The 2026 CQ Performance Horse Sale & Campdraft has cemented its place as one of Australia's premier performance horse events, with Ray White Rural Gracemere delivering $976,000 in combined gross sales and an overall average of $23,238 across the Gala Yearling Sale, held Friday 27 March, and Ridden Performance Horse Sale, held Saturday 28th, at Paradise Lagoons, Rockhampton.
Make it Reyn, offered by Holly Clayden, Loomberah Lodge Performance Horses, Tamworth, New South Wales, headlined the Gala Yearling Sale on Friday night. Sired by Dual Rey and out of Norestforthewickd, the filly was secured online through AuctionsPlus by Mick and Hayley Hughes, Delalah Downs Grazing, Surat, for $115,000, more than double last year's $56,000 top price.
The top-priced colt, Lot 13, KJA Mello Style, a chestnut by Smooth Talkin Style out of One Moore Mello offered by Kylie Graham, Taroom, Queensland, sold to local Rockhampton buyer Jack Rewald for $35,000. Across 31 yearling lots, 18 sold for a 58 per cent clearance rate, a gross of $456,000 and an average of $25,400, with fillies achieving an 86 per cent clearance rate.
Saturday's ridden sale saw Iscotta Little Sugar, Lot 61, claim the top price at $68,000. The two-year-old bay mare, sired by NRR Cat King Cole out of Iscotta Little Chrome and presented by Jason Leitch on behalf of vendor Barbara Williams, Sunkissed Quarter Horse Stud, Purga, Queensland, was secured online through AuctionsPlus by James and Kate Henwood, Barkala Park, Illabo, New South Wales.
The top-priced gelding, Caloolah Calvin Klein, a chestnut roan by One Stylish Pepto out of Rosevale Fashion Model offered by Sam and Amy Greenup, Jimbour, Queensland, sold to local buyer Colin Bell, Gracemere, for $29,000. Cattle were generously donated by Raglan Brahmans.
"To take something that started as a vision just two years ago and stand in the box as a yearling sells for a record-breaking $115,000, that's something I still can't quite believe. None of it is achievable without the support of great clients and colleagues who share the same passion and foresight for the future of the performance horse industry. The success of this year's sale makes me incredibly excited for what this event might become," said Abe Graham, Gala Yearling Sale organiser, Ray White Rural Gracemere.
Gary Wendt, Ray White Rural Gracemere principal and CQ Performance Horse Sale & Campdraft organiser followed on to say, "The success of both sales is a real statement about where this event is heading. But honestly, what means just as much is looking out at the grandstands and seeing people show up at a time when the cost of simply getting
somewhere is making people think twice. Vendors who trusted us with their horses, buyers who backed their judgment, the market is strong, the horses were quality, and we're already looking forward to what next year brings."
The result reflects the strength of the top end of the market and the quality of horses presented by breeders and vendors. Behind the scenes, the event is driven by the Ray White Rural Gracemere team and a dedicated network of volunteers whose tireless effort makes a weekend of this scale possible. Now in its third year, the CQ Performance Horse Sale & Campdraft is firmly establishing itself as a destination event on the national performance horse calendar, one that continues to grow in both prestige and reach.
The 2027 CQ Performance Horse Sale & Campdraft will return to Paradise Lagoons, Rockhampton.
Official results:
Yearling sale:
- 31 offered, 18 sold
- $25,400 average
- $456,000 gross sales
Ridden sale:
- 43 offered, 24 sold
- $21,666 average
- $520,000 gross sales
Combined totals:
- 74 offered, 43 sold
- $23,238 average
- $976,000 gross sales
- 58% clearance rate
AuctionsPlus (Yearling Sale)
- Online average price: $29,455
- Highest online sale: $115,000 (Lot 10 - Make it Reyn)
Online bidder participation:
- 48 active online bidders
- 11 lots sold online
- 183 online bids
AuctionsPlus (Ridden Sale)
- Online average price: $29,857
- Highest online sale: $68,000 (Lot 61 - Iscotta Little Sugar)
Online bidder participation:
- 28 active online bidders
- 7 lots sold online
- 107 online bids
