Te Akau principal David Ellis was hard at work at Karaka yesterday looking for, among others, a replacement for speed machine Xtravagant.
The dual group one winner has been sold to Australia's Newhaven Stud for $2.7 million.
Xtravagant was to have run in last week's group one Telegraph at Trentham, but after one of his final gallops he was found to have a throat problem.
"He has a respiratory entrapment in his throat, which is common and not overly serious," said Ellis yesterday. "John Kelly came over from Newhaven, inspected the horse and a deal was done during the week."
Ellis said Xtravagant will undergo minor laser surgery next week after which Newhaven will decide whether or not the stallion will be put back in work or retire to the stallion barn.