PG . 28
AQHA FEATURE
2023 NUTRIEN SALE
DUCKTACULAR Q-92256
NUTRIEN 2023 HIGHEST PRICE SALE HORSE BRED BY : JOHN BREKLEMAN • VENDOR : MICHAEL , KATHRYN AND JUSTIN ‘ WAL ’ VIVERS
WORDS BY : LYN HOFFMANN © 2023 • PHOTOS BY : JO THIEME
Destined for prominence , Ducktacular has been surrounded by greatness for much of her life . Bred by the late , great horseman , John Brekelmans , and by the phenomenal sire , Metallic Cat , out of Dashing Duckling , she ’ s also a half-sister to Ducks Dux , one of the highest money-earning mares in Australia . Due to the sad and sudden passing of John Brekelmans in 2019 , Ducktacular was sent off late to be started and trained by Mark Buttsworth .
Brekelmans , who was very taken with that mare right from birth , would ’ ve been pleased , especially as Ducktacular went on to become the 2022 NCHA Open Derby Champion . The horse had been ridden in that event by Heath Sinclair , at the request of Buttsworth , after Buttsy had sustained an injury , only days out from the NCHA Futurity .
At that time Ducktacular had been owned by Tom Strachan . That win was known to have been one of Tom ’ s proudest Cutting moments , as an owner . Tragically , Tom lost his life in a light plane crash that also took his son , Noah , and good friend & pilot , Garry Liehm . After Tom ’ s passing , some of his horses were offered to his staff , prior to being offered to the public . the 2023 Nutrien Sale , and create a buzz around the complex . She ’ d been initially passed in at $ 300,000 , but when her trainer , Mark Buttsworth , who ’ d prepared and presented Ducktacular , walked out the gate on her , the interest in the mare quickly followed , resulting in the completion of the sale at the incredible amount of $ 400,000 .
Congratulations must go to Ducktacular ’ s very pleased purchasers , James and Sal Morse , of Wongalee Pastoral , Molong , NSW . On an even higher note , those who ’ d been a part of the mare ’ s life & achievements were happy to know that she ’ s heading back to Buttsy at ‘ Almora ’ to continue along the road to more success .
Justin ‘ Wal ’ Vivers had worked at Packhorse for Tom , who ’ d been a great mentor to him , and a friend of Wal ’ s family ’ s . With Anna Strachan ’ s blessing , Wal and his parents , Michael and Kathryn Vivers , had purchased Ducktacular , as a joint venture . In their minds , the mare was the ‘ Winx ’ of Cutting and Campdraft and they ’ re more than pleased to be one of three breeders to have one of Ducktacular ’ s embryos in a recip mare , and are very much looking forward to that resulting foal .
But it was the spectacular amount eventually paid for Lot 73 , as Ducktacular made her presence felt to top
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