A regally bred Elusive Quality – Born Priceless colt was the top priced lot at the 2011 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale on Friday.  The colt was snapped up by Darren McAuliffe’s Impressive Racing outfit for $240,000 during the third and final session select sale.

“I looked after his mum when I was working as a strapper with Lou Luciani,” Darren McAuliffe recalled.  “He’s a good, tough looking colt.  He’s not that big but his mum wasn’t either and she won a Karrakatta Plate.”

The colt was offered by Ron Sayers’ Yarradale Stud and tipped out Karuta Queen’s half brother who made $230,000 to the bid of Belmont Bloodstock on Friday.

That colt is by Glenlogan Park based sire Show a Heart and was offered by Durham Lodge.  “He’s a really flashy individual who has a lot going for him,” Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy said.  “He’s a loose, great walking horse with plenty of length and scope – he looks a real natural runner and will almost certainly be trained in the Eastern States.”

The select section of the 2011 Perth Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale averaged $44,669 which was up almost 10% on last year’s auction.

“As has happened at all auctions around Australasia this year, the quality lots proved popular and sold accordingly,” Magic Millions Acting Managing Director David Chester said.  “The lower end of the market was tough and we obviously would have liked the clearance rate of 67% to be higher.”

“The economy hasn’t helped and we had lower levels of visitors and trade from abroad.  Buyers were very selective and this has become the norm around the region over recent years.”

The fourth session of the sale – the Westspeed Select Sale – will be held from 11am (WA time) on Sunday.

2011 Perth Magic Millions – Day 3 leader-board

$240,000 – Elusive Quality-Born Priceless colt
Vendor: Yarradale Stud / Buyer: Impressive Racing (WA)

$230,000 – Show a Heart-Card Queen colt
Durham Lodge (As Agent) / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (Vic)

$150,000 – Excites-Famous Painter colt
Alwyn Park (As Agent) / Andrew Noblet Racing (Vic)

$150,000 – Flying Spur-Forest Flight filly
Geisel Park Stud / Lindsey Smith (WA)

$120,000 – Not a Single Doubt-Hiavanna colt
Gervase Park Stud (As Agent) / World Wide Bloodstock (Sth Africa)

$100,000 – Dehere-Girl in a Storm filly
Yarradale Stud / Geisel Park (WA)

$100,000 – Key Business-Graceton filly
Rangeview Stud / Commercial Bloodstock (WA)