2023 Nutrien Classic horse sale grosses $17 million and smashes records
The 10-day event encompassed a series of campdraft competitions including the hotly contested Nutrien Classic Campdraft, as well as a Stallion Shootout and four days of auctions.
With sales still under negotiation, the 2023 Nutrien Classic has generated more than $17.09 million from 583 sale horses, surpassing last year’s gross of $17.05 million. The average sale price was $32,680.69, exceeding last year’s average by over $5,500. This year also saw a clearance rate of 89.86%.
“This year we saw some top-quality horses and bloodlines going under the hammer, and the results speak for themselves,” said Nutrien Livestock Agent Mark Barton.
“When the event was established in 2008, it was designed to showcase the performance horse industry and provide a platform for quality performance horse sales. It is exciting to see how far the event has come. The professionalism, level of competition and the quality of horses up for sale is an outstanding achievement.”
Topping this year’s sale was five year old mare DUCKTACULAR for $400,000, sold on account of K & M Vivers to an undisclosed buyer. Other notable sales include the $325,000 purchase of Lighthouse Station’s six year old mare PEPPYPHLAIRE by Koobah Performance Horses, Tuff Syndicate’s purchase of 11 year old stallion BROTHER TUFF WOOD on account of PA & KL Poole for $300,000, and four year old mare KISS MY GRASS on account of Bunyarra Park, who was sold for $225,000 to Strategies 4S-Equine.
Pictured: Top result of the sale was K & M Vivers' five year old mare, Ducktacular sold for $400,000. Photo: Ropes N Spurs Photography.
Outstanding horsemanship and quality breeding was also on display during the campdrafting competition, where over hundreds of riders competed for a share in $400,000 worth of prizes.
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2023 Nutrien Equine Classic Campdraft Final Winner: Robert Leach from Attunga NSW, on PEELVALE TRUCE, owned by Lowly Pastoral, 267 points
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Prydes EasiFeed Australian Performance Horse Challenge Winner: Mark Buttsworth from Kingaroy QLD, on BRANCHVALE Metal Alloy, owned by Rodger Grant of Koobah Performance Horses, 350 points
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2023 Martins Stock Haulage Open Campdraft Winner: Will Durkin from Charters Towers QLD, on DURKINS JEWEL, owned by Robert Durkin, 271 points
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2023 Dalgety Stallion Shootout Overall Winner: Troy Clarke, from Narrabri NSW, riding EAGLE HUSTLER, 221 points
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2023 Charlie Maher Memorial Young Guns Campdraft Final Winner: James Moorhead from Ben Lomond NSW, on STYLE N BLUES, owned by EM & TL Moorhead, 181 points
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AELEC Bar Gelding DASH for Cash: Jason Comiskey from Alpha QLD, on METALLIC DASH, 171 points
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2023 Jimmy Matthews Memorial Ladies Campdraft, sponsored by CM Pastoral, Winner: Jess Hoffmann from Charters Towers QLD, on AMROSI, 90 points
Pictured: Rob Leach won the Nutrien Equine Classic Campdraft on board Peelvale Truce. Photo: Jo Thieme Photography.
Alongside the equine events, the 2023 Nutrien Classic Store Cattle Sale was held at the Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange, where the Nutrien Livestock team yarded 3,305 head. The sale grossed approximately $5.2million, with the top-priced cow and calf unit fetching 783 c/kg.
Nutrien Selling Agent and Auctioneer, Tim Hollis said “Each year, the Store Sale is well supported by vendors and buyers and this year was no exception. The recent rainfall instilled confidence in the market, and this was reflected in the results. Top prices varied from $2,190/head for steers and $3,050 for Pregnancy-Tested-In-Calf cows.”
“This event would not be possible without the ongoing support from so many people, organisations and sponsors. To all who attended; competitors, vendors, buyers or spectators, thank you for supporting our event and we hope to see you all back in Tamworth for 2024,” concluded Mr Barton.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Managing Director Kelly Freeman congratulated the organisers on the successful event.
“The Nutrien Classic is a combined effort from the Tamworth Branch, led by Branch Manager Mark Witherdin, as well as the Equine and Livestock teams,” said Kelly.
“I want to thank the amazing team that made this event possible, as well as the suppliers, buyers, vendors, competitors and spectators who continue to support the Nutrien Classic. We’ve eclipsed over $100 million in gross sales since the inception of the event in 2008 and it’s a credit to everyone involved.”
Full results for the 2023 Nutrien Classic Campdraft and Challenge can be found here.
Visit Nutrien Equine for more information on the Nutrien Classic and other equine industry information.
Pictured: Leah Read and Lethal King Cole in the Jimmy Matthews Memorial Ladies Campdraft.