Future winners go under the hammer

Bloodstock South Africa (BSA), the sales arm of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, recently held a mixed sale at their purpose-built sales complex in Gosforth Park.

The event saw a mix of two-year-old thoroughbreds and racehorses-in-training go up for sale.

Thoroughbreds that are sold during BSA auctions feed into South Africa’s successful horse-racing industry and many will go on to pursue victory on the international and local horse-racing circuit, including races such as the Vodacom Durban July, the Sun Met and L’Omarins Queen’s Plate.

During the sale, 93 lots were purchased, realising a total aggregate of R6.9-million with an average of R74 322 paid per thoroughbred.

The overall top seller was lot 85, an unnamed colt sired by former G2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner, Pluck.

The colt was sold by Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren to Azzman Racing for R500 000.

Another notable sale was lot 78, a former Eastern Cape star named Oomph.

To date this accomplished two-year-old has placed in five of his eight starts and won the Listed East Cape Nursery and Listed Dahlia Plate.

Also sold by the Van Vuurens, Oomph was knocked down to JM Henry for R420 000.

Michael Holmes of BSA said, “We are very pleased with the results of the mixed sale, especially with each of the lots averaging almost R75 000.

“Graduates of the BSA sales often go on to pursue successful careers on the racetrack and include the likes of Talktothestars, Bela-Bela and Noah From Goa.”

According to the Racing Association, the horse-racing industry contributes approximately R3-billion to the South African economy annually and R800-million in taxes.

As a primary source of high-quality racehorses, BSA auctions are an important component of the industry’s success, as well as its continued popularity as one of the country’s favourite pastimes.

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