BSA 2YO – The Numbers Are Up
In terms of sheer numbers, 2022 was notable for its growth on the year before. The aggregate sale rose to R48.975 million, off a base of R39.64 million recorded in 2021, and both the average prices and median prices recorded notable gains in 2022.
Last year’s August Two Year Old Sale recorded an average of R220 608 with the 2021 average price R141 571, and the auction’s median increased from R90 000 in 2021 to R140 000. Gimmethegreenlight’s Wilgerbosdrift consigned colt Yes We Can was the top lot sold off last year’s sale, knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R3 800 000. Yes We Can was one of three colts to fetch R1 000 000 or more, with the Vercingetorix colt Holding Thumbs and the Silvano colt Groovejet making R1 100 000 and R1 000 000 respectively.
We spoke to Jo Campher, Kuda’s Bloodstock Manager, and posed a few important questions to her.
How important is this BSA Two-Year-Old Sale in the calendar for the Bloodstock industry?
JC: This Sale is always well supported by buyers and vendors selling. You will find horses who need a bit more time to mature, which means that the Yearling Sales are just too early for them to be physically ready, strong and more developed.
Do buyers enjoy buying two-year-olds because there’s less costs incurred ahead of their racing careers?
JC: To a degree, yes. But it’s all about the buyer and the quality of horse they are buying. Some of these two-year-olds can go straight into pre-training as they will be mature enough. As we know though, some offspring of certain sires take longer to mature and even when they hit the tracks they might only be at their best when older. This later Sale does help horses to mature, but also buying from this sale shortens the time in the paddock before the horse can go into pre-training.
How important is this Sale for Kuda?
JC: All the Bloodstock SA Sales are important for Kuda. The Nationals (yearlings) will always be the stronger Sale but they also have double the number of horses under the hammer. At these Sales it all depends on horses catalogued (pedigrees and type) and who the active buyers are as each owner/trainer/bloodstock agent looks for something different in the horses they choose.
How thriving is the Bloodstock industry at the moment in SA?
JC: We see positivity all round but I think Cape Racing has set the bar high with what they offer to race in the Cape. We will see more trainers having satellite yards in season, the “raiders” also qualify for their own set of bonuses on top of all other relevant bonuses and Cape Racing contributes a lot to the cost of the horses getting to Cape Town. If we look at the current racing at Durbanville and the public interest, it’s all positive. Additionally, the KZN season was once again memorable and to be on course you just feel the vibe. 4Racing is also doing their bit in Johannesburg with regards to the whole racing experience. With regards to the export protocol, we are seeing some positives and it seems like we are heading in the right direction. Once the horses can travel with only having a short quarantine in SA we will then also see more support from the International bloodstock agents and owners, because our horses are good enough to perform on the world stage.
Buyers should look out for Campher this weekend at the BSA Sales. She offers important advice to prospective buyers. “If you tick Kuda, your invoice from BSA for the lots purchased will not include the 90-day insurance. If you are a current Kuda client we can add the horses onto your portfolio from fall of the hammer. The 90-day Sales cover is compulsory as this protects the buyer and the vendor from any misfortune. So, basically tick the Kuda box and I will be in contact,” she says.
