As Australia's summer of yearling sales continued all the way across to Western Australia this time, like everywhere else on earth, buyers came to plunder.
And it resulted in a WA yearling record.
The former WA state yearling sale record was obliterated at Belmont on Tuesday, which was day one of the two day select sale. Lindsay Park bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington out-bid the Belhus Racing team and paid $200,000 for a Rory's Jester-Paradise Park filly (consigned by Marybrook-based Oakland Park Stud) on Day 1 of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. The previous record was $150,000.
The filly (the second foal of former group-winning juvenile Bletchley Park mare Paradise Park) is a full-sister to recent runaway four-length Adelaide debut winner Shan Dian.
Mark Pilkington (who admitted going over his limit) noted: "We have the full sister Shan Dian back at home and we think she is a great talent. She's been sent to the paddock and we're confident she will graduate to stakes class next preparation. And I bought this filly for the same West Australian syndicate that races her."
Paradise Park is a sister to stakes-winner Hartleys Dream and half-sister to Melbourne group winner La Sirenuse and stakes-performed Propel. The family also includes WA-bred Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) winner Rogan Josh and multiple stakes winner Corporate James. Pilkington's insight was spot on as a son of Bletchley Park came out on Wednesday and won the A$150,000 Magic Millions Juvenile race in Perth. Naturally enough, that spurred more interest in the old stallion. And when his day two band came through the ring, they were snapped up with glee.
Western Australian-based Belhus Racing Stables this time won out paying the Day-2 top price of $140,000 for a Bletchley Park-Corporate Dancer colt. Old Bletchley Park a 16-year-old former listed race winner in England, is by Caerleon from the Ahonoora mare Enigma. He has been in Australia for 12 years and boasts a stunning 74% winners-to-runners.
Lots Sold: 253
Session Aggregate: $7,927,000
Session Average: $31,332
Top Price: $200,000
Lots Withdrawn: 19
Lots Passed: 68
Lots Catalogued: 340
Sold %: 79
MM Perth Day-1: Top Lots
$200,000 Rory's Jester-Paradise Park filly (M.Pilkington)
$150,000 Danetime-Most Secret colt (F.Kersley)
$110,000 Laranto-Gourmet filly (G.Legana)
$95,000 Bletchley Park-Talk With Her Eyes colt (MM as agent)
$90,000 Scenic-Kia Ora Gem filly (Aquanita Racing)
$72,500 Scenic-Stellare colt (Morton Racing)
MM Perth Day-2: Top Lots
$140,000 Bletchley Park-Corporate Dancer colt (Belhus Racing)
$110,000 Lord Dane-Wild Rumour colt (R.Sweetman)
$90,000 Bletchley Park-Dare To Compare colt (Canal Enterprises)
$75,000 Bletchley Park-Born With Wings colt (Ong Tiong Seng)
$75,000 Bletchley Park-Clara's Café colt (T.Andrews)
