NEW RECORD SET AT NATIONAL SALE

A positive day of trading on day two of the 2015 National Yearling Sale saw rises in aggregate, average and median, a reassuring sign following a slightly uneasy start to South Africa's oldest yearling sale, which began on Wednesday. While final figures are yet to be confirmed, TBA's CEO Kevin Woolward confirmed the aggregate marginally up on last year's sale. The median and average are also said to have increased slightly, but the exact amount will only be confirmed in the coming days. Thursday's day of trading also saw a filly set a new record paid for a yearling at the National Sale. A daughter of ill-fated former champion sire Fort Wood (whose son Dynasty made headlines as the sire of a colt who fetched R4.25 million on Wednesday), Savannah Cat broke the longstanding record when Mike Rattray splashed out R4.75 million to acquire her. Ironically, it was Lammerskraal Stud (formerly owned by Rattray) who consigned the bay filly, catalogued as lot 221 in the sale. The record breaking filly certainly had plenty to recommend her not only is Savannah Cat by one of the most influential stallions in South African history, but she is out of three time winning half sister to another ill-fated champion sire, in the form of the late Lammerskraal resident, Western Winter. Remarkably, lot 220, a Western Winter colt named Polar Vortex, (also purchased by Mike Rattray) was knocked down for R1.7million and Woolward believes that it is the first time in South Africa that two consecutive lots made as much as R6.45million. Savannah Cat was one of eight lots to make in excess of R1 million on Thursday which surely bodes well for the final day of the sale tomorrow. The CEO was quietly confident about the sales final figures, but did bemoan the lack of a middle market. "There seems to be a non-existent middle market, with the big buyers also seeming to target just a few lots. However, to break the previous National Sale record was a magnificent achievement, and well done to all connected with this magnificent filly."

The third and final day of the National Sale commences tomorrow at 13:00pm, and a final and full list of figures and statistics will be available for viewing following the sale's conclusion at www.tba.co.za