KEY POINTS:
They've travelled from places as far flung as Japan, the United States and the Middle East and they all have two things on their mind - horse flesh and money.
Anticipation (and the smell of horses) was in the hot air yesterday as horse racing's elite descended on Karaka for the opening day of the week-long annual New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales.
Selling started at 11am following an opening address by Prime Minister Helen Clark. A total of 255 horses were sold, and turnover of $39.9 million was up 27 per cent on last year's first day.
Premier offerings will take up the first two days of selling, attracting the big spenders.
New Zealand Bloodstock marketing manager Petrea Vela said yesterday it would be hard to pick which horses would bring in the top dollars this year, but she expected sales to surpass the $81 million taken last year.
"There are about half a dozen horses that are in contention for taking the top lot, but we won't know what that price might be until you get the buyers in the ring."
Ms Vela said champion horse Zabeel's 47 progeny were expected to attract a lot of interest.
Last year, 22 Zabeel-sired youngsters sold for an average of $300,000.
Fierce bidding for a Zabeel colt out of Better Succeed started yesterday at $400,000 and he finally sold for $620,000.
But that was soon outdone by leading Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse, who snapped up a Zabeel-sired colt out of Dane Dancer for $820,000.
She described the horse as immature, but lovely and fluid.
"I got value for money," Ms Waterhouse said.
Bidding heated up again when a filly from One Cool Cat and Diamond Cashel went for $925,000.
The half-brother of the horse that won Sunday night's Karaka Million race at Ellerslie - Vincent Mangano - is expected to attract some fierce bidding today when he goes up for auction.
Last year, Auckland real estate executive Don Ha paid $2 million for the son of champions Zabeel and Sunline.
Yesterday, Mr Ha sold a filly from Redoute's Choice and Donna Dior for $540,000. "I'm happy with the price. I expected a little bit more, but I've got three more to sell."
Mr Ha said he was planning to make a purchase, but hadn't decided which horse, or how many.
Horse owner Louis Lai travelled from Hong Kong to attend the auction. He's bought over 50 horses at Karaka since he began attending in 1991.
"My strategy is not to buy too expensive, to buy below $100,000 per horse," he said.
