Value was the order of the day on a tough day’s selling at the 2011 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale in Launceston today.

A filly by exciting young sire Churchill Downs topped the sale when Victorian based trainer Mark Riley went to $62,000 to secure her from the draft of Armidale Stud.

Super Vobis qualified, the bay filly is a half sister to this season’s juvenile stakes placegetter Triple Asset – the favourite for tomorrow’s $50,000 Shaw Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Mowbray.

Finishing just behind that filly on the leaderboard of top sellers was a filly by sire of the moment Not a Single Doubt.

Offered at the auction by Reibey Lodge that filly was purchased by Magic Millions, acting as agent for a Tasmanian client.

The top selling colt of the day was the Ladoni full brother to Lady Lynette purchased by Cranboure’s Mark Webb from the draft of Armidale Stud for $50,000.

All up 99 yearlings were sold at a gross of $1,243,250 – rounding out the day with an average price of $12,558. The clearance rate was 64%.

“It was a real buyer’s market at the sale today,” Magic Millions Acting Managing Director David Chester reported.

“The clearance rate was obviously disappointing, but this sale traditionally is a tough selling market.”

“In saying that buyers would be thrilled with their purchases today as there is no doubt a number of lots today will race on to stakes success in the future,” Chester added.

The Tasmanian action will swing to the nearby Mowbray Racecourse where tomorrow the $50,000 Shaw Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic will be run alongside the Launceston Cup and two other stakes events.

“The yearling sale focus now switches to Adelaide where the popular 2011 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale is held at Morphettville on March 15 and 16.

SALE STATISTICS
(2010 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 160 (160)
Lots Sold: 99 (105)
Lots Withdrawn: 5 (11)
Lots Passed: 56 (44)
Sold %: 64 (70)
Sale Gross: $1,243,250 ($1,490,250)
Average Price: $12,558 ($14,193)
Top Price: $62,000 ($80,000)

TOP SELLERS

$62,000 – Churchill Downs-Caralowe filly
Vendor: Armidale Stud / Buyer: Mark Riley (Vic)

$60,000 – Not a Single Doubt-Marina Miss filly
Reibey Lodge / Magic Millions as agent (Tas)

$50,000 – Ladoni-Queen’s Own colt
Armidale Stud / Mark Webb (Vic)

$41,000 – Snippetson-Flying Diva colt
Grenville Stud / Leigh Winwood (Tas)

$40,000 – Dash for Cash-Aprilia colt
Alva Stud / Gary Mudgway and John McArdle (Vic)