The Bloodstock South Africa National Yearling Sales in Johannesburg concluded today with strong increases in averages reflecting both the quality of the yearlings on offer and strong domestic demand to support larger numbers of overseas investors

Amongst those was Allan Bloodlines who made five purchases consisting of two fillies for themselves and a filly and two colts for clients as consultants – all to race in South Africa with trainer Vaughan Marshall. In a prolonged bidding battle with the powerful Wilgerbosdrift Stud of Mrs Mary Slack, an extremely smart colt by RICH MAN’S GOLD was secured for R 950,000 (£85,500) for a client of Vaughan Marshall and at the other end of the scale, a backward but nicely bred and good looking daughter of recently deceased sire MODEL MAN cost R 50,000 (£4,500). In between, Allan was especially pleased with a NATIONAL EMBLEM filly out of a full sister to a Champion Sprinter and herself half sister to two black type horses at R 250,000 (£22,500) bought on Sunday – usually stronger than the Monday but not on this occasion when buyers put themselves under pressure to buy and drove the sale firmly throughout.