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The growth of the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale has continued with a record aggregate of almost $3 million realised at Monday’s auction in Launceston.

After 105 lots were sold the turnover closed at $2.978 million at an average of $28,362.

Last year the sale gross was $2,806,500 but the average was better at $29,234.The clearance rate improved to 77 percent.

However the sale average has more than doubled in the past five years with Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch declaring the 2019 results reflect the higher standard of the catalogue.

“Five or six years ago this sale was grossing $1 million, now it is almost $3 million,” Bowditch said.

“It has come a long way in a short time. To expect another increase this year was extremely optimistic so we are delighted to see this sale continue to go from strength to strength.

"Full credit to Tasracing and Tasbreeders. Their new initiatives have been a major driver behind these positive results and reaffirms our recent contract renewal and ongoing commitment to Tasmania.”

The leading buyers this year were spread between Tasmania and Victoria while other buyers came from China, NSW, Queensland and Western Australia.

Most prominent were Tasmanian trainers Adam Trinder and Scott Brunton while the leading buyers from interstate were led by trainers Patrick Payne, Lloyd Kennewell, Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Phillip Stokes, Matt Brown Racing and Ken Keys.

Trinder and his major client Wayne Roser, the team behind Saturday’s Australian Guineas favourite Mystic Journey, accounted for a combined total of nine eight lots while Tasmania’s premier trainer Scott Brunton signed for seven yearlings.

Trinder and Roser acquired Mystic Journey from the 2017 Tasmanian sale for only $11,000.

This year’s top price of $115,000 was paid by Victorian syndicator Brad Spicer for a colt by Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente from five time winner Love The Moment, a Savoire Vivre mare who was placed in the Tasmanian Oaks and is a sister to the multiple stakes winner Iggimacool.

"He's a lovely staying type of horse," Spicer said. "The Fiorentes are really starting to hit their straps and there's not many opportunities to buy one in the market this year."

The Fiorente colt was offered by Armidale Stud, the leading vendor by gross and average for the second successive year.

The second highest price of $100,000 was paid by prominent Tasmanian owner Leigh Winwood for Grenville Stud’s Charge Forward colt from the Flying Spur mare Tara’s Spur and descending from the noted G1 family Tuesday Joy and Sunday Joy.

Winwood has been a big spending buyer at the Tasmanian sale for some time, going to $160,000 in 2017 for a sister to his prolific winner Kenjorwood.

Other Tasmanian sale stars purchased by Winwood have included Royal Rapture and Queen La Diva.

2019 TASMANIAN MAGIC MILLIONS - SALE STATISTICS

(2018 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 142 (137)

Lots Sold: 106 (94)

Lots Withdrawn: 5 (10)

Lots Passed In: 31 (33)

Top Price: $115,000 ($100,000)

Average Price: $28,151 ($29,729)

Median Price: $21,000 ($22,000)

Sale Gross: $2,984,000 ($2,794,500)

Sold %: 77.4 (74)

TOP LOTS

$115,000 - Fiorente-Love the Moment colt (Lot 63)

Vendor: Armidale Stud / Buyer: Spicer Thoroughbreds (Vic)

$100,000 - Charge Forward-Tara's Spur colt (Lot 116)

Grenville Stud / Leigh Winwood (Tas)

$95,000 - Street Boss-God Bless Us colt (Lot 35)

Armidale Stud / Ken Keys (Vic)

$90,000 - Hallowed Crown-Oceans colt (Lot 80)

Armidale Stud / Neerim Lodge (Vic)

$85,000 - Headwater-Lalani colt (Lot 60)

Grenville Stud / Kennewell Racing/Aquis Farm/Group 1 Bloodstock (Vic)

LEADING BUYERS

(ranked by total spend)

$244,000 - Scott Brunton - 7 lots

$157,500 - Adam Trinder - 5 lots

$145,000 - Victoria Peak - 2 lots

$115,000 - Spicer Thoroughbreds - 1 lot

$105,000 - Patrick Payne - 5 lots