A lovely filly by leading freshman sire Stratum topped the first session of the 2010 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale at Morphettville on Tuesday.

Consigned by Baramul Stud, the filly was catalogued as lot number 131 and was purchased by leading young Morphettville trainer Lloyd Kennewell for $150,000.

It is the second year in a row that a Baramul Stud filly has topped the Adelaide Sale with a daughter of Testa Rossa bringing the top price last year at $115,000.

Kennewell, flanked by his father and fellow trainer Gary, said the filly was his “must buy” lot of the sale.

“She was the best horse in the sale,” Kennewell said. “And she’s got a good pedigree.”

“I thought she was the sale topper and knew she would be popular,” he added.

“She’s a good mover. I thought she was a super athlete – she has plenty going for her.”

All up on the day 131 yearlings changed hands at a gross of over $3.6 million. The clearance rate was 73 per cent and is bound to grow overnight.

The average price of $27,500 was up over 36 per cent on last year’s two day select sale.

Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said the day went well and seemed to get stronger as the afternoon went.

“We had some lovely yearlings early in the session and they were well received by buyers,” he said.

“But as a whole the selling got stronger and the clearance rate lifted as the sale got into the swing of things later in the afternoon.”

“It was great to see the average rise so well and the clearance hold from last year’s figures,” Chester added.

“We have some really lovely prospects to go under the hammer during the Session Two Sale tomorrow.”

Earlier in the day a colt by Bel Esprit and a filly by Choisir both sold for $100,000 as consecutive lots.

Locals Peter and Cheryl Sutcliffe purchased the half sister to Moment in Time as lot 16 while moments late Jamie Walter buying under Proven Thoroughbreds snapped up the half sister to Go Cart.

Locals were particularly active on the day with Kennewell joined on the buyers list by the likes of Leon Macdonald, David Jolly, David Balfour, Jon O’Connor and Richard Jolly.

But interstate trainers including Rick Hore-Lacy, Tony Noonan, Mark Riley, John McArdle, Robbie Griffiths, Terry Kelly, Terry O’Sullivan and Joe Janiak were also among successful buyers.

Selling tomorrow at the Morphettville Complex will kick away at 11am (SA time).