A record R6 million was paid for a colt by Vercingetorix.
There is clear confidence in the future of horse racing and breeding in South Africa. Picture: Gerhard Duraan/Gallo Images
If you look at horse sales for signs of which way economic winds are blowing, you’ll have got a fair-weather forecast from Bloodstock SA’s August Two-Year-Old (2YO) Sale in Germiston last week.
The two-day auction turnover was 32% up on 2025’s edition – climbing from R80.5 million to R106 million – while, most importantly, the average price was up 12% to R351,391 and there was a 96% clearance rate of more than 300 lots.
This continued a steep upward climb of South African thoroughbred prices since the pandemic, prices that have consistently bucked the country’s general economic growth stats.
The bottom line is clear confidence in the future of horse racing and breeding in South Africa. This upbeat mood has, of course, been boosted by industry-specific things like international broadcast of the sensational staging of the Hollywoodbets Durban July meeting and news about the easing of UK equine export protocols.
Diverse buying benches
In an ultra-luxury goods market, the August 2YO Sale has a tradition of value for money, with the sales house using the slogan “a horse for every buyer”, so buoyancy of the mid-lower segment is especially encouraging for the industry. Rich people dominate the upper reaches of horse racing, but as a species they fly about the treetops high above the jungle and its financial savagery.
Michael Holmes, CEO of BSA, referred to “… lively support from diverse buying benches”. He added: “There were several new names among the buyers alongside the regulars, and that is particularly encouraging in this heartwarming phase of growth for our industry.”
BSA said horses were bought for all the major training regions, “giving the national racehorse population a welcome boost”.
Regulars didn’t miss a trick, though.
Big spenders
The top price of R6 million – a sale record – was paid on Friday evening for a colt named Ragazinno, a son of champion sire Vercingetorix out of Gimmethegreenlight mare Ciao Bella, bred by Varsfontein Stud and bought by Form Bloodstock.
Form’s Jehan Malherbe commented: “This colt hails from perhaps the most accomplished female line in the stud book, via the prolific Mystic Spring. Pedigrees don’t come much better than this. He is a terrific specimen. He ticked all the boxes.”
Malherbe was also the bidder for the top-priced filly (R2.6 million), a chestnut by Vercingetorix out of Palace Of Dreams from Millstream Farm – a full-sister to recent star performers Grand Empire and Palace Of Arvernia.
Other big spenders included national champion owner Hollywood Racing, Durban trainer Michael Roberts and Cape supremo Jonathan Snaith.
