A colt by Not a Single Doubt topped today’s Premier Session of the 2012 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale at Belmont.

The colt, a member of a quality packed Oakland Park Stud draft, was purchased by local bloodstock agent Damien Wyer for $240,000.

In a fierce bidding battle it was Wyer who held the big when the hammer fell – outbidding Melbourne based bloodstock action Mark Pilkington for the quality colt.

“He was in our opinion the colt of the sale,” Wyer said moments after the sale of the top priced lot.

“He had a great walk, had good x-rays and we were keen to buy him.”

“I purchased him for unnamed clients but I can confirm he will be trained by Jim Taylor,” Wyer noted.

The colt was of three yearlings to sell for $200,000 or more – the others were an Oratorio half brother to King Saul for $205,000 to Dan Morton and the Bernardini colt from Born Priceless for $200,000 purchased by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock.

Morton was delighted with the purchase of the Oratorio-Zenda colt for $205,000 from the draft of Namerik Thoroughbreds.

“He’s an outstanding colt and I’m excited to be able to buy him,” Morton reported.

“I loved the horse and he was the number one pick of the sale.”

“His family is setting the world on fire and Oratorio is going very well – everything looks good with him,” Morton added.

During the 130 lot Premier Session some 98 lots were sold at a gross of $6,930,000. The average price was $70,714 – a record for any session of the Perth Yearling Sale.

The clearance rate was an impressive 80 per cent.

“There was spirited bidding throughout the day and the Premier Session proved a great success with quality lots attracting strong interest,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said.

“It was great to see a number of horses exceed their reserve prices by strong figures and it was pleasing to see a healthy clearance rate for the first section of the sale.”

The first offerings from the next tier of the sale – the selection sessions – also started to go under the hammer today.

Some 31 lots of this part of the catalogue were sold at a gross of $799,500 and average price of $25,790.

The top price of the latter stages today was $60,000 for a So Secret filly from Real Hi purchased by Commercial Bloodstock Services.

The sale continues with another Select Session at the Belmont complex from 5.30pm (WA time) tomorrow following the Ascot races.

“There are some top prospects to go under the hammer tomorrow night and again on Thursday,” Vin Cox reported.

“We don’t always get it right when grading catalogues and I know some of those still to go under the hammer are sure to impress buyers.”

“There will be some great value on offer,” he summed up.

PREMIER SESSION TOP SELLERS

$240,000 – Snitzel-Diamonds and Dust colt
Vendor: Oakland Park Stud / Buyer: Damien Wyer Racing & Bloodstock (WA)

$205,000 – Oratorio-Zenda colt
Namerik Thoroughbreds / Dan Morton (WA)

$200,000 – Bernardini-Born Priceless colt
Yarradale Stud / Cameron Cooke Blodstock (Vic)

$190,000 – Choisir-Dancing Pago filly
Geisel Park Stud / Neville Parnham (WA)

$180,000 – Oratorio-Scuffs colt
Mungrup Stud (As Agent) / Mt Hallowell Stud (WA)

$170,000 – Fastnet Rock-Convictions colt
Gold Front Thoroughbred Breeding & Racing / Lou Luciani (WA)

$165,000 – More than Ready-Rose of Latakia colt
Gold Front Thoroughbred Breeding & Racing / Cameron Cooke Bloodstock (Vic)

$150,000 – Oratorio-True Surrender colt
Mungrup Stud / John Chalmers Bloodstock (WA)

$140,000 – Lonhro-Hi on Love colt
Oakland Park Stud / G Hart (WA)

$140,000 – O’Reilly-Jestatune filly
Oakland Park Stud / Andrew Noblet Racing (Vic)

$135,000 – Bernardini-Adalia filly
Geisel Park Stud / Wally Mitchell (WA)

$135,000 – Snitzel-Perpendicular gelding
Oakland Park Stud / Tony Noonan (Vic)

$130,000 – Blackfriars-Voltage Pak colt
Durham Lodge / William Robinson (WA)

$130,000 – Choisir-Tantra Dancer colt
Dawson Stud / KL Chong (Malaysia)

$120,000 – Blackfrairs-Ruby Doll colt
Durham Lodge (As Agent) / Neville Parnham (WA)

$105,000 – Commands-Betrille colt
Newhaven Park (As Agent) / Wally Mitchell (WA)

$100,000 – So Secret-Dance Hi colt
Rangeview Stud / John Smith (WA)

$100,000 – Bletchley Park-Clarecastle colt
Mogumber Park / Paul Jordan (WA)

$100,000 – Citidancer-Shathor colt
Alwyn Park Stud / KL Chong (Malaysia)

PREMIER SESSION STATISTICS

Lots Catalogued: 130
Session Gross: $6,930,000
Average Price: $70,714
Median Price: $56,250
Top Price: $240,000
Lots Sold: 98
Lots Withdrawn: 7
Lots Passed: 25
Sold %: 80