THE National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Imax Gold Tamarang Futurity hosted the annual Select Cutting Horse sale with a $790,500 turnover and 228 registered bidders vying for some of Australia's leading cutting horse genetics.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
Of the 131 horses offered, 90 sold at auction for a sale average of $8783, $1769 back on last year.
In the breakdown, 30 stallions sold to a sale top of $35,000 and averaged $9096; 63 mares topped at $30,000 and averaged $8781 and seven geldings sold to a top of $15,000 and averaged $7643.
The sale was once again divided into two setions, running across two days.
The ridden section of the sale was held on Thursday evening, with current age-event entrants and 2015 Futurity prospects going under the hammer, and Friday morning featured the led yearling, weanlings, broodmares and embryo section.
The $35,000 sale top, This Cats Playin, was offered by 7 Star Quarter Horse stud, Currabubula, and purchased by John and Jenny Knowles, Buchan, Victoria.
Sired by NCHA Open World Finals champion, WR This Cats Smart (IS), and from Victorian Futurity and DDCC Derby winner One Moore Playgirl, the rising three year old chestnut colt is a 2015 futurity prospect.
The Knowles were drawn to the impeccable breeding on both the sire and dam sides.
"We were impressed with how he presented in the book and were just as impressed with the way he worked cattle on the day," Mr Knowles said.
The "stud quality" colt, who has been in work with Queensland trainer, Todd Graham since December, was delivered to his new home at Cobbra, Victoria, where fellow trainer, Cory Holden, will continue the colt's preparations for the 2015 futurity.
"He'll be heading back to compete in the futurity next year with Cory on board," Mr Knowles said.
"As the first progeny available by his sire, we're really looking forward to watching him progress through the ranks."
The top-priced mare was Rob Leach's Heavenly Rey, which sold for $30,000 to Julie and Rex Sheedy, Glen Innes.
Sired by Stylish Rey (IS) and from Haida N Tax (IIU), the rising three-year-old chestnut mare was purchased with next year's futurity in mind.
Mrs Sheedy is planning on putting the "well matured and trained" mare through the 2015 futurity herself.
"I didn't go to the sale with the intention to buy but Rob (Leach) has brought this mare along way and I knew she was a genuine article when he expressed how much he liked the mare," Mrs Sheedy said.
While the Sheedys are going to concentrate on the mare's progress to the futurity there is talk of an Embryo Transfer (ET) program to Metallic Cat but this has not yet be confirmed.
The $15,000 top-priced gelding, Docs Stylish Kat, was offered by Paul Nixon, Glen Innes, and purchased by D. and K. McFadden, Kinglake West, Victoria.
The bay gelding, sired by Peptos Stylish Oak (IMP), was offered as an aged event entrant and narrowly missed out on the 2013 open futurity final.
Owners of the 2014 open futurity champion, Hy On Turps, Kempsey Quarter Horses, Kempsey, purchased two broodmares from the sale for $8000 and $4000.
NCHA general manager Greg Sinclair was impressed with the numbers in attendance and a record number of bid card nominations.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Equine with Mark Barton, Joel Fleming and Andrew Wishart controlling the bids.
