Performance Horse industry holds strong at 2025 Nutrien Classic
The 2025 Nutrien Classic Campdraft and Sale saw many highlights. The ten days were celebrated with both strong sale results and outstanding competition in both the Challenge and Campdrafting events, alongside big announcements on the future of Open Age horses at the February Classic event and the induction of eight recipients into the Inaugural Classic Hall of Fame.
The 18th Nutrien Classic Sale results continued to confirm the Nutrien Classic as the premier Performance Horse Sale in the country. With sales still settling, the result stands at a gross of $13,584,500, producing a sale average of $27,498.99 which is an increase of 10% on the 2024 average and a clearance rate of 92.68% which ensured many satisfied vendors.
There was good demand for proven female lines again this year, with a range of quality mares and fillies grossing $7,494,000 at an average of $33,909. Lot 469 A SANDIE BLONDE (Sannman X Nine Shades O Rey) was the star of the show as top price mare and lot of the sale, selling for $180,000 to Mac & Gayle Shann of Claremont, Queensland. She was proudly presented by Jason & Rachel Leitch.
The gelding market grossed more than $5,132,000 and averaged over $20,777.33 with 246 notable lots sold. Top priced gelding was Lot 443 – GAME CHANGER (Times Up X Fair Lady Flash) on account of Rob & Monica Hodgman. The beautifully presented 4-year-old gelding sold for $100,000 back through Nutrien’s Roma Branch.
25 colts/stallions sold averaging $36,865.38 topped by Lot 320 TYRELL PARK METALLIC BOON (Boons Metallic x Tyrell Park Alil Luck), an impressive 4-year-old colt presented by Mark Buttsworth and sold by Brian Elliott Family Trust of Nandaly, Victoria.
Hall Of Fame
The Inaugural Hall of Fame honors were awarded on Friday February 7th and recognises the exceptional contributionsfrom people and horses that have shaped the Nutrien Classic into a cornerstone of the Australian performance horse industry. Since the beginning, the Classic has revolutionised the industry, setting new standards and breaking records. Inductees were awarded with magnificent hand made trophies and will be hououred on a Hall Of Fame wall to be created at the Longyard Hotel, Tamworth.
2025 Sire Inductees
Hazelwood Conman is one of Australia’s most influential performance horse sires, renowned for his athleticism, temperament, and ability to produce champions. Under Terry Hall, he achieved major successes, including back-to-back Stallion Shootout wins in 2012 and 2013. His progeny have dominated competitions like the Nutrien Classic and Masters, showcasing exceptional talent and solidifying Conman’s legacy as a game-changer in the performance horse industry. Conman’s offspring have fetched top prices in sales, with highlights such as Hazelwood Country Blues selling for $300,000 in 2022, Hazelwood Con Oak selling for $180,000 in 2024 and Cookfamily Conadilly for $180,000 in 2023. His progeny’s achievements include 12 Campdraft and challenge titles and 57 places in Nutrien events. Hazelwood Conman’s lasting impact continues to shape Australia’s performance horse scene, setting a benchmark for excellence.
Acres Destiny is one of Australia’s most influential sires, renowned for producing exceptional progeny that excel in campdrafting, cutting, and challenges. His offspring consistently achieve top sale prices, such as Acres Last Stand ($67,500 in 2020), and dominate competitions with multiple Stallion Shootout and Campdraft wins. With a legacy built on athleticism, temperament, and consistent success, Acres Destiny has shaped the Australian performance horse industry. His enduring impact as a sire of champions ensures his place among the most respected names in the field.
2025 Dam Inductees
One Moore Romance has set a new standard in Australian performance horse breeding, with her progeny collectively selling for $749,000. Record sales include Yaven Champagne Romance at $260,000 in 2022 and Yaven Smooth Spin at $230,000 in 2019. Her influence extends to competition, with Yaven Smooth Spin achieving 2nd place in the 2021 Nutrien Classic under Matt Moffat. Strategically bred to leading sires like Dual Rey and Metallic Cat, her bloodlines have consistently delivered exceptional results. Renowned for their talent and value, her offspring have cemented her reputation as a cornerstone of the industry, with her legacy shaping Australian performance horse breeding for generations.
