More Than Ready filly tops first session of Perth Yearling Sale

More Than Ready filly tops first session of Perth Yearling

Sale

Led by a strong bench of both domestic and international buyers, Wednesday's opening session of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale saw gross receipts in

excess of A$3.8 million and an average of A$47,500, which

represented an increase of 18.3 percent over the 2009 opener.

The sale got off

to a flying start when the first horse through the ring, an Oaklands Park

Stud-consigned daughter of the successful dual-hemisphere sire More Than Ready,

was hammered down for A$230,000. John Brocklebank's BC3 Thoroughbreds was the

successful bidder on the October foal who was produced by the stakes-winning

Ebony Magic (Bletchley Park), herself a full sister to the dam of

Group 1 winner Covertly (Metal Storm). Simon Marshall, the Sales and Industry

Liaison Manager for BC3, said their purchase was the pick of the session.

"She's

a lovely filly -- one that will be very suited to the BC3 program," Marshall said.

"We have a grading system and she was just one level off the top and we think in

three months time she will be there. She is going to make into a lovely breeze

up prospect later in the year."

A son of Fastnet Rock led the way for the

colts, selling for A$220,000. Out of Group 2-placed stakes winner Imaginaire (Fusaichi

Pegasus), the bay was purchased by Magic Millions regular Tiong Seng Ong, one of

eight horses snapped up by Singaporean interests.

When the dust settled, a total

of 10 horses achieved six-figure price tags, a record for the first day of the

sale. Sales officials were pleased to see statistical gains.

"To see the average

price increase by almost 20 percent and the clearance rate rise from 70 to 77

percent is very encouraging," Magic Millions Managing Director David

Chester said. "It's a real Magic Millions sale -- the variety on offer is second to

none and there is something for everyone."

The sale continues Thursday. For full results, go to www.magicmillions.com.au.