Equestrian

Cape Premier Yearling Sale

Agri-Expo were contracted to run the inaugural Cape Premier Yearling Sale on 27 and 28 January in the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).  It was a world first for a yearling sale to be run in the centre of a major city.  Premier Helen Zille officially opened this prestigious event.

Three hundred and four stables filled four exhibition halls at the CTICC and the auction ring together with exhibition stands were set up in Hall 1. International bloodstock agents and horse owners were flown in from all over the world to participate. The timing of the event was set to coincide with Cape Town’s biggest race, the J&B Met, and guests were treated to a 10 day bonanza of the Cape Town racing world.

The final aggregate at the sale was just under R100 million with the top price of R2 500 000 going to two colts.  The average price of the 290 yearlings was R404 205.

Some of the 304 stalbes erected in four halls in CTICC

International bloodstock agents, horse owners and purchasers from all over the world
gathered around the sales arena

Cape Summer Yearling Sale

The Cape Summer Yearling Sale was presented at Sandringham on the 4th of March.  Only 154 yearlings were catalogued and the average price was R47 946 compared to the year before of R71 976.  Sandringham proved to be a magnificent and very popular venue for this sale.

Regional Mare and Weanling Sale

On May 26 the Regional Mare and Weanling Sale was run at Sandringham.  217 mares were catalogued, reaching a surprisingly good average of R53 854 and an aggregate of R5 547 000.  Although it rained very heavily in the build up stage of the sale, the actual sale turned out to be an absolutely magnificent day, and it was very well attended.

Auctioneer Andrew Miller selling a mare at the sale

A mare with foal at foot waiting to go into the Sales Ring

Cape Show Horse Society

This event was once again run at Wetton. One hundred and fifty stables from Agri-Expo are put up early in January. There are mainly Welsh Ponies and Hackney Ponies competing at this show and it is not an unusual sight to see two or three ponies standing together in one stable! The Harness classes are really well supported and it is quite a sight to see 20 to 30 ponies going round the ring in the single harness classes.