The progeny of promising young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan were keenly sought after on the opening day of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

With three lots by the sire going under the hammer on the first day of the Book 1 Sale, Bryce Tankard went to $260,000 to secure a colt from the Sebring mare Dolce Amore, while he also had a colt sell for $190,000 and a filly fetch $50,000.

Tankard, who operates under Waikato Bloodstock, confirmed the colt who was purchased from the Elsdon Park draft is destined for Hong Kong.

“I loved the horse when I saw him at the farm. He came out and he has got a real presence about him,” Tankard said.

“It was the same when I saw him here at the complex. I took an owner around to look at him and he came out and fills your eye. He walks, he puts his head down and is just a lovely, lovely horse.”

Tankard is bullish about the prospects of Ardrossan, who has had five trials winners in addition to impressive Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) winner Codigo.

“Ardrossan is a very exciting stallion,” Tankard said. “I saw Stephen Marsh had a winner at the trials that was pretty impressive. I rang him up and we couldn’t buy that and of course he is now Codigo who is unbeaten and a Listed winner.

“We were quite keen to secure one and they are going very well at the moment.

“We will trial him up here and see how he goes and hopefully he will end up in Hong Kong.”

Ardrossan, a son of Redoute’s Choice, was the winner of two stakes races, including the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie, as well as placings in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and the Gr.3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill before he was retired to Waikato Stud.

Ardrossan was not the only young Waikato Stud stallion to make a favourable impression with buyers on day one.

The first progeny of Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) hero Super Seth were also in demand, selling up to $380,000 and averaging $220,000 across eight lots sold.