Australian buyers are again expected to dominate the sale, backed by a powerful currency that provides a 30 per cent discount on everything purchased. However, Vela says the fact Kiwi-breds claimed more than 30 per cent of Australia's Group 1 wins last season speaks for itself.
New Zealand's leading buyer for the past six years won't hear any talk of a recession. David Ellis of Te Akau Racing says he's ready to unleash the same firepower that saw him spend almost $5 million on 33 horses last year. Raising the minimum stake level from $5000 to $7000 from March will be "a big incentive for people to want to buy horses", he says.
Among the vendors, Cambridge Stud is on track to secure its title as leading vendor on aggregate for the 32nd year running.
It seems comments by prominent Australian breeder Gerry Harvey that he's going to "topple me off the list" have touched a nerve for stud master Sir Patrick Hogan.
"Maybe he's made me more determined that he's not going to do that. And I'm happy that goes in print."
The strategy is simple. Rather than retain his top-flight fillies to race privately, Sir Patrick has boldly committed his entire draft of 74 yearlings to Karaka to give buyers rare access to the illustrious Eight Carat family which he says "is the best in the [stud] book".
And while the yearlings will all be groomed to look their best in the sales ring next week, Cummings knows only too well it's not just about appearances. In 1964 he bought what he called two "ugly ducklings" at bargain basement prices. Galilee was pigeon toed and Red Handed had a club foot, a paralysed ear and a head "like a violin case", but they still won Melbourne Cups. Little wonder he's become a legend.
