A strong middle market ensured a healthy increase in prices at the 2014 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale. The sale, which took place at the TBA complex on Sunday, concluded with an aggregate of R22 340 000 which was a 5% increase on last years total of R21 245 million. Both average and median prices rose pleasingly for the one day sale, with the average jumping up a staggering 30%.

The 2013 sales average price was R186 360, in contrast with the sturdier figure of R242 826 this year. The median rose by nearly as much, jumping by 29% from R120 000 a year ago, to R155 000.

A pair of colts fetched R1.2 million apiece, to jointly top the sale. Lot 27 was a big talking horse pre-sale, and he duly lived up to expectations by topping the Ready To Run Sale. Consigned by Balmoral Stud, whose juveniles were all turned out superbly, the unnamed colt is a son of former US Champion, and world leading sire, Bernardini. Knocked down to prominent owner Alesh Naidoo (pictured), the colt hails from a superb female line, responsible for, among others, international champion Henrythenavigator.

The other colt to head the sale was lot 35, also consigned by Balmoral Stud. The beautifully bred juvenile, who was snapped up by Brian Burnard, is a son of perennial leading sire Captain Al and out of a five time winning half sister to ill-fated Gr1 SA Classic winner Divine Jury, as well as J&B Met hero Martial Eagle, to name but two of the stars from this glittering family. The TBAs Kevin Woolward attributes the sale's overall gains to a solid middle market, commenting, "We are extremely happy with the sales' outcome, which benefitted from a tremendously strong middle market, ensuring solid prices all round."