South Africa’s Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA) hosts the annual Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale on Sunday. The sale will be conducted at the TBA complex in Germiston.

The Ready To Run Sale was the brainchild of Summerhill Stud’s Mick Goss, who has given buyers plenty of incentive to buy at this, the last official sale on the South African calendar. Every horse sold on the sale is eligible for a crack at the Ready to Run Cup, a race which is worth R2 million this year.

Recent graduates of the sale include Igugu and Pierre Jourdan, who fought out the finish to South Africa’s biggest race in 2011, the Vodacom Durban July. Igugu was later named Horse of the Year.

Summerhill is the main consigner at the sale, but several other of South Africa’s top farms are represented, with the likes of Highlands, Drakenstein and Maine Chance all having drafts this year. Many of the country’s top sires have 2yos on offer. Sires like Jet Master, Captain Al, Silvano, Muhtafal, Trippi, Kahal and  Dynasty all have youngsters on the 185 lot sale. 

There will also be keen interest in some of the horses sporting international pedigrees. Some of the world’s finest sires have progeny here, and top sires represented include El Prado, Forestry, Redoute’s Choice, Rock of Gibraltar, Danehill Dancer, Royal Academy and Tale of the Cat. 

One of the star lots could well be lot 126, a colt by Redoute’s Choice out of former SA champion racemare Perfect Promise. The latter was the first SAF bred to win a G1 race in Australia, when she landed the CF Orr Stakes. There has also been a lot of attention focused on the three El Prado fillies catalogued, particularly with the ongoing success enjoyed by EL Prado’s brilliant 3yo filly, Winter Memories. 

The sale starts at 11:00 am (SAF time). The catalogue is online at www.tba.co.za. Live stream of the sale will also be available on the site for the sale’s duration.

Article courtesy of Sarah Whitelaw