Tamworth has gone one step closer to being labelled Australia’s horse capital after the nine day Landmark Classic drew over 30,000 people through the gates at the AELEC, while sales eclipsed the $7 million mark for a second consecutive year.

Now in its eleventh year in Tamworth, the event saw three full days of campdraft competition, before two days of pre-works leading into the main event, four days of auctions and sales.

This year the average sale price was a record $15,034, with 491 of the 569 lots sold for an impressive clearance rate of 86 per cent, including 273 mares, 191 geldings, and 27 stallions.

While last years record sale of $210,000 for three year old colt, One Moore Metallic, wasn’t beaten, two year old colt Yaven Spinacat attracted a bid of $130,000 to be the second highest price ever seen at the event.

He was sold by John and Jen Corbett to Hughes Pastoral in Queensland.

Landmark’s equine sales support Hannah Murray said that the new owners will likely use the colt for breeding, as well as “training him up and returning to Tamworth for the Landmark Incentive events.”

Meanwhile a record was broken for highest sale price for a gelding after Wayne and Janine Carney sold eight year old gelding Destiny’s Mirage to Triwilga Partnership for $60,000.

On the money: The average sale price eclipsed the $15,000 mark while the top seller went for an astounding $130,000.

 On the money: The average sale price eclipsed the $15,000 mark while the top seller went for an astounding $130,000.

That beat the old record of $50,000 set at the same event last year.

“That horse is ready to go, so the new owners could put him on the truck and be riding tomorrow,” Ms Murray said.

The top price mare was four year old Bulla Farrah which sold for $89,000.

“It has been another really good event this year,” Ms Murray said.

“We had great crowds come in for the campdraft and sales – we had a huge crowd on the Wednesday night for the campdraft finals which was great.

Ringside: Hannah Murray said the high sale prices show the performance horse industry remains strong.

 Ringside: Hannah Murray said the high sale prices show the performance horse industry remains strong.

“Despite it being a dry year we had a lot of enthusiastic bidding and some great totals which shows that the performance horse industry is still very strong and there are only better things to come.”

The event brings a much welcome economic boost to the region, with over 1500 people and 1200 horses staying in the ground of the AELEC alone.

“It has been another great event, and once the extensions and upgrades at the AELEC are complete it will be even better,” Ms Murray said.

The story Landmark Classic sales eclipse $7.38 million first appeared on The Northern Daily Leader.