Held across four action packed days, the 2023 Nutrien Classic registered another year of record-breaking results.
Interfaced with AuctionsPlus, the auction experienced strong online competition from across the country, with online bidders participating on 81% of the 582 horses offered. The total sale grossed $17,092,000, with 523 horses selling to a 90% clearance rate and an overall average of $32,681, up 20% on last year - setting a new sale average record.
Breaking down the offering, mares sold to a top of $400,000 (Lot 73 – “Ducktacular”) to average $40,983, while geldings sold to $110,000 (Lot 499 – “Jewels Metallicat”) averaging $22,329. The smaller stallion offering sold to $300,000 (Lot 69 “Brother Tuff Wood”), averaging $62,917.
Online activity continues to increase year-on-year, with 464 registered AuctionsPlus buyers, up 5% on last year, which helped to spark strong competition against onsite bidders across the duration of the sale. Online bidders were active on 81% of the total offering, resulting in a total of 76 lots purchased by online buyers across the sale - increasing 18% on last year. Successful purchases saw multiple horses headed to both the NT and WA, with Queensland, NSW and Victoria rounding out the top remaining states for online purchases. Catalogue views across the duration of the classic more than doubled on last year, with a total of 41,779 views across the four catalogues.
Day one of the sale bought with it big numbers, with three horses selling for over $300,000, including the top price for the sale “Ducktacular”, a five-year-old mare offered by vendors “K.E Vivers & M.L Vivers.” The big prices continued into day two, with “Regent” selling for $210,000 - equalling the top price paid for a two-year-old colt in Nutrien history. The top price paid by an online buyer came on day three, with three-year-old mare “Westlake Evelyn” selling for $95,000 to an online buyer from Queensland.