The 2017 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale has been declared “a resounding success’’ as records tumbled and overall figures increased across the board.

At the conclusion of Session I, the sale’s average was up 11% to $122,977, its median up 18% to $100,000, gross increasing by 2% to $52,880,000 and a “very healthy’’ clearance rate of 85%.

In what was another successful edition of the Premier Yearling Sale Session I:

*Supreme Thoroughbreds ended as leading vendor by aggregate, selling 26 horses for $3,492,500, while Gilgai enjoyed the healthiest average (three or more Lots sold) of $246,538

*Ciaron Maher and partners were the leading buyers with 13 purchases

*I Am Invincible was the leading stallion by aggregate ($4,275,000) with 19 of his 20 progeny to enter the ring selling, with Lonhro the leader by average at $300,000 from four sold

*Lot 259 (I Am Invincible x Soorena) was the highest-price colt – as well as a Victorian record and the most expensive yearling sold in the world so far in 2017 – at $1.4million, and a $500,000 price tag for Lot 496 (All Too Hard x Fuhrnatic) made her the most expensive filly.

*A total of 22 horses sold for $300,000 or more (up from 20 last year) and at the top of the market, six horses sold for $500,000 or more, a 300% increase from 2016

*Amazingly 25 different sires were represented among the 63 Lots purchased for $200,000 or more.

Brent Grayling from leading vendor Supreme Thoroughbreds described the results as “extremely satisfying’’.

“We’re called Team Supreme and it really was a supreme team effort,’’ Grayling said.

“We felt we had a good draft coming in and the addition of Rob Crabtree’s Dorrington Farm horses took it to a new level.

“We’ve sold to Hong Kong, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, a great example of the diverse buying bench that’s at the sale and we’re very proud of what we’ve achieved the past three days.’’

Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manager Simon Vivian couldn’t have been happier with the results.

“The end result is so pleasing on every front,’’ Vivian said.

“The vendors did a great job presenting the horses and were rewarded accordingly and the buyers bought very well with some extremely high quality yearlings in the catalogue.

“To have eclipsed last year’s gross with less horses offered is testament to the strength of that.’’

Today’s top seller was a Snitzel x Consistency colt (Lot 425) from the Rosemont Stud draft, which Sun Bloodstock paid $625,000 for.

It capped off a successful sale for Sun, which also bought Lot 205 on Monday, a Not A Single Doubt x Rhodamine colt for $520,000 from Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm.

“We got the two colts we came to the sale to buy so we leave happy,’’ Sun’s David O’Callaghan said.

“The Snitzel’s got a good, fast pedigree, there’s plenty of speed there and that’s what we were looking for.

“This bloke is very good looking, he’s by the right stallion, and now we try to turn him into a stallion himself.’’

Rosemont’s Anthony Mithen was thrilled with the result.

“He’s sound, he’s healthy and he’s going to a great home in Sun Stud so I’m really pleased,’’ Mithen said.

“Congratulations also to Ed McKeon of Palya Bloodstock who bred the colt.’’

For the full statistics, CLICK HERE . Day 4 action begins at 10am tomorrow, Wednesday March 1, with Session II.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Tomorrow’s action will again be broadcast on Inglis Sale Day Live, while Online Bidding and Make An Offer services will again be available.

2017 MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE SESSION I WRAP

(2016 in brackets)

Lots Sold: 430 (466)

Clearance Rate: 85% (88%)

Average Price: $122,977 ($110,682)

Median Price: $100,000 ($85,000)

Top Price: $1.4million ($700,000)

Gross: $52,880,000 ($51,578,000)