The Freedom Day holiday weekend April 27 – 29 promises to be a weekend full of Champions in Johannesburg. BloodStock South Africa is hosting the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale on the Friday and the Sunday. On the Saturday it is Champions raceday at Turffontein with three Grade 1 races and six Grade 2 races.

Yearlings by Champion sires out of Champion mares, prepared by breeders from all over the country, will be on offer at the National Yearling Sale at the TBA Complex in Germiston. All yearlings on the sale have been inspected and selected on strict physical criteria by internationally renowned horseman John Kramer accompanied this year by Stanley Bennett. In line with the major sales all over the world, the late summer / early autumn date has proven its popularity with buyers and vendors as the best time to prepare and purchase yearlings who have been allowed to mature naturally at their own pace. The selection panel have screened the yearlings on pedigree and ensured that quality of horse is commensurate with the standard to be expected at South Africa’s most prestigious yearling sale.

There are over 60 sires with yearlings on the sale. Leading sires Jet Master, Silvano, Kahal, Dynasty, Var, Captain Al are all strongly represented. Black Minnaloushe and Trippi, sire of leading two year olds The Black Rose and Agra respectively, have over 20 yearlings each on the sale. Exciting First Season sires represented at the sale include the impeccably bred Judpot as well as Grade 1 winners AP Arrow, Jay Peg, Rebel King and Argonaut. There are also 15 imported yearlings by international sires including Rock Of Gibraltar, Not For Sale, Orpen, Duke Of Marmalade, Teofilio, Zeditave, Zambezi Sun etc.

The highest priced colt and filly sold in South Africa in 2011 were sold at Nationals for R3 million and R3.2 million, and there will no doubt be strong competition for the top lots. However there will also be plenty to appeal to buyers at all price levels – the average in 2011 was just under R250k.

BloodStock South Africa thanks all the breeders for their continued support of the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale 2012 and looks forward to welcoming owners, trainers and agents from all over the country and internationally in their search for Champion racehorses of the future.