Hazelwood Con Air made history by winning the inaugural Landmark Classic Campdraft in 2009 under Terry Hall, showcasing exceptional athleticism. Transitioning to broodmare, she produced standout progeny, including Hunter View Conmaze, winner of the 2022 Nutrien Classic and Graduate Campdrafts, and Hunter View Con Elsie, a 2024 Nutrien Nursery Campdraft finalist. Acquired by Warwick and Fiona Lawrence in 2015, Con Air became a cornerstone of their breeding program, continuing to shape Australian campdrafting. Her legacy of excellence endures through her exceptional bloodline and influence on future generations.
2025 Vendor Inductees
Terry and Christine Hall, industry icons, have been key figures in shaping the Australian performance horse scene through their breeding program, Hazelwood. Known for producing high-quality, sought-after horses, the Hazelwood prefix is synonymous with excellence. Their children, Ben and Jane, continue the legacy with top competition success. Terry Hall’s career highlights include winning the inaugural Landmark Classic with Hazelwood Con Air (2009), multiple Stallion Shootout victories, and consistent top placings in major events. Hazelwood Conman, a record-breaking sire, has had an immense influence on campdrafting, with progeny dominating both sales and competitions.
John Brekelmans posthumously awarded, originally from Sydney, developed a deep passion for horses after leaving urban life in 1971 to work as a jackaroo. In 1974, he bought his first horse, Cold Duck, for $300, laying the foundation for his breeding program. Cold Duck’s descendants, including Docs Duckling, became the cornerstone of his “Duck Dynasty,” excelling in cutting, campdrafting, and performance events. John made history as the first million-dollar vendor at the Nutrien Classic, achieving over $1.2 million in sales across 29 horses. Notable sales include Breks Shouda Ducked ($80,000) and Duckdown ($80,000), along with many others. His horses, such as Smooth Duck, Duck Dundee, and Humducker, consistently placed in major events.
John and Jenn Corbett have built a reputation for breeding horses that excel in both sales and high-level competition. Their focus on quality is exemplified by the ownership of One Moore Romance, whose progeny consistently perform at elite levels. Notable sales include Yaven Champagne Romance ($260,000) and Yaven Smooth Spin ($230,000), setting record prices at the Nutrien Classic and Landmark Classic. Their horses, such as Yaven Smooth Sailing (2nd place at the 2021 Classic) and Yaven Moore Ice (10th place in the 2023 Open Campdraft), prove their versatility and competitive edge. With over $1 million in sales from 29 catalogued lots, the Corbetts have set a benchmark in the industry.
2025 Competitor Inductee
Ben Hall, a standout in Australian campdrafting, has built a famous Nutrien Classic career, guided by his parents, Terry and Christine Hall, who are icons in the sport. With three Classic wins and consistent top placings, including 11 Classic finals appearances, Ben’s achievements highlight his exceptional talent and commitment to excellence.
His versatility is evident across divisions, with notable victories in the Gelding Incentive, Stallion Shootout, and Masters. The Hall family’s legacy of horsemanship, hard work, and sportsmanship continues to shape Ben’s success, solidifying his place as one of the sport’s most respected competitors.
Sunday night February 2nd saw the first final, the Prydes Easifeed Australian Performance Horse Challenge with the 11th trophy trailer donated by long term sponsors Peel & Jody Tribe of Navaho Trailers. Warming up with the annual Happy Hour sponsored by Coverdrive Promotions, spectators were full of anticipation as they prepared for a showcase of some of the best hands in the industry.
The challenge has always been a crowd favourite, the competition was fierce, with some of the best horse and rider combinations in Australia. The consistent combination of Emma Webb and Western Acres who were second place in the Challenge in 2024 took the win this year by a massive 20-point lead. They were the leaders of the field heading into the final, who claimed victory with a stunning Aggregate score of 350.25. The Young sire is by the Hall of Fame Inductee Acres Destiny, out of One Moore Diva and owned by Emma and Morgan Webb. He was purchased in 2022 as a 2 year old colt off Russ Bradley for just $20,000.
A massive crowd gathered on the hill for the first of numerous Campdraft event finals on Wednesday afternoon, where the Coverdrive Gelding Incentive kicked things off at 5:30pm. This feature event exhibited the top 16 geldings from the Classic Campdraft, who competed for a total prizepool of over $13,000.
