Potential for South African Buying Bench Return

South African trainers are eyeing a return to the Australian yearling market amidst growing optimism about the revival of racing in their home country. According to a bloodhorse.com report, for years, internationally renowned trainer Mike de Kock and his clients have supported the Australian market, with horses like stakes winner Letsbefrankbaby, trained in Victoria by his son Mathew and Robbie Griffiths. Their South African counterparts have largely stayed away from Australian sales however due to a weak rand and soaring Australian bloodstock prices that made it hard to compete. Now, bolstered by renewed confidence in the local racing industry, South African owners and trainers are considering Australia once more to augment their homebred stock. Greg Bortz, chairman of Cape Racing, has been pivotal in efforts to elevate Thoroughbred racing's profile in South Africa. His initiatives, including partnering with Hollywoodbets to acquire Cape Racing and pending approval to acquire Gold Circle, show a strong commitment to revitalizing the industry. "We're committed and invested in this resurgence," Bortz affirmed. "We're seeing positive signs – increased sales prices, larger fields – it's all heading in the right direction." Prominent Cape trainer Justin Snaith echoes this optimism: "Our racing is on the rise, and that warrants looking overseas for horse purchases again." Dean Kannemeyer, who had been a regular at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, expressed eagerness to return, saying "Australia has been very good to us." Meanwhile, the easing of horse export protocols, crucial to South Africa's industry rebound, is seen as a pivotal development. Adrian Todd of South African Equine Health and Protocols anticipates favorable outcomes from UK audits, potentially expanding export opportunities for South African horses which are already underway to the USA.