EMPERORS PALACE NATIONAL YEARLING SALE FEATURES 600 LOTS

EMPERORS PALACE NATIONAL YEARLING SALE FEATURES 600 LOTS

600 horses have been catalogued for this year’s Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, which will take place at the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s Sales Complex, at Gosforth Park, Germiston, from Friday, 15th to Sunday 17th April 2011.

68 vendors have entered their produce for the sale, which features the progeny of 74 different sires, of which 17 will be making their debut.

Included among the freshman sires are Australian-bred Gr1 winner, Al Maher (Danehill); the Sandown Stud’s striking Ashaawes, a well-performed son of Kingmambo; the Scott Bros’ Atso (also by Kingmambo), an unraced half-brother to champion US sprinter, Aldebaran; Middlefield Stud’s Carpocrates, a son of Storm Cat, out of the multiple US Gr1 winner, Spain; Express Way (Royal Academy), who won the Gr1 Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas and the Gr 2 Selangor Cup; the now deceased Vodacom Durban July winner, Eyeofthetiger (also by Royal Academy); the Lammerskraal Stud’s US Gr1 winner, Go Deputy (Deputy Minister); Gr2 Scottish Derby and Gr3 September Stakes winner, Imperial Stride (Indian Ridge), who stands at Highlands Farms Stud; the Irish National Stud’s Jeremy (Danehill Dancer), winner of the Gr2 Betfair Mile and the Gr3
Jersey Stakes; the Summerhill Studs’s imposing Machiavellian horse, Mullins Bay, who won the Gr3 Strensall Stakes; the Shadwell Stud’s multiple Gr1 winner, Nayef (Gulch); Ravishing (Jet Master), a Gr1 SA Derby winner, who also stands at Summerhill; the same stud’s now deceased son of Danehill, Stronghold, winner of the Gr3 Supreme Stakes, in the UK; and the Drakenstein Stud’s Trippi (End Sweep), who currently heads the US Sires’ log, and whose progeny made such an impact at the recent Cape Premier Sale.

All of the country’s top 10 sires on this season’s sires’ log are represented, with Jet Master (1) having 44 representatives, Captain Al (2) having 33, Western Winter (3) having 21, Silvano (4) having 40, Kahal (5) having 28, Windrush (6) having just eight, the now 21-year-old Fort Wood (7) having 25, Muhtafal ( having 19, National Emblem (9) having 22 and Var (10) having 20.

The average price at last year’s Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale was R324 577, which was some way below the record average of R391 148, achieved in 2008. However, a record top price of R4 000 000 was achieved for a Jet Master colt consigned by the Highlands Farms Stud.

Is Trippi the talk of the sales,or rather the in fashion horse on the block?

He's certainly doing it in the USA, right now and this filly R Heat Lightning looks to be something really special. What impressed me when I viewed him at Drakenstein was his temperament. Both he and Horse Chestnut seemed to be totally at home, unfussed and at peace with the world. Temperament means a lot in a sire and if he transmits his nature to his progeny they will be uncomplicated horses to train. Apart from that, he;s a really well conformed stallion, with a truly lovely head. I was impressed, as I was when I had to film Dynasty, who was one of the least threatening stallions I've ever had to work with. A true gentleman. To me, those two are the stallions of the future.

For Trippi, the future is today. The best filly I bought in January was by Trippi.

Guess we should be taking a Trippi to the sales? Or bringing one home......................we might need "plenty" shares.

I would love to see what Lot 176 goes for. Full brother to Ilha Grande, who seems to have inherited her mother's nack for Turffontein Standside course and looks to be going places. Would certainally be out of my price range.

Another month and another sale.

Before another 300 odd horses are offered for sale one is tempted to reflect on the following :

How much money is still outstanding from the Cape Premier Sale ? Cape Yearling ? Equimark? I have sniffed around and the answer appears to be : Quite a lot.

Instead the spin doctors are out there punting the next auction. Using, I note , last year's sale topping R 4 million 'sale' ( a buy back ) to promote the next event. Strike one for ethical, honest and transparent marketing................whatever it takes.

I have looked through the catalogue and there are some really nice looking pedigrees on offer. Accompanied by about 100 lots which barely deserve a bid and probably won't get one either. These unfortunates fall into the category of 'a horse for everyone'. That 'everyone' may include the butcher is quite sad.

Fact - the middle market has disappeared. There are many stated reasons but inevitably it all boils down to money and affordability. The grinding rise in state adminstered prices ( not racing's fault ), stake reductions, keep costs, veterinary costs. Blah, blah, blah. Youv'e heard it all before. And, dare I say it, massive disenchantement with the manner in which the sport is being run.

All presided over by a leadership seemingly unwilling or unable to come up with any solutions or strategies.

If they offer an index bet on the percentage of unsolds I may consider going high.............

Would love to see how many horses our "leaders" from the RA buy!

Dont forget the sales this week guysX(