KEY POINTS:
Horseracing's elite are converging on Karaka for what is expected to be a top sale.
An impressive catalogue, combined with the problems caused by horse flu in Australia, mean overseas buyers are coming in numbers to the the annual yearling sales.
Many got an early taste of local horses at a twilight race meeting held at Ellerslie yesterday. Among the big name buyers entertained at trackside marquees were leading Australian trainers Bart Cummings and Gai Waterhouse.
The feature was the Karaka Million, a new big-stakes drawcard open to yearlings bought at Karaka.
New Zealand Bloodstock marketing manager Petrea Vela said there would be a buzz in the air at Karaka today. She was optimistic the sales would top the $80 million taken last year.
"People are feeling very confident. New Zealand horses are performing well in the Northern and Southern Hemipsheres. It is a great advertisement for us.
"The domestic industry has gone through a revival. People are champing at the bit to get into it, to sell, and start re-investing."
The equine influenza virus had forced the postponement of the traditional Australian sales, making Karaka the first of the year.
Waterhouse told the Herald she was interested in buying a filly from Waikato-based The Oaks Stud.
The stud owner and New Zealand Breeder of the Year, Dick Karreman, said that on his flight over from Australia most of business class was filled with horseracing people from Queensland. "I have never seen so many interested buyers."
While he was primarily at the sales to sell from his stud, he said, he might weaken and buy a horse.
Ms Vela said the presence of some big names was a boost to the event, as they brought with them the prestige of the industry, and a large client base.
Much of the sales hype surrounds the unloading by Cambridge stud of all of champion horse Zabeel's 47 progeny. Last year 22 Zabeel-sired youngsters sold for an average of $300,000.
Bloodstock agent Kieran Moore said he was eagerly anticipating the event.
