A culmination of 15 years of performance horse sales, astute breeding, training, and belief in the industry has seen Australian records smashed these past 5 days. It has been described as a new age for performance horse breeding in the country.

The 2022 Nutrien Classic average of $27,113.92 and clearance of 92.13%, are nothing short of astounding proving once again the appetite for supporting the classic concept is in full effect.

We have been blessed enough to witness the full circle of genetics with the second generation of bloodlines sold and purchased through the sale return to win and place throughout the Campdraft and challenge events and progeny command stellar prices throughout the sales program.

Darby Smith from Nutrien Equine Sales Support is so impressed with how the sale went this week. “I’m excited about the direction of the Australian Performance Industry, I’m so proud of the Nutrien Equine Team and all of our supporters.”

The sale has been the biggest and strongest in its 15-year history with the gross at the end of the sale was $17,136,000. The incredible clearance of 92.13% has truly blown everyone away.

Top Price horse of the sale remains, Lot 497 BAD IN BLACK selling for $550,000 on account of Holly Clayden from Loomberah Lodge Performance Horses.

On day five of the sale we saw this morning a mare by HAZELWOOD CONMAN; Lot 689 HAZELWOOD COUNTRY BLUES sell for $300,000.

It’s been an incredible five days and the electric atmosphere of the industry was evident with solid averages, incredible clearance and records smashed across mares and geldings, let alone a $17.136 million dollar sale.

632 of 686 lots sold (92.13%)

Gross: $17,136,000.00 / Average: $27,113.92

MARES 

312 of 337 lots sold (92.58%)

Average: $33,862.18

Gross: $10,565,000

Top Price and Top 3yo Mare Lot 497 BAD IN BLACK $550,000

Second Top Price of the sale and Top Price 4yo Mare Lot 689 HAZELWOOD COUNTRY BLUES $300,000.

Top Price of the 2yo Mares was Lot 257 YAVEN CHAMPAGNE ROMANCE $260,000

Top Price Open Age Mare was Lot 115 MATRON MAGGIE $125,000

GELDINGS

290 of 308 lots sold (94.16%)

Average: $18,751.72

Gross: $5,438,000

Top Price Gelding and Top 3yo Gelding was Lot 413 ONE MOORE DESIRE $105,000

Top Price 4yo Gelding was Lot 750 REYNING ROYALTY $67,500

Top Price 2yo Gelding was Lot 365 DURKINS STYLISH QUINCY $35,000

Top Price Open Age Gelding was Lot 81 HELL IM SMAR $60,000

STALLIONS

30 of 41 lots sold (73.17%)

Average: $37,666.67

Gross: $1,130,000

Top Price Stallion and Top Price 3yo Stallion was Lot 533 PCD REYNING METAL $100,000

Top Price 4yo Stallion was Lot 674 AMAROO BETS HES A BLUEBOON $67,500

Top Price 2yo Stallion was Lot 256 ROYALISH $72,000

Top Price Open Age Stallion was Lot 192 ELECTRIC DUCK $48,000

Thank you to everyone that made this two week event possible. Check out the round up tonight for the agents wrap up and you can login and see the full results here on our website.

 

2022 FULL SALES RESULTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember where you were today, this has been a record breaking day with a 3yo mare selling for $550,000 and top price stallion of the sale $100,000.

Auctioneer Scott Cooper said that the heat was on from the start of the day. “From word go it was on today. We just knew something special was going to happen. There has been a lot of hype around today and it lived up to expectations.”

“It’s a sign of the economy and the livestock industry flow on, but Nutrien Equine is it’s own machine; it’s a proven concept that is just going strength to strength”

At the end of day four we have sold 514 of 562 lots with a 91.46% clearance rate. Gross has well past the 2021 record to have $13,696,500 gross and an amazing $26,646.89 average.

The $550,000 mare has broken all Australasian records for a performance horse, Lot 497 BAD IN BLACK. An Australian Quarter Horse, sold by local Holly Clayden from Loomberah Lodge Performance Horses to Willinga Park from Bawley Point.

Let’s skip into the results from today and overall after day four of the 2022 Nutrien Classic.

MARES

DAY FOUR
Average $42,292.86

Lot 497 BAD IN BLACK $550,000
Lot 593 PETES PET SQUIRREL $190,000 by SELIGMAN SPIN out of ONE HELLOFA TIME
Lot 559 METALLIC FLASH $92,000 by METALLIC FLASH out of MOORE KHARMA
Lot 565 CONSTANT ROMANCE $90,000 by HAZELWOOD CONMAN out of ROYANNA [PLAYBOY ROY]
Lot 489 ARLEE BOSSLADY $90,000 by HAZELWOOD CONGRESSMAN out of PEP N CODA LENA
Lot 561 HEAVY WITH HOPE $75,000 by HEAVY METAL out of CHICKASHA HOPE

