David Ellis leads the way

Te Akau's David Ellis is again the leading NZ buyer after day 1 of the premier sale.

In a busy day for the Te Akau team, David Ellis outlaid $1.7 million to secure 11 premier yearlings at Karaka yesterday.

A master at auction strategy, David secured yearlings across a wide price bracket from a precocious Dylan Thomas colt for $12,000 to the son of the magnficient "staying mare of the world" Ethereal for $425,000.

The 11 yearlings purchased saw David the top Kiwi buyer and the fourth buyer overall behind NZB as agent, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Coolmore Stud (who only bought one lot, the sales topping $1.975 million colt).

"I am absolutely thrilled with the quality of the horses I have been able to buy.  I am not here to buy a yearling, I am here to buy the next champion and I think we have the yearlings to step up and deliver on the ractrack.  It has been a terrific buying day for Te Akau owners," David said at 5.30am this morning before he headed out to Karaka to be interviewed on TV One's "Breakfast" programme.

Day 2 continues today and is the final day of the premier sale - watch for plenty more Te Akau action as David and Mark will be active in the selling arena and Karyn hosts the tv coverage beginning at 10.30am on Sky Sport 2 - if you miss that, check in to Trackside (or set your mysky) at 11pm as a full replay of the day takes place.