SA is racing to the stars on a science rocket

It is not a scientific rocket, as the man leaning on the running rail often points out. Buy cheap, world-class, South African-bred racehorses, ship them offshore and compete for fantastic prize money in richer countries.

Virtuoso trainer Mike de Kock has been talking about this for ages, even more loudly since his son Mathew left to race in Australia and quickly realized that Saffer Nags would do well in a Land Downunder.

Now that the cursed EU horse export ban is a thing of the past, foreign governments will follow the European route to relief – even Oz – and allow certified disease-free South African horses into the country.

Other good news is that local racing is on the rise again.

NYS exceeds expectations

The racing association, many of whom are astute businessmen, have flocked and the 2024 National Yearling Sale in Germiston last week exceeded all expectations.

Of course, a large portion of the very expensive horses purchased on the NYS will not be exported and race locally for their dedicated new owners. (It is one of the blessings of this world that smart business people have a shocking blind spot when it comes to horses.)

The key statistics from Gosforth Park’s sales arena tell a sexy story for thoroughbred breeders:
Over two days, 43 yearlings were sold for over R1 million each. That’s a staggering 59% increase from 27 in 2023.

The total sales amount was more than 31% higher than last year – from R153.8 million to R200,190,000.

The average price paid – per lanky, stupid yearling! – was R581,948,000, an increase of 31.3%, while the median price (the middle number on the list) was R400,000,000, an increase of 33.3%.

Man of his word

One blot on the landscape, if you can call it that, was the top price of R6 million paid for the colt Man Of His Word, which was transferred from Wilgerbosdrift Stud and bought by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This fell well short of the South African yearling record of R9 million set in 2019 – before the World Health Organization shut down the global economy – but was a giant leap above the 2023 highest bid of R3.2 million.

Vercingetorix may not be the national champion stallion, but he is the one buyers most desire. His 34 NYS descendants collected R39.5 million at R1,161,029 a pop.

It may be recalled that Vercingetorix sold at this auction as a young colt for R1.4 million in 2011, which was a relative killing for seven lowly grooms who had raised him at the Riverton Stud in the Western Cape.

Reigning champion sire Gimmethegreenlight collected R35.5 million for 39 lots and had that R6 million sales topper.

Following those in terms of total revenue were What A Winter, Rafeef, Trippi, One World and Querari.

The highest average price went to the now retired Trippi: eight yearlings at an average of R1.4 million.
And so on, and so on…

It may not be a science rocket, but it is a racing rocket.