OVERALL 256 of 283 lots sold (90.46%)
Average: $33,294.92

GELDINGS

DAY FOUR
Average $17,521.43

Top Lot 577 AMAC SMOOTH AS DUCKS $50,000 by SMOOTH AS A CAT out of DOUBLE DUCK

OVERALL 234 of 249 lots sold (93.98%)
Average: $18,378.21

STALLIONS

DAY FOUR
Average $60,400.00

OVERALL 24 of 30 lots sold (80.00%)
Average: $36,354.17

Top Price Lot 533 PCD REYNING METAL $100,000 by METALLIC CAT out of REYN ON ME
Lot 530 MELLOMAN $75,000 by HAZELWOOD CONMAN out of MELLO OAK

With still over 100 horses to go, we are expecting another successful day tomorrow in the sales arena.

FULL RESULTS

 

 

 

At the end of day four of the sale we have well surpassed the gross for 2021 and the atmosphere at the Classic is absolutely electric.

A life changing day for 25 year old Holly Clayden as she hits the record books, selling a STEVIE REY VON, 3yo mare out of SPINNIES BAD GIRL for an incredible $550,000.

“It’s surreal, hasn’t sunk in yet”, Holly sure made the right decision to buy Lot 497 BAD IN BLACK, as a weanling from Maggie Mason from Branxton NSW, and selected her as her only nomination in the Nutrien Classic this year.

“I have been wanting to get a foot in the door with Nutrien, so I thought I’ll bring my best one here, so it showcases what I have.”

Holly owns the Loomberah Lodge Performance Horses, and breeds and imports horses for the campdraft and cutting industry. “She was super easy to start and sweet natured. Once nominations opened, I thought, I have this special 15 hh mare, this is the one to take to the Classic.”

Shown beautifully in the preworks by Isaac Westerhuis, she caught the eye of Troy Palmer and Sarah Cookson who are here at the Classic representing Willinga Park for Terry Snow. Troy said he looked at her before the preworks and was impressed when she went through. “It was very exciting in the auction, exciting also for Willinga Park, we wanted to expand our breeding mare band, and she is perfect for the job.” We asked how Terry reacted, “He is stoked, he knows quality when he sees it and he trusted Sarah and I to get the mare.”

With a new vet centre being set up at Willinga Park, this beautiful mare will head straight to the breeding barn but Troy said, she will definitely be back for the 2023 Classic. “This is unprecedented for the industry and also for what Terry has done for the industry,” Troy said, “I can see that a lot more money will be going into events in the next few years.”

Sarah Cookson from Willinga agrees and said that she was very excited that they were investing in exceptional breeding. “It’s very exciting and great for the industry, she is a super investment and we are keen to get her home”.

Breeder Maggie Mason from Branxton NSW is absolutely blown away. “I’m in shock actually, this is 17 years of believing in the Spinifex Blood, every foal she has had, has been a money earner and I’m just so proud.”

Tamworth Auctioneer Joel Fleming is still processing that he sold one horse for $550,000. “It’s surreal, it was all in the ring. It got to about $350,000 and there were three solid bidders and then after that, there were two. I was pretty nervous beforehand, but once she went over $100,000 the nerves settle and it was all about getting the best out of the arena.” This is the highest-priced horse Joel himself has ever sold, “I have never sold a horse over $100K before, so it’s pretty special, it’s special for Nutrien and incredible for the whole industry. It’s just raised the bar of what a good performance horse is worth, in fact, doubled it”.

Holly wanted to thank Isaac and his crew for the incredible job they have done this week and leading up. “I really am so grateful to Isaac and all his crew, Ngaio and Lauren, they have been amazing.”

A sale like this truly has changed people’s lives and the ripple effect will be felt for years to come. We would like to congratulate Holly and Willinga Park ,and are looking forward to seeing them at the 2023 Classic.

An exceptional third day of sale saw records fall and a whooping average for 2 and 3 yo horses.  The feeling in AELEC tonight is extremely happy from vendors and buyers alike

Total Gross after Day 3 is $8,785,500.00 with 351 (86.88%) lots of 404 presented sold with an average of $25,029.91.

Stand out top price of day three was Lot 398 METALLIC CAVIAR sold by Tom and Jane Williamson from Moore Park, Glen Innes NSW to QLD buyers Liz and Barry Miller from Rhondhu Stud, Mingela QLD for an amazing $130,000.

This impressive 3 yo mares granddam is ONE MOORE ROMANCE and is a part of the breeding dynasty that has been top of the record books, not only this week but over the entire Nutrien Classic history. Liz Miller said today that the bidding process today was extremely nerve wracking, “I almost was sick I was so nervous. We have been on the lookout for a Metallic Cat mare for a while and actually bidded on one in the US just a month ago but missed out. We saw this mare and she fitted what we were looking for in pedigree and type and we are so happy to have got her today.”

