Super Saturday is always popular at the annual Nutrien Classic Sale and there were some spectacular results in the sale ring, as buyers competed for the opportunity to purchase some of Australia’s highest quality young performance horses.
Bidders flocked to Tamworth’s AELEC, with a record 1200 bid cards registered by lunchtime and the crowd growing throughout the day.
The statistics have strengthened after a convincing day at auction, with the sale clearance sitting at 84.09% and average reaching $23,576.17. The sales gross has progressed to over $8.7 million, with the quality of Sunday’s lots forecast to increase this substantially.
Saturday saw a new top price for the sale thus far, in Lot 496 – HAZELWOOD CON OAK who sold for an amazing $180,000. She was presented by the talented horseman Will Durkin on behalf of Terry & Christine Hall, who have been returning vendors at the Nutrien Classic Sale since its inception in 2008.
The stunning 4-year-old mare is sired by Terry and Chris’s stallion “Hazelwood Conman” and out of Open winning mare “Oaks Prospect”. She was well bought by Ben & Rae Hill of Thallon, Queensland.
3-year-old colts also had a strong day in the sale ring, with Lot 461 SHINEY SUSPECT topping the category for local vendors Peter & Maree Rogan at $70,000. The impressive chestnut colt was beautifully presented by Rob Leach and is sired by the legendary ‘Hazelwood Conman’, out of Peter & Maree’s champion imported mare “Shirely Shiney”. He was purchased by MRH Enterprises.
In the 4-year-old mares section, Ron & Nola Nicholson’s well performed REYV ON KITTY fetched $100,000. The Stevie Rey Von x Erin Cat Rey mare finalled in both the Classic Campdraft and Challenge events with Tamworth trainer Mat Oakley and was purchased by Parker Investments, heading to central Queensland.
Other highlights today included Wade Mile’s Lot 426 in WILLINGA DIAMOND CONVICT, a high quality 3-year-old gelding by Hazelwood Conman and out of Broomfield Stylish Diamond. He sold for $58,000 to Barry & Anne Hick.
Another special gelding sale was Ella-Rae Seccombe’s Lot 512, THIS LADIES MAN. The competitive 4-year-old black This Cats Destiny x Lady Sings The Blues gelding sold for $67,500 to the Glasser Group from Victoria. An emotional sale for Ella-Rae, who shared a beautiful bond with the gelding which was clear to bidders as he went through the ring.
‘Super Saturday’ saw a sea of pink around the AELEC arena, promoting the Classic Ladies Foundation fundraising efforts for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and DEBRA Australia. The Charity Auction, Monster Raffle, Ladies Clinic and Long Luncheon were all extremely well supported, with Lot 468 charity filly Kaypehaich Pearl Dot selling for $31,000 to Eileen Simpson and Bradley Jeffrey. Thank you to Rodger Grant of Koobah Performance Horses for his enormously generous donation – a talented filly who was beautifully presented by master trainer Frank Green.
Mark & Shelly Ruff of Bulla Lyn ASH Stud also donated a top quality lot in BULLA ITSALLICANDO – a cutting trained mare who sold for $32,500 to Barloo Pastoral. Thank you to Mark & Shelly, who have supported the Classic Ladies Foundation for many years with exceptional generosity.
Nutrien Scone’s Maddy Teague stepped up as the first ever lady auctioneer at the Nutrien Classic today, proudly selling a service fee to Steve & Toni Harts THE METALLIST. This sire won 2024 Dalgety Animal Health Stallion Shootout last night and the service fee was purchased by AAM Investment Group for $10,000.
The final day of the 2024 Nutrien Classic Sale begins at 8am on Sunday, with a 136 quality lots still to go under the hammer. Bidders are reminded that pre-registration for bid cards remains available online and remote buyers can also participate on the Auctions Plus website.
Entry to all Nutrien Classic events is FREE and full results, sale catalogue, bidding information and live webcast of the 2024 Nutrien Classic can be found at www.nutrienequine.com.au.
