A new year ticks over and all the beautiful people head to the Gold Coast where bloodstock agents, trainers and owners plot the purchase of their next champion, hopefully before the throng of visiting schoolies bring down civilization as we know it.
Snitzel and I Am Invincible are expected to dominate the sale, but they may have to share some of the limelight on day one alongside the like of Zoustar, Medaglia d'Oro (USA), Redoute's Choice and Exceed And Excel.
There is definitely a buzz around the ground on the eve of the sale and the following are some of the lots that have attracted the most attention on the opening day.
Lot No: 10 Bl or Br C Medaglia d'Oro (USA) x Peggy Jean by Myboycharlie
Second foal of Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes winner who was purchased as a broodmare for $1 million. The I Am Invincible filly foal she was carrying sold for $750,000 last year.
Lot No: 18 B F Zoustar x Pleats (FR) by Green Desert
Half-sister to two winners including the Group II-placed Intriguing Lady. From a proven European stakes-winning family.
Lot No: 20 B C Snitzel x Politeness by Street Sense
First foal of a Group 1 VRC Myer Classic winner and $1.2 million earner.
Lot No: 32 B or Br C Snitzel x Pure Fun (USA) by Pure Prize
Few studs boast a better band of imported mares that Kia Ora Stud and this colt is the second foal of a Grade 1 Starlet Stakes winner whose first foal, a Fastnet Rock colt made $650,000 in this ring in 2017.
Lot No: 34 B C Redoute's Choice x Purely Spectacular by Pins
A three-quarter brother to the dual Group 1 winning multimillionaire Stratum Star and a half to the stakes-placed Serenade.
Lot No: 36 B C Exceed And Excel x Puzzle by Shamardal
Second foal winning half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and $3.2 million earner English. This colt's sister sold at Easter last year for $450,000.
Lot No: 51 B F Snitzel x Real Surreal by Real Saga
First foal of Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner who is a half-sister to Group III winner Benny's Buttons. Dam sold in 2016 as a broodmare prospect for $800,000.
Lot No: 72 B F I Am Invincible x Rose Of Choice by Choisir
Second foal of a high-class racemare whose 7 wins including the Listed Jungle Dawn Classic. Her yearling Hinchinbrook colt made $450,000 last year.
Lot No: 82 B F I Am Invincible x Runway Runaway by Starcraft
Half-sister to the Listed VRC Cap d'Antibes Stakes winner Fox Swift out of a Sydney winning half-sister to Group III winner White Moss and Listed winner White Sage.
Lot No: 104 Ch C Snitzel x Secret Admirer by Dubawi
Half-brother to Group III ATC Ming Dynasty Stakes winner Danawi out of dual Group 1 winner whose I Am Invincible colt made $560,000 at Easter last year.
Lot No: 107 B or Br C Snitzel x Sempre Libera by Medaglia d'Oro
First foal of a Sydney winning half-sister to Group II winner Merlene de Lago and to the dam of Group 1 VRC Oaks winner Dear Demi. Dam is a daughter of the Group 1 Golden Sipper and AJC Sires' Produce Stakes heroine Merlene.
Lot No: 117 B or Br C Zoustar x Shakeira (USA) by Freud
A $310,000 weanling this colt is the third foal of a stakes-winner of 7 races in the U.S.
Lot No: 126 B C Pierro x She's A Wildcat by Fastnet Rock
Third foal of an unraced sister to Group 1 MVRC William Reid Stakes winner Foxwedge, Listed winner She's a Fox and the Group II runner-up Paulownia. Dam's I Am Invincible colt made $330,000 last year.
Lot No: 152 Br C Sebring x Solar Charged by Charge Forward
Brother to the stakes-placed Sheikha and a half-brother to Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes and Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Sunlight who has earned $3 million in her 12 starts to date. Dams Zoustar yearling made $600,000 last year.
Lot No: 191 Ch F Zoustar x Sunday Rose by Exceed And Excel
Second live foal of a high-class racemare who was runner-up in the Group II Silver Slipper was.
Lot No: 204 B C I Am Invincible x Tai Tai Tess by Magic Albert
Half-brother to one winner and a brother to last year's $2 million sales topper. Dam is a stakes-winning granddaughter of the Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas winner Arborea.
Lot No: 233 B F I Am Invincible x Tinto by Red Dazzler
First foal of Group 1 BTC Queensland Oaks winner.
Lot No: 258 B or Br C Snitzel x Urban Groove by Charge Forward
Brother to the promising $450,000 yearling Country Cocktail out of a stakes-winning granddaughter of dual Group 1 winner Heat Of The Moment.
Lot No: 262 B F Exceed And Excel x Vanilla Princess by Lonhro
Dam's first foal by Redoute's Choice sold for $300,000 last year. She is a city winning daughter of the champion racemare Princess Coup whose 12 wins included four at the highest level.
