Susan Rowett chair of the South African Thoroughbred Breeders Association announced the shock withdrawal of Summerhill Stud from the Emperors Palace Ready to Run Sale.

She stated, "I have received notification from Mick Goss that Summerhill are withdrawing their draft from Bloodstock South Africa’s Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale 2014.

The reasons for the withdrawal relate to Summerhill’s wish to introduce a R500,000 buy-in for horses that are not sales graduates, as well as the number of lots on the sale and the quantum of the buyer contribution to the race stake. TBA Council and BSA management wanted to formally discuss and decide these strategic issues after the RTR sale this year, but this was unacceptable. It is a sad and unfortunate ending as Summerhill have been instrumental in building up the sale over many years.

Bloodstock South Africa and the TBA are committed to looking after the interests of all vendors and at this time, I wish to reassure vendors and buyers that the 2014 RTR Sale will go ahead with a Sales Race to be run in 2015 with the ONLY eligible entrants being graduates of the sale. We have over 110 horses on the sale, and they include some exceptional youngsters. The buyer contribution will be R10,000, and the race stake for 2015 will be R2,000,000.

We are committed to running excellent sales for the benefit of our vendors, members and buyers. The surplus proceeds from our sales activity provide crucial support for equine welfare, health and research and to fostering the interests of the breeder and the thoroughbred in general in South Africa.

I would like to thank our vendors and buyers for their exceptional support of the TBA."