By MIKE DILLON
The highest priced lot didn't sell at the opening session of New Zealand Bloodstock's premier yearling sale yesterday.
Sam Kelt, principal for the vedors of the handsome Danehill colt from the Derby winner Popsy, turned down the $600,000 offered in the ring.
"I wanted $700,000," said Kelt as the Danehill colt left the ring without changing hands, but New Zealand Bloodstock's official sheets showed a $750,000 reserve. Kelt, who raced Popsy, said two hours later when still no business had been done: "If he doesn't go I'll race him myself."
Brent Taylor, proprietor of Trelawney Stud which presented the colt, was surprised he did not make his reserve price,
"Very surprised actually. He's one of the colts of the sale, he's georgeous.
"I suppose his position in the sale [Lot 38 of 538 in the session] was right against him, but I thought he'd make his price. "But we're not panicking, we've got two days before he has to get on the bus and go elsewhere.
"After those two high flying colts go through the ring tomorrow, this colt might turn out to be the snip of the sale." Yesterday's 190 lots were probably not the best section of the sale.
The two sale standouts, the Zabeel-Diamond Lover and the Nureyev-Goodlookin Broad, are to be sold today and the best price yesterday was the $400,000 Sydney opal merchant Leo Chan paid for the Zabeel-Plans Awry colt, a price matched late in the sale by the Danehill-Torrential Storm colt.
The latter colt was one of two Danehills Sir Patrick Hogan sourced from Coolmore Stud last winter.
"I didn't have a Danehill in my draft this year after selling one for $850,000 last year and I was keen to have a couple in there.
"I picked a colt and a filly out of the Coolmore paddock and did a deal where I prepared them for sale."
The Danehill colt was bought by New Zealand Bloodstock's John Cameron on behalf of a Hong Kong client.
It is understood the Zabeel-Plans Awry was also purchased on behalf of Hong Kong interests and is likely to be sent to Hong Kong.
The third highest price was the $310,000 New Zealand Bloodstock paid as agent on behalf of Hong Kong clients for the Danehill-Romantic River colt.
"He was owned by an Australian partnership," said Maureen Harvey from Ascot Farm, who prepared the colt.
Ascot got $300,000 for its Zabeel-Royal Riband filly, a half sister to Via Suez and Duke's Deal.
The filly was bought by Queensland's Karreman Racing Pty Ltd.
Singapore-bound Waverley trainer Stephen Gray trebled the previous highest amount he had paid when he outlaid $190,000 for Chatham Lodge's Caerleon filly from the English mare Nymph Errant. "The most I have paid for a horse before is $65,000, which was Country Rose," said Gray.
"I bought this filly for a client who is looking to establish himself with a couple of premier session broodmares.
"This filly is a fraction small, but she'll grow."
Gray leaves to establish a training base in Singapore in May.
He said he has seven or eight 3-year-olds and 14 2-year-olds readying to re-locate with him and is looking to boost that number.
"It means dad will be training this filly."
Racing: Bids $100,000 short for colt
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