It was a tightly contested final and in the end, the great competitor Lead Read claimed victory riding Rayman owned by Wellington Cattle Company, with an 87 point run guaranteeing the $6,000 winners cheque thanks to Coverdrive Promotions who operate the popular bar services at AELEC.
The Campdraft arena feats continued in the hotly contested 4CYTE Charlie Maher Young Guns final running as the last event of Day 6. Always a popular occasion, the final did not disappoint spectators with 30 young talents demonstrating some of the best Campdrafting of the week yet.
There was a nail biting run off between Joe Mckinnon on Bushy (Owned by Carl Green) and Hannah Riley riding Bluetoonz (owned by Troy and Fiona Palmer). Hannah was number one out, she ran an 88 together with her 179 gave her a 267. Then it was Joe’s turn at number two, where he ran a 90 together with his 179 he took the lead by two points with 269. Joe and the open gelding by Lillacreek Willow Oak and out of Territory Teddy, Bushy have an incredible partnership. Joe said he was lucky to secure the ride on the great gelding.
Another afternoon of Campdraft finals excitement kicked off on Thursday February 6th with the Jimmy Matthews Memorial Ladies Dash for Cash, featuring the top lady riders from this weeks events competing for an impressive prizepool. The winner was a popular one, Leah Whitehead who rode Geoffery & Jennifer Porges mare MIIS LEEONEY JANE for 88 points – a beautiful run.
The Martins Stock Haulage Open Campdraft Final was also exciting viewing, with the top seven combinations coming into the final with only 3 points between them. It came down to a run-off between Mat Holz riding Hazelwood Country Blues owned by Kooyoong Pastoral PTY LTD and Wyatt Young on Metallic Storm owned by the Metallic Storm Syndicate. The run-off was spectacular between two graduates of the sale, Hazelwood Country Blues who was sold in 2022 for $300,000 from Hall of Fame Inductees Terry and Chrissy Hall, and Metallic Storm was sold in 2020 for $100,000 from Jim & Lynda MacCallum.
Mat Holz and Hazelwood Country Blues took home the victory and the $10,000 cheque. The 7 year old black mare by the Hall of Fame inductee Hazelwood Conman and out of Hazelwood Blue Chick. The astonishing partnership between Mat and Hazelwood Country Blues produced a 91,90,90 and an 88 in the run off, claiming the victory with a three point lead totaling 359.
The last and most anticipated event of Thursday night was the Nutrien Classic Campdraft Final – the main incentive event and one that all buyers come to win. The crowd was electric up on the hill, as spectators watched some of the most exciting young Australian performance horses at work.
It was fantastic viewing throughout the field, and it was one of the industry’s favourties
in Matt Stanger aboard RHONDHU CATS R DOUBLE (Highlightcat x Erin Crackin Double Spin) owned by K.J Gilligan & M.R Stanger and bought from Rhondhu ASH Stud for just $15,000. They took the title with scores of 89,88 and another 89 in the final for a 1 point victory totalling 266.
Classic Ladies Foundation Congratulations must also go to the Classic Ladies Foundation, who this year celebrated 10 years of service – a tremendous effort from all involved. The Classic Ladies Foundation have generously supported 26 organisations with all proceeds raised going directly to annual charities of choice. Once again Mark and Shelly Ruff donated a horse for the Foundation, Bulla Malarkey by Edenhope Sam and out of Macelbri Sonata sold for $36,000 to Bezuma Pastoral Company.
This year’s Nutrien Classic was attended by competitors, vendors, purchasers and spectators from every corner of Australia and beyond. The livestream was viewed from countries including the US, Canada, New Zealand, UK, and Hong Kong. Over 1200 bid cards were registered, one of the highest levels of interest ever seen from buyers.
The strength of the Australian Performance Horse industry is evident despite current economic conditions and Nutrien Equine are extremely proud to be at the forefront of its future growth and success in the future.
Nutrien Equine would like to extend thanks to staff, sponsors, cattle donors and vendors for their hard work in preparation for the sale and traders, spectators, AELEC staff, contractors and volunteers for their ongoing support.
Buyers are reminded that passed in lots can be viewed in the online catalogue and their incentive eligibility will remain if sold according to due process in the coming days following the 2025 Sale. Please contact Nutrien Equine with all relevant enquiries.
Please note, all prices and totals reflected are unofficial. Final prices will be posted on www.nutrienequine.com.au at a later date.