Racehorse stallion Per Incanto loves to show off - and that's just what he did for the crowd at Little Avondale Stud, near Masterton, yesterday.
Per Incanto - nicknamed Magic - arrived three weeks ago and appeared yesterday to an appreciative crowd at the stud farm's parade of yearlings.
The former Italian champion was bought by a syndicate of 31 buyers, hoping to reclaim their investment from breeders after his illustrious pedigree.
Per Incanto was Italy's champion 3-year-old sprinter in 2007, winning six of his 13 starts.
The new arrival is the first son of champion sire Street Cry to be available as a stud in New Zealand.
His mother, Pappa Reale, had 13 wins and was the champion older sprinter in Italy.
Per Incanto has already proven his stud value in siring champion mare Zenyatta, who had 19 straight wins.
In front of the camera and the crowd, the horse Sam Williams calls Magic showed off what previous owners and breeders have called his presence - a confident, muscular stance - knowing what he's made of.
And what he's made of is listed comprehensively on Little Avondale's prospectus.
The family tree goes back three generations on both sides - and a generation further back along the male line to a list of all eight great-great grandsires.
While his price is confidential, Mr Williams said: "The Arabs bought him for seven figures as a racehorse, so obviously he's got the credentials."
Per Incanto's stud fee is $4000 plus GST and he stands alongside other top sires such as Towkay.
The yearling parade attracted a crowd of about 100 as Little Avondale displayed its new herd heading for the Karaka sales, for two days in Auckland beginning January. The local parade was good practice for the big sale, Mr Williams said.
"It's good for the horses to see a crowd, and good for the staff too, to front up and go on display."
The stud farm will be taking 13 yearlings for the premier sale and 11 for the second grade sale.
While Mr Williams said he thinks the sales are "going to be very hard" this year - "we aim to sell all our horses".
One of his favourites, for which he has high hopes, is Lot 33, by General Nediym.
"She's strong, with a great get up and go," Mr Williams said. "Everyone who sees her just falls in love, especially the blokes."
Sale season and and the lead-up to it is a "busy 12 days". The process involves buyers bringing a prospectus and asking to see each horse as it is brought out, and staff can be on their feet all day.
Every looker must be treated as a potential buyer. "You work the buyer. It's when the income comes in, so you've got to make it count," Mr Williams said.
Yes sire ... that's a touch of Magic
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