PG . 34
AQHA FEATURE
2023 NUTRIEN SALE
2023 NUTRIEN CLASSIC CHALLENGE AQHA $ 1,000 OWNER INCENTIVE
BRANCHVALE METAL ALLOY Q-93525
OWNERS : RODGER GRANT-KOOBAH PERFORMANCE HORSES
WORDS BY : LYN HOFFMANN © 2023 • PHOTOS BY : JO THIEME
During the 2020 Nutrien Sale , Rodger Grant , of Koobah Performance Horses , NSW , had shown great interest in a red roan colt . Branchvale Metal Alloy Q-93525 , was bred by Merle Potter and Derek McGregor , EMDEE Enterprises , of Branchvale , Gin Gin , in Qld , Alloy was presented and ridden by Mark Buttsworth at that sale 3 years ago .
Rodger had then been immediately impressed in the colt , seeing a ton of talent and potential in the 2yo , not only as a Campdraft horse , but as a future sire , too . After some conversations with Buttsy , and another trainer , Steve Smith , Rodger was even more impressed , so much so , that he was pleased to have been able to close the purchase of the colt , for the 2020 Nutrien sale-topping figure of 126k .
Branchvale Metal Alloy is by Metallic Cat , out of Reys Little Hottie and since his purchase the stallion has not once disappointed his owner . After a stint at stud , the stallion headed back to Buttsy to focus on the performance horse events of Cutting , Challenges and Campdrafting . This incredible horse / rider partnership has won the 2021 St . George Open Cutting Futurity and 2021 SQCHA Goondiwindi 3yo Open Futurity .
When Mark Buttsworth was injured , prior to the 2022 NCHA 4CYTE Futurity , his good mate , Heath Sinclair catch rode Alloy , to make the finals to finish in 9th place . Once back to his old self and back in the saddle ,
Buttsy rode Alloy to take out the 2022 Cloncurry Stockmans Challenge , and , to add to that , the horse is also a Futurity Campdraft winner .
Fast forward to 2023 and today Koobah Performance Horses ’ Rodger Grant has got to be very satisfied with his initial perception of the now 5yo stallion , and , of course with Mark Buttsworth , who beautifully rode Alloy to take out the 2023 Nutrien Pryde ’ s EasiFeed Classic Challenge in fine style . Along with that win Rodger also took home the AQHA $ 1000 Incentive for the top