With Justin Vermaak returning to bloodstock full time in March 2026, Vermaak Equine made its return to the yearling sale scene after a three-year break. First on the sales calendar was the high class offering presented by Race Coast Sales for its Premier Yearling Sale held in March. With only the second edition of the sale, the offering of high-quality thoroughbreds was met with vigour by a solid buying bench which delivered an average of just under R650,000 and a median of R400,000. A true sellers’ market. No doubt at the forefront of buyers’ minds were the RCS Big Cap (R5mil) & RCS Slipper (R3mil) as the reality of the races sank in with the running of the races approaching only three wees after the sale.
Vermaak Equine topped the leading buyer chart by number of purchases, signing for 29 individual lots. The purchases came at an aggregate spend of R22,250,000 at an average of R767,241. Jonathan Snaith left his mark on the sale as the leading spender with R26,075,000 for his 25 lots, averaging R1,043,000. Greg Bortz, Hollywood Racing and Anthony Beck rounded off the top five buyers.
Some of the standout purchases are listed below:
242- R2,600,000
Vercingetorix x Gimme Dat
Bred by Millstream Stud
To be trained by Justin Snaith
233- R1,800,000
Rafeef x Follow Me
Bred by Maine Chance Farms
To be trained by Piet Steyn
266 – R1,700,000
One World x Inaninstant
Bred by Maine Chance Farms
To be trained by Piet Steyn
224- R1,500,000
Rafeef x Exquisite Touch
Bred by Klawervlei Stud
To be trained by Sean Tarry
191- R1,400,000
What A Winter x Cio Cio San
Bred by Drakenstein Stud
To be trained by Johan Janse Van Vuuren
100- R1,400,000
What A Winter x Song Of Happiness
Bred By Drakenstein Stud
To be trained by Vaughan Marshall
237 – R1,000,000
Rafeef x Freed From Desire
Bred by Narrow Creek
To be trained by Mat & Mike De Kock
257- R1,000,000
Vercingetorix x Hello Winter Hello
Bred by Maine Chance Farms
To be trained by Sean Tarry
25- R1,000,000
Vercingetorix x Maharanee
Bred by Maine Chance Farms
To be trained by Sean Tarry