Agents praise quality as Nutrien Classic gross up $1 million on last year
The quality of horses catalogued and the incentives available helped boost prices at this year's Nutrien Classic sale, with the gross total up by more than a $1 million on last year's event.
The sale has been running for 18 years. The 2025 sale offered 533 lots from multiple vendors from Thursday to Sunday at Tamworth's Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre.
At the fall of the hammer, 486 of 533 mares, colts and geldings sold to a 91.2 per cent clearance rate.
It reached a top price of $180,000, averaged $27,302 and grossed $13,269,000.
This compared to last year's sale of 479 of 554 selling to a top of $180,000 to average $24,976 and gross $11,963,682.
Thursday's sale reached $130,000, while Friday sold to $150,000. The $180,000 top price came on Saturday and Sunday sold to $100,000.
The top-priced lot, A Sandie Blonde, a four-year-old mare, was offered by Jason and Rachel Leitch, Springsure, Qld, and sold to Mac and Gayle Shann, Cantaur Park, Clermont, Qld.
The mare, by Sanman and out of Nine Shades O Rey, had shown in the National Cutting Horse Association Open Futurity.
Mark Barton, Nutrien Equine, Wagga Wagga, said although economic times were tough and plenty of people were feeling the pinch, the quality of the horses presented kept the prices strong.
"That's compliments to the owners and trainers that have prepared and done the extra work - there were no gaps in the catalogue," he said.
Mr Barton said the clearance rate at the fall of the hammer in other years was usually below 90pc. Negotiations were continuing and he expected the final clearance to be up to 93pc.
"That shows that fundamentally the buyers and sellers found their mark," he said.
Mr Barton noted the demand for fillies by the US sire, Badboonarising.
Oneofakind Bad Janey, a two-year-old out of Oneofakind Copy Cat, was offered by Central Park Helicopters Pty Ltd, Springsure, Qld, and bought by return buyer for the sale, Lisa McKinlay, Gogango, Qld, for $150,000.
Black Sunrise, also by Badboonarising from Liberty Rey, sold for $90,000 to Mount Riddock Pastoral Company of Alice Springs, NT.
The filly was offered by Mt Hercules Pastoral Co of Wallendbeen.
Mr Barton believed they were the only two fillies to be offered at auction by the US sire.
"They're hard enough to get - we haven't seen a lot of pregnancies in Australia," he said.
"That in itself probably makes them more valuable. That was a highlight."
Mr Barton said there was increased competition on the more traditional Australian Stock Horse types.
"The last couple of years it really has had a strong influence by the US Quarter Horse and cutting type, particularly Metallic Cat," he said.
"Now I just thought you could see particularly mares that had that well proven Australian genetics.
"They weren't sale toppers but there was just a push back towards that type of horse."
He noted the campdraft competitions earlier in the week had helped showcase the horses.
More than 4000 head of cattle were used throughout the 10-day event, and he praised the donors.
"It was by far the best run of campdraft cattle we've ever had," he said.
"We were getting 60pc gates, or full courses, in a sport where if you get over 30pc most people are really happy.
"Same with the Classic, horses under five years of age and we're getting 50pc of those getting a full course.
"That, I think, flows on into the sale weekend. People, if they buy horses, come back for the incentive. You've got a good chance of being able to compete for nearly half a million in prize money overall events."
Nutrien also announced that the Master's Sale and Graduate Campdraft event, which is for open-aged horses and typically held in September, would now be incorporated into next year's Classic.
Mr Barton said the rising costs associated with the event were one of the factors behind the decision, but the timing also meant it was difficult for Queensland and Northern Territory producers to attend.
Nutrien conducted the sale with AuctionsPlus providing the online interface.
