Le Soleil (Vercingetorix) (lot 47) topped the Bloodstock South Africa August 2-Year-Old Sale when selling for a record R4 million (€194,492) to Jono Snaith of Snaith Racing. The juvenile colt is out of former champion Clouds Unfold (What A Winter) and was consigned by Drakenstein Stud.
Snaith said, “This young colt turned heads the moment he stepped out of his box. He possessed a commanding presence and carried himself with the authority of a true 'meneer'.”
He also secured two other colts and a filly for over R1-million apiece–all by Rafeef–and in doing so topped the buyers' table with eight lots purchased for a total of R9.03 million, averaging R1,128,750.
Statistically, 256 lots sold of 265 offered (97%) for a gross of R80.9 million (€3,935,077) over the two-day stand from August 20-21. The average rose 12% to R314,512 (€15,299) and the median rose 63% to R260,000 (€12,648). Varsfontein Stud was the leading vendor with 17 lots sold for R10.37 million at an average of R610,000 per foal, and Rafeef came out on top of the sire's list with similar figures–his offspring fetched R10.72 million at R630,588 per lot sold.
The inaugural edition of the BSA Select Virtual Filly & Mare Sale was held the day after the juveniles went through the ring, on Friday, August 22. Proceedings on Friday morning opened with a brisk, half-hour virtual sale session devoted to this select draft of high-end broodmares and fillies for stud. This innovative addition proved as popular as it was productive, garnering strong international interest.
Michael Holmes, CEO of Bloodstock SA, said “The industry is pulling together, and it's encouraging to see. We are pleased to be achieving our objective of catering to every level of the market. Our exceptional clearance rate reflects the fact that there were horses for every buyer which will go a long way to assisting the racing operators' goal of increasing field sizes nationally.”
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