Liz and Barry have been breeding quality horses on their stud in QLD for the past 36 years and aim to breed horses with great minds that are 14.3 to 15.1hh, athletic to compete but always great to enjoy at home. “I taught myself how to ET and have started that process now, we want to meet the market and we are a genuine breeder that breeds to sell. We have our own stallion but we try to keep up with what the market wants and this mare goes a long way to achieving that.”

Liz said she is stoked to have been able to find what she is looking for in Australia and thanks Tom and Jane. “Thanks to them for producing this quality article in Australia and means we can support other Australian breeders rather than buying overseas. We found what we are looking for right here at the Nutrien Classic.”

GELDING RECORD SMASHED

We also had another record fall today with the DESIRES BLUE TRINITY son Lot 413 ONE MOORE DESIRE being the top priced gelding ever sold through the Nutrien Classic. He was purchased by Glen Avon Agriculture from Dingo in QLD for $105,000. ONE MOORE DESIRE is out of ONE SWEET CHERRY and was bred by Kempsey Quarter Horses and sold today by Kristie and Heath Sinclair from Bell in QLD.

As we hit the half way point, lets line up the stats for Day 3 of the sale as it stands.

MARES

DAY THREE
Average $32,912.28

OVERALL
175/206 lots sold 84.95%
Average $30,105.71

Top Lot 398 METALLIC CAVIAR $130,000

Lot 342 ROMANTIC REMEDY $100,000
Lot 384 CLOVER ACRES $74,000
Lot 439 CANTAUR PARK HOSTESS $50,000
Lot 258 KJA MISS MOONLIGHT $50,000
Lot 395 HUNTER VIEW EMERALD – MB $50,000

GELDING

DAY THREE
Average $20,590.43

OVERALL
159/174 lots sold 91.38%
Average $18,845.91

TOP Lot 413 ONE MOORE DESIRE $105,000

 

STALLION 

DAY THREE
Average $43,250.00

OVERALL
17/24 lots sold 70.83%
Average $30,617.65

TOP Lot 339 MAKENN PROGRESS $55,000
Lot 336 YAVEN VAN HALEN $42,500

Scone and Classic Auctioneer Gavin Beard said that there was a huge amount of the bidding in the AELEC stadium but the Auctions Plus bidding did not go unnoticed. “The sale was feeding on itself, the atmosphere was electric and we are well on our way to beating last year’s gross of $10.5million”

There has been a lot of banter amongst the auctioneers on where the final number will land. All we know is that day four and five don’t look like they’re slowing down.

Congratulations to all vendors and purchasers today and we shall see you for Day Four of sale tomorrow with Lots 461-650.

Full Results Link

There is a buzz in the Nutrien Classic family today with Maree & Peter Rogans mare ROMANTIC REMEDY selling for $100,000 this morning at Lot 342.

ROMANTIC REMEDY is the first foal from imported mare SHIRLEY SHINEY by HAZELWOOD CONMAN. Peter said “We breed her for this sale, we imported ‘Shiney’ from Annie Reynolds in the states. I’ve always been a fan of her long established line of horses and purchased her as a 2yo”

SHIRLEY SHINEY is by Annies well known stallion, the late VERY SMART REMEDY, and her half sister won the ‘Worlds Greatest Horseman’ in the US in 2021. Shiney herself won the title at the ARBC in Dalby ‘Australian Greatest Horseman’ in April 2021.

“We have her full brother at home and he is lovely too. We are over the moon and really is a great start for Shiney and her producing record to get this for her first foal.” Said Peter.

She was purchased today by MRH Enterprises, Michael and Bec Hayes from Scone. Bec said “We came looking at a conman mare, there is a lot in the sale but we had a friend that knew a lot about her mare line and was very excited about it so we looked into her.

Michael and Bec have moved to Scone from QLD and are Angus breeders, so horses that can chase cows is what they are looking for in their breeding program. “We are cattlemen that love campdrafting, that’s just what we do, so we come to this sale to find horses that suit our family life” Bec said she was still shaking from the bidding. “It was nerve wracking, I can’t even really tell you what happened. Rob Leach did a great job, she is a lovely mare and we will bring her home, let her mature and grow and have a lot of fun on her.”

Auctioneer from Goondiwindi, hot off yesterdays $260,000 was again impressed with the quality through the sale. “Bidding was solid, there is a lot of interest in the cowhorse genetics through the program. This mare was a very special combination being by Conman, a very unique mare that will make for an impressive breeding program.

 

Full Results

 

Competitors did very well with the warm conditions this afternoon that saw Mac Shann riding HAZEL’S GIFT, score a 89 to back up his first round score of 91 to lead the competition into the final on Thursday night.

Top score of the afternoon went to Jackson Noon riding SAMAL FREDDY with 90 points. [22 64 4]
Jackson purchased SAMAL FREDDY in 2020 for $5,000 from Sam and Hallie Knight.

Final will be held on Thursday evening for the big cheque!

Full Results here