THE Dalby Australian Stock Horse sale reaffirmed it’s the premier venue for ridden stock after almost 200 horses sold for a tick over 1.7m at the Dalby Showgrounds on the weekend.
Exclusive selling agent Grant, Daniel and Long (GDL) sold 196 horses for an $8732 average to return $1,711,500 which represented 84 per cent of the catalogue finding new homes over two sessions.
Selling agent spokesman Harvey Weyman-Jones said Dalby had improved in every category and delivered a record turnover for GDL.
“We also had a record number of buyers with over 400 registrations,” Mr Weyman-Jones said.
A final analysis revealed 110 mares averaged $10,073 and 81 geldings averaged $6574. In addition five stallions averaged $14,200.
One of the highlights was the re-introduction of a twilight sale on Saturday evening which proved a hit for vendors and buyers alike after 38 horses averaged $8789 and sold to a top of $30,000 for the Solar Conquest, offered by Jay and Kristin Pearce, Wybara, Roma.
The quality nine-year-old Hazelwood Conman mare was bought by Paul and Ros Ireland, Condamine ASH stud, Wongarbon via Dubbo, New South Wales.
The Pearce family also sold the $15,000 top money gelding, Bungaban Barney Acres, a lovely natured Acres Destiny son which was ready to start. He was bought by Will Durkin and Rachel Dillon of Clermont.
Sale host Darling Downs Stock Horse Society represented by their local branch president, Jim Ryan, said the addition of the night session had worked well and could possibly become an ongoing feature of the Dalby sale.
Another of the sale’s drawcards was the select offering from legendary breeder Phillip Kirkby, Wave Hill, Narrabri, NSW, who sold a handful of elite horses including the $43,000 top-priced mare, Kirkbys Stud Dreams Charity.
The 10-year-old, dual novice draft winning daughter of Adios Reflect was bought by the partnership of Wayne and Lesley Dennien, Koolara, Proston, and Ashley and Torie Harrison, Oakwood, Kilcoy who considered her as ‘one of the best bred Stock Horses in the country’.
“She’s a big mare and a true Australian Stock Horse type with full Kirkbys Stud breeding,” said Mr Dennien.
“This mare embodies a lifetime of the best of Phillip’s breeding and is a proper Stock Horse,” he added.
She is also a full brother to the Dennien family‘s open horse, Kirkbys Stud Ambition, and will be campaigned by Wayne Dennien and Ashley Harrison jointly.
Interstate vendors James and Sal Morse, Wongalee, Molong, NSW, and professional trainer Mark Buttsworth of Kingaroy sold Almora Pop A Top for the $20,000 top stallion money.
The five-time challenge winner and mature son of Almora Double Doc was bought by Bryony Puddicombe, Westpoint Trading, Westpoint, Nebo.
► To view social photos from the sale, click here.
