Gloroy nabs $21,000 for top sire

All up, 458 head sold to $21,000 and averaged $576.

For the vendors, the Harris family, it was an emotional day as a major component of their 58-year-long farming life, the Gloroy Poll Dorset stud's breeding ewes and rams, went under the hammer.

Only the 2013-drop rams and ewes remain and these will be sold in October to finalise the stud's dispersal.

Founded by the late Roy Harris and his wife Gloria in 1956 and more recently run by Colin and Jenny Harris, the stud has been one of the highest performing studs in the show ring, the sale ring and for performance on Lambplan.

These started with the very first lot, Gloroy's leading stud sire, Gloroy White Caviar 110541, rated by Colin Harris as the best ram Gloroy ever bred, set the pace early at $21,000.

Bidding quickly developed into a duel between Denam Carter, Ridgetop stud, Mt Barker, Western Australia, operating via phone through Stefan Spiker, and Simon Male, Aberdeen Poll Dorsets, Henty.

With a final bid of $21,000 Mr Male came out on top to the applause of the gallery.

However, Mr Carter did not miss out completely, later purchasing White Caviar's top son, Gloroy Cavalier 120523ET, winner of the performance class at last year's Melbourne Royal, for $8000.

Gloroy had offered an option to purchase back a semen sale share in White Caviar from the successful bidders and the Male family took up that option post sale.

Semen will now be jointly marketed by both Aberdeen, Henty, and Gloroy.