A SALE top of $80,000 was just one of the new records set at last weekend's Landmark Classic held in Tamworth.Across three days of selling, 526 registered Australian Quarter Horses and Australian Stock Horses were ridden through the sale ring at the Australian Equine Livestock and Events Centre (AELEC),with 471 horses selling to gross $5,829,000 and average $12,376.In the breakdown, 275 mares reached $80,000 and averaged $14,233; 30 stallions topped at $65,000 and averaged $16,933, and 166 geldings sold to $29,000 and averaged $8,476.Landmark's National Livestock Manager, Mark Barton, Wagga Wagga was ecstatic with the 2015 sale results."We have achieved a number of things this year, the most number of horses offered, highest gross, new top-price records for mares and geldings and highest average achieved since conducting the sale at AELEC"
After five days of competition - which saw over 1500 campdraft runs and 2500 head of cattle enter the arena - the highly anticipated sale seven began with a strong start on Friday.The Rey Dual-sired mare, Duckdown, sold for $80,000 - a new top-price record for mares.Owned by John Brekelmans, Gracemere, Queensland, the four-year-old bay mare was bought by fellow Queenslander's, Noel and Jo-Anne Chiconi, "Taylors Plains", Mungallala.
After being one of the only horses to be applauded in the pre-works, sale organizers consider her one of the best mares put through the ring."There was a lot of interest, we were confident she would sell well" said Mr Barton.
The $65,000 top priced stallion was The Wolf of Wall Street, a Hazelwood Conman colt from Romantic Destiny who carries bloodlines of Acres and Freckles Oak.Owner, Richard Bull, "Tamarang", Tamworth, bred the bay two-year-old but claims the stallion is a "Hall-Bull" combination after he conversed with Hazelwood Conamn and Romance owners, Terry and Christine Hall, Goondiwindi about the mix of bloodlines. Ray and Judy Heslin, 7 Star Quarter Horse Company, Normanton, Queensland purchased the ASH registered colt. Rob Leach, who prepared the colt for the sale said Mr Heslin, who is currently on a trip through the US, had been looking at the colt for a while."He is such a good natured, plyable horse" said Mr Leach,
Western Australian campdrafters, Gemma Leckie and Andrew Smith, Mount Barker, purchased the top-priced gelding for $29,000.Trained and presented by Kylie Graham, Taroom, QLD, the One Stylish Pepto gelding is said to have "a natural ability to chase cattle".
New to this year's sale format was the interface of the sale with AuctionsPlus, allowing off-site buyers to bid on individual lots in real time. The online auction system had 204 bidders logged on, with five of those purchasing from the sale.
Over 53,000 viewers from ten countries were also watching the action live through the webcast produced by Wild Colt Productions.
"This is now a blue ribbon event with all the great trainers and breeders participating" said Mr Barton.
