The highest price at at the Sale was lot 197 (pictured above by Chase Liebenberg), purchased by Adam Marcus for R4,5 million, a Vercingetorix colt called Caesar’sVastGhost out of stakes-placed Jet Master mare Come Fly With Me which makes him a half-brother to Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and WSB Met winner Double Superlative
The Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale held on Friday and Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth set new ground and highlighted the positive vibe sweeping through horseracing in South Africa at present.
Of the 251 lots offered 224 were sold, up from 121 in 2024 and 219 last year, the aggregate of R145,210,000 was up from R65,345,000 in 2024 and R122,800,00 last year, the avarege of R648,249 was up from R540,042 in 2024 and 560,731 last year, while the median compared favourably as it was R400,000 in 2024, R325,000 last year and R400,000 this year.
The top buyer at the Sale, Jonathan Snaith, said, “The 2026 Race Coast Premier Yearling Sale was a tremendous success and a clear step forward for the Sale.
The quality of yearlings on offer was exceptional and buyers responded accordingly, which is reflected in the strong aggregate of over R145 million and an impressive average of R648,259.
The medium of R400 000 is an important figure, which was up 23% on last year.
There was great depth across the catalogue with plenty of athletic, well-presented individuals.
It’s encouraging to see breeders supporting the sale with quality stock and buyers backing it with confidence.
Sales like this are vital for the continued growth of the South African breeding industry and horse population.
Race Coast Sales created a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere that was enjoyed by all buyers, contributing to a thoroughly successful and enjoyable Sale.
A sincere thank you to the entire Race Coast Sales team, as well as the owners and buyers whose support makes this Sale possible. They make the magic happen.”
Snaith spent a total of R 26,075,000 for 25 lots at an average of R 1,043,000.
Justin Vermaak Equine bought the most horses, splashing out R 22,250,000 for 29 lots at an average of R767,241.
Jonathan Snaith had a memorable Sale for more reasons than one. He is the stallion manager of Jet Dark, who had a sensational return at his first ever Sale. The Drakenstein-based Trippi stallion had 20 lots sold for a total return of R 17,550,000 and an average of R877,500. That must surely be a South African record for a stallion’s first Sale. Nick Jonsson and Tommy Crowe were Jet Dark’s owners when he raced and continue to own him in partnership with Drakenstein. His service fee for 2026 remains at R30,000, which makes him the best value stallion in the country based on his Sales average.
Jet Dark’s highest priced lot was 195, a Drakenstein Stud-bred colt out of the What A Winter mare Clouds Unfold, who won the Gr 1 wfa Majorca Stakes twice. This is Clouds Unfold’s second foal. (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
Reigning champion stallion Vercingetorix was the leading Sire, which has become the norm. He deserves that status having set a new record last term of 23 stakes winners in a season and this season he has already had 14 stakes winner. His 23 stakes winners won 33 stakes races between them last season and this season his 14 stakes winners have won 19 stakes races between them.
Vercingetorix’s Sale return was 22 lots sold for a total of R 32,975,000 and an average of R 1,498,864.
Rafeef was not far behind with his 21 lots fetching a returning a total of R26,850,000 for an average of R1,278,571.
Rafeef had six stakes winners of nine races last season and has had four stakes winners of four races this season.
Jet Dark, who was a five-time Gr 1 winner who won the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate twice and he also won the WSB Cape Town Met, was the third highest selling stallion by aggregate, although Master Of My Fate was third highest by average, his six lots returning an average of R 1,020,833.
Gimmethegreenlight’s seven lots averaged R842,857, One World’s nine lots averaged R 708,333 and What A Winter’s 16 lots averaged R 554,688.
The big improver at the Sale, not surprisingly, was The United States, sire of the South African horse rated highest in the current Longines World Ranking, Tin Pan Alley.
THe Moutonshoek Stud-based The United States’ six lots went for an average of R 554,167.
The highest average achieved on the Sale was actually by the overseas-bases stallion Cracksman, a son of the legendary Frankel, but he was not included in this article’s average rankings as he only had one lot.
Cracksman’s one lot was a Drakenstein Stud-bred colt out of a three time-winning Free Eagle (High Chaparral) mare, covered to Southern Hemisphere times, and he went for R1.5 million.
The highest lot at the Sale was on Day Two, lot 197, which was vendored by Winterbach Stud as agent and was purchased by Adam Marcus for R4.5 million. This Vercingetorix colt called Caesar’svastghost is out of the five time-winning stakes-placed Jet Master mare Come Fly With Me, which makes him a half-brother to the Twice Over Cape Guineas and Met winner, Double Superlative.
Adam Marcus is presented with a bottle of Champagne after successfully bidding for the highest-priced lot on the Sale (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
The highest lot on Day One was lot 94, a Narrow Creek Stud-bred Rafeef colt called Rafa’s Tune, who was the first foal of the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint-winner Singforafa. He was sold to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for R4 million.
There were no fewer than 47 seven figure lots with Vercingetorix responsible for 15 of them, Rafeef for eleven, Jet Dark for seven, What A Winter four, One World three, Gimmethegreenlight two, Master Of My Fate two, The United States one, Cracksman one and Futura one.
The leading vendor by aggregate was Klawervlei Stud as agent with their 44 lots returning R 25,800,000 for an average of R586,364.
Maine Chance Farms were narrow runner ups by average with their 28 lots returning R 25,400,000 for an average of R 907,143.
Drakenstein Stud were in third place by aggregate and were the leaders by average with their 15 lots returning R 22,750,000 for an average of R1,516,667.
The Race Coast Sales team will be buoyant after this excellent Sale and it augurs well for their future.
