Tropical Rum sips in paradise after Sydney Royal Speckle Park ring win
Victorian stud Black Diamond Speckle Park toasted success after Tropical Rum T2153 took out the best exhibit in the Speckle Park ring at Sydney Royal on Friday.
Under judge Sam Parish, Forbes, the 32-month-old bull progressed from the bull over 30 and not over 36 months class to claim senior and grand champion bull.
Sired by River Hill 5C Farr-Out 827F and out of Pura Vida Antonella 42A, he weighed 980 kilograms and measured 14 millimeters rib and 24mm rump with an eye muscle area of 128 square centimetres.
"I just really love the balance in him, with the capacity that he carries, the softness and carcase," Mr Parish said.
"He is a very big powerful bull that has a lot of sire ability, what else can you ask for.
"I think the suspension in this bull and the way that he gets around is a credit to him."
The coveted broadribbon marks a back-to-back best exhibit win for Murray Van der Drift, Black Diamond Speckle Park, Macorna, Vic, following his success with Black Diamond J17 Tom Cat T1678, in 2024.
While Mr Van der Drift was ecstatic to defend his title, he said he planned to return in 2026 to achieve a hat trick.
"He is a great heifer bull with fully imported Canadian genetics who we will retain in our heard with one heifer in calf to him on offer at our sale," he said.
The Victorian success didn't end there, with Jackungah 300X Gigi U105 sashed junior and grand champion female.
Exhibited by Jack and Sam Nelson, Jackungah, Pine Lodge, the 18-month-old rose through the female over 16 and not over 18-months class.
She was sired by Spots 'N Sprouts Stand Alone and out of Blue Spark Gigi L19.
Mr Parish said the heifer was a great example of what a Speckle Park female should look like.
"She just screams style and femininity and is a female that of any breed and in any colour would just stand out," he said.
"I love the way that she carries her head and she has so much ability at that age and style with the length of body that she carries with balance and proportion.
"She is also so clean through her joints and skeletally very sound."
Jack Nelson said he thought the heifer a chance of doing well, but didn't expect her to win.
"We'll flush and hold onto her and maybe bring her back as a cow with calf in the future," he said.
The reserve senior champion bull was awarded to Anden T25, exhibited by Anden Speckle Park, Pine Lodge, Vic.
The 32-month-old bull, sired by Maungahina Legacy and out of Spknz Spn F1, weighed 914kg with rump and rib fat measurements of 6mm and 5mm respectively, and an EMA of 130sq cm.
Junior champion bull went to Jackungah Unlucky In Love U55, exhibited by Jack and Sam Nelson, Jackungah, Pine Lodge, Vic.
The 20-month-old bull, sired by Wolf Lake Field Ready 52F and out of Star Bank Witches Brew 16W, tipped the scales at 652kg and measured 10mm on the rump, 6mm on the rib and an EMA of 105sq cm.
The Nelsons also took home the junior reserve champion sash with Jackungah HS Vandalise V123.
Sired by Inc Talladega 11J and out of Rob Roy Quilty, the 12-month-old bull weighed 450kg with rump and rib fat measurements of 6mm and 5mm respectively, and an EMA of 82sq cm.
In the other female classes, the Nelsons claimed senior champion with Jackungah J309 Eileen T79.
Sired by Spots N Sprouts Fury 109F and out of Riverina Eileen J309, the 31-month-old, won the title ahead of reserve junior champion Topriam Uptown Girl U026, exhibited by Angela McGrath, Southern Cross Speckle Park, Freemans Reach.
Senior reserve champion went to Black Diamond N81 Race to Finish R734 exhibited by Black Diamond Speckle Park stud, Macorna, Vic.
She was sired by Black Diamond K08 North Pole N81 and out of Waratah Pho-Finish L130
