A Street Sense filly grabbed the glory Feb. 9 during the opening session of the Magic Millions Perth yearling sale in Australia. Bringing Aust$200,000 ($154,812 in U.S. funds), she was the most expensive horse that was sold.
Bloodstock agent Justin Bahen, who purchased the filly, revealed that she will join the stable of one of the country's top trainers.
"She's off to Mark Kavanagh," Bahen said. "I thought she was the filly of the sale--a lovely individual who looks a great prospect as a 3-year-old.”
The bay yearling is out of New Zealand champion stayer Jezabeel (by Zabeel), who captured the Foster’s Melbourne Cup Handicap (Aust-I) and DB Daught Auckland Cup (NZ-I) in 1998 and the Charles de Cazanove Champagne Stakes (NZ-III) in 1995.
"I have seen most of the yearlings from Jezabeel and this filly is the pick of them in my book," Bahen said.
Consigned by Distinct Racing & Breeding, the yearling is a half sister to three winners.
The results for the first session included a gross of Aust$3,580,000 ($2,771,520) for the 77 horses that were sold. The average price was Aust$46,500 ($35,994), and the median price was Aust$40,000 ($30,962). The clearance rate was 75.5%.
Compared to 2010’s opening day, the gross declined 6.9%, while the average fell 2.1%. The median was the same. Last year’s clearance rate was 77.1%.
"As was the case on the Gold Coast in January, quality yearlings attracted strong interest from buyers," said Magic Millions acting managing director David Chester. "It was pleasing to see the average, gross, and clearance rates hold up to last year's first session.
"Last year's first session was the strongest of the auction and last year's session one to three rounded out with an average price of about Aust$41,000, so it's heartening to be ahead of that at this stage.
"We had buyers from many states around the country and it was good to see some first time visitors to the Perth sale like Leon Macdonald and David Jolly among successful buyers tonight."