Although believing that an outstanding draft of five colts was put up for auction for their first outing at the Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale, Avontuur GM Pippa Mickleburgh could still barely believe the results of Friday, 15 April 2016!
The top prices of the Sale were achieved by three Avontuur yearlings, and all five went at an extraordinary average of R1 965 000, with an aggregate achieved of R9 825 000.
The two magnificent Oratorio colts, Mardi Gras and Graduate (Cover pic with two grooms) were joint sales-toppers at R3,2 million and the demand for the internationally proven son of Danehill’s progeny is expected to continue at the National Yearling Sale at the end of the month, where 15 more Oratorio’s are offered. The third highest priced lot is the R3 million paid by Mayfair Speculators for Talk Of The Town, a son of Var out of a Street Cry mare – a fellow with a stallion pedigree if ever we have seen one.
The results are hardly surprising given Avontuur’s time honoured philosophy of sending the best to the best, world-class farm management and providing the pastoral environmental platform for the launch of their fine wines and fast horses.
“Selling racehorses is not unlike training them. The fundamentals have to be in place and the stock is important. Programming and placement at sales is also key. Pushing horses that are not ready can only put you on the back foot. I think the stars were simply aligned on Friday and everything fell so neatly into place,” Pippa explained when asked about her thoughts after the Sale.
With eight yearlings ready for the National Yearling Sale at month-end, Pippa is moving across to the TBA Sales Complex for the next challenge. Five Var’s, and Oratorio a Jay Peg and Lot 398, a stunning colt by Gimmethegreenlight out of Valeta named Keyboogie are on their way up to Gauteng this week.
The Avontuur Hospitality Lounge will be open for viewings from Thursday, and Pippa and her team look forward to welcoming you there.
