THE odds-on favourite streaked home as winner as the top-price-favourite at the 2014 Classings Classic ram sale at Murray Bridge Racecourse on Monday.
Gunallo 130055 - known as 'Lustre' for his lustrous wool - had created plenty of pre-interest at Burra, Bendigo, Vic, and Deniliquin, NSW, in the past couple of months, so it was no surprise he topped the sale at $18,000.
It was clear that at least five bidders recognised the stud sire potential of the heavy cutter with soft, white wool, and bidding kicked-off at $10,000.
The late March 2013-drop Poll Merino ram, Kamora Park 37, offered by Ray, Judy and Brad Schroeder, Gunallo stud, Pinnaroo, quickly leapt to $18,000 with Cousins Merino Services' Paul Cousins, Burra, making the winning bid.
Its wool measurements were 18.9 microns with 3.3 standard deviation, 18.2 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.7pc comfort factor. He had a yearling clean fleece weight of 18 on MerinoSelect - well above the average.
Mr Cousins was operating for clients of sale coordinator Bill Walker.
The new owners are Western Australians Scott Pickering, Pyramid Poll, Esperance, and Fred Leo, Leovale stud, Lake Grace.
Semen sales have also been made to two WA studs.
"They were really pleased to secure the ram at that price," Mr Cousins said. "He is a great-structured sheep with good ASBVs."
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 18, 2014 issue.