'Nick Nugent is probably the most colourful auctioneer I've worked with'

Steve Davis, a popular guest auctioneer on the rostrum at Bloodstock South Africa, on working alongside Henry Beeby and Nick Nugent, preparing for the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale and the resilience of the South African industry.

I started as a guest auctioneer here at Bloodstock South Africa in 2001 and was joined on the rostrum by Brian Makwabarara and Peter Lovemore.

The only year I missed was when the sale moved dates because of African horse sickness and then clashed with the sales in Australasia.

That was the year they got Henry Beeby down and knowing well how good-looking he is, I thought they'd never get me back but we ended up coming back to sell together.

I've also had the pleasure of working with Nick Nugent and we both started at Magic Millions at the same time. He's probably the most colourful auctioneer I've ever worked with.

Every year I fly in three or four days early to give myself time to look at the yearlings I'll be selling. It usually takes me a while to get through them all as you haven't spoken to the people for a while and can end up talking too much, which is a constant problem for auctioneers.

The industry in South Africa is amazingly resilient. They've had two big players in Markus Jooste and Andre van Vuuren both pull out of buying and also their horses coming onto the market. The economy doesn't seem to be going too well at the moment and the domestic buying bench has contracted as a result. But the buyers just keep putting their hand up.

I was originally going to be a teacher but the board of directors decided I should pursue another line of employment. I was doing race commentaries and did my first bloodstock sale in December of 1984 alongside the late, great Peter Kelly.

I do all the Magic Millions sales - at Adelaide, Perth, the Gold Coast and Tasmania - and the New Zealand Bloodstock sales at home.

I've been auctioneering at the three companies for about 20 years now and it's rare to get an opportunity like that.

More from Bloodstock South Africa:

South Africa pushing hard for direct trade of horses with EU

Bjorn Nielsen and Form Bloodstock among buyers on day two

South African sale record smashed as Shadwell stock up

'The horses at this auction are prepped in a very sympathetic way'