DALBY’S annual Australian Stock Horse Sale held on the weekend saw a catalogue of 232 entries attracting spirited bidding from four states and territories.

Conducted by the Darling Downs Branch of the Australian Stock Horse Society, the sale saw 196 registered ASH change hands for an $8732 average, producing a clearance of 84 percent.

Mark Buttsworth of Kingaroy atop the $20,000 top-priced stallion, Almora Pop A Top, with vendors Sal and James Morse, Wongalee, Molong, NSW. Picture: Sarah Coulton, Coulton’s Country Photography.

Selling agent GDL generated a record turnover from the sale of just over $1.7 million, while more than 400 bid cards were registered for the sale, also a record.

In the mare portion, 110 entries averaged $10,073, while 81 geldings averaged $6574 and five stallions averaged $14,200.

Top price at $43,000 was Kirkby’s Stud Dreams Charity offered by Phillip Kirby of Wave Hill Stud, Narrabri. A multiple novice draft winner, the 10 year old brown mare by Adios Reflect out of a Warrenbri Omega was purchased by a Queensland partnership comprising Wayne and Lesley Dennien, Koolara, Proston, and Ashley and Torie Harrison, Oakwood, Kilcoy.

Top priced stallion was Almora Pop A Top, sold for $20,000. This 10 year old bay stallion was offered by James and Sal Morse, Wongalee, Molong, NSW, and professional trainer Mark Buttsworth of Kingaroy. The five-time challenge winner by Almora Double Doc was bought by Bryony Puddicombe, Westpoint Trading, Westpoint, Nebo, Qld.

Geldings sold to a top of $15,000 for Bungaban Barney Acres, a five year old chestnut offered by Jay and Kristin Pearce, Wybara, Roma and purchased by Will Durkin and Rachel Dillon, Clermont.

Topping the Saturday twilight sale portion of the catalogue was Solar Conquest, also offered by Jay and Kristin Pearce, selling for $30,000. The nine-year-old Hazelwood Conman mare was bought by Paul and Ros Ireland, Condamine ASH stud, Dubbo, NSW.

The 38 horses sold in the Twilight portion of the catalogue averaged $8789, with a clearance rate of 86pc.

• To view a full sale breakdown, visit the Darling Downs ASHS website, click here.

The $43.000 top priced mare at this year’s Dalby Stock Horse Sale is put through her paces by Claire Brown. Picture: Margaretta Travers.