A French winning mare in foal to a Newmarket Handicap winner topped the Magic Millions Perth Autumn Thoroughbred Sale at Belmont today.

Finishing School, a half sister to Dubai stakes winner Singing Poet, was one of a select group of mares offered at the auction by Mogumber Park as agent for local breeder Paul Fitzpatrick.

Leading Perth bloodstock agent John Chalmers held the bid when the hammer fell at $205,000. She is in foal to Victorian based sprint star Wanted.

Another mare in foal to Wanted – the Group Two WA Guineas winner Moccasin Bend – was the second highest seller of the day – snapped up for $180,000 by Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock Agency.

Following on from last night’s Oakland Park Stud Broodmare Dispersal some 10 lots all up at the sale sold for prices of $100,000 or more.

The average price rounded out for the sale at over $20,000 – up from last year’s corresponding sale which averaged a tick over $4,000.

The clearance rate was over 88 per cent and the overall sale gross was over $2.73 million – almost $2 million up on last year.

“A number of more top breeding prospects went under the hammer at Belmont today and those lots were popular,” Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester reported.

“The dispersals for Oakland Park Stud and Paul Fitzpatrick were, as expected, the highlights of the auction.”

Chester said the focus of Magic Millions would now turn to upcoming sales in Adelaide and the Gold Coast.

“We have a Mixed Thoroughbred Sale in Adelaide next Sunday followed by next month’s QTIS 600 Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast.”

“And of course the attention will turn back to the Gold Coast through late May and June for the National Sale – with an outstanding catalogue of weanlings, broodmares, race fillies, stallions, yearlings and racehorses to go under the hammer.”

SALE STATISTICS
(2010 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 192 (240)
Lots Sold: 135 (189)
Lots Withdrawn: 39 (30)
Lots Passed In: 18 (21)
Average Price: $20,247 ($4,034)
Top Price: $205,000 ($63,000)
Sale Gross: $2,733,400 ($762,350)
Sold %: 88.2 (90)

SALE TOP SELLERS

$205,000 – Finishing School
Vendor: Mogumber Park (for P Fitzpatrick) / Buyer: John Chalmers Bloodstock (WA)

$190,000 – Jestatune
Oakland Park Stud / Magic Millions as agent (WA)

$180,000 – Moccasin Bend
Mogumber Park (for P Fitzpatrick) / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (Vic)

$170,000 – Most Secret
Oakland Park Stud / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (Vic)

$160,000 – Paradise Park
Oakland Park Stud / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (Vic)

$150,000 – Most Secretive
Oakland Park Stud / Phil Ibbotson (WA)

$130,000 – Siesta Park
Oakland Park Stud / Magic Millions as agent (WA)

$120,000 – Hi on Love
Oakland Park Stud / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (Vic)

$100,000 – Huiskes
Mogumber Park (for P Fitzpatrick) / EBA (Vic)

$100,000 – Paris Petard
Oakland Park Stud / Cape Falls Thoroughbreds (WA)