Spirited bidding was the order of the night during the first session of the 2011 Perth Magic Millions yearling sale at Belmont on Wednesday night.  A strong local, interstate and international buying bench spent over $3.58 million on 77 yearlings.

The average price for the night rounded out at $46,500 with a clearance rate of over 75% which were similar to last year’s opening session.

The session topper came early when a filly by Street Sense from the Melbourne Cup winner Jezabeel was purchased by Justin Bahen for $200,000.  She will join the stables of Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate winning horseman Mark Kavanagh.

The Street Sense-Jezabeel filly was one of seven yearlings to sell for $100,000 or more at the opening session of the auction.  “She’s a lovely individual who looks a great prospect as a three-year-old,” Bahen said.  “I have seen most of the yearlings from Jezabeel and this filly is the pick of them.”

The filly was sold by Serpentine based Distinct Racing & Breeding and is a daughter of Darley sire Street Sense.  He won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Kentucky Derby double and is a son of Street Cry – the sire of Kavanagh’s Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and his weight-for-age star Whobegotyou.

“It was pleasing to see the average, gross and clearance rates hold up to last year,” Magic Millions Acting Managing Director David Chester reported.  “It was good to see some first time visitors to the Perth sale like Leon Macdonald and David Jolly among the successful buyers.”

2011 Perth Magic Millions – Day 1 leader-board

$200,000 – Street Sense-Jezabeel filly
Vendor: Distinct Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd / Buyer: Bahen Bloodstock (Vic)

$150,000 – Exceed and Excel-No Questions colt
Distinct Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd / Donna Riordan (WA)

$120,000 – Lonhro-Misguiding filly
Korilya Stud (As Agent) / Neville Parnham (WA)

$100,000 – General Nediym-Merrier colt
Newhaven Park (As Agent) / Heinrich Bloodstock (Qld)

$100,000 – Bel Esprit-Miss Discretion colt
Cape Falls Thoroughbreds / Jason Warren Racing (Vic)

$100,000 – Viscount-Paris Petard filly
Oakland Park Stud / Magic Millions as agent (WA)