9.4% to R189 895 from R173 636 and the highest price paid of R2.1 million fell just short of last year’s R2.2 million.“We are very pleased,’’ said Mick Goss of Summerhill Stud, who had consigned 108 of the 163 lots on offer.
“With more fillies than colts for sale this year we thought that the sale might yield lower figures, yet if one looks at how well fillies are performing in the Ready To Run Cup it is hardly surprising that buyers don’t shy away from the females!’’ Mike de Kock paid the sale’s top price of R2,1 million for Galileo’s daughter Uthawini. She was bought for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
“She has everything, pedigree, looks and conformation,’’ De Kock said. “Galileo stands at something like 300,000 Euros which shows you that this can be considered a bargain.”
De Kock secured six horses altogether including one that he rated in his top three colts on the Breeze Up Panel at Summerhill, Lot 82, a Kahal colt out of a Muhtafal mare. The Galileo sales topper, lot 100, had appeared on three of the panelists lists, including on the list of Jehan Malherbe, whose Form Bloodstock often represents Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum at the sales.
Prominent owner Andre Macdonald, the under-bidder on Uthawini, secured the only other Galileo on the sale, paying R1-million for Igugu. “You win some and you lose some,’’ said `Mr Mac’, but I am very happy with the one I got.’’
Uthawini had appeared on the top three colts of panelist Joey Ramsden’s list at the Breeze Ups. The most popular colt among the Breeze Up panelists, Lot 43, by Hobb Al Wahtan out of a Saumarez mare, who was said to have put up “an awesome gallop”, fetched R400,000 and was bought by Prancing Horse CC.
The panelists most popular filly, Lot 30, a Kahal filly out of a Gulch mare, was bought by Champion trainer Charles Laird, also for R400,000.
Laird and patron Markus Jooste, active with 11 buys, paid R900 000 for Street Cry’s daughter Emakhaya and Laird said: “This filly hasn’t got a great dam line, but I loved her as a specimen and she moves really well too. We are pleased to have got the bid knocked down to us.’’
De Kock was the top buyer at the sale by aggregate and by average.
His purchases totalled R4.095 million at an average of R682 500 per purchase.
Summerhill’s stalwart Kahal was the top sire by aggregate, his 16 lots realizing R4.795 million. “We are thrilled and in fact surprised with these results,’’ commented Caroline Simpson, Sales Manager of BloodStock SA, who conducted the auction. BSA’s CEO Jan Naude added: “There are lots of positives to be taken from the figures and the clearance rate of over 90%, which is on a par with 2008. Notwithstanding the economic downturn, thoroughbred sales in South Africa continue to perform extremely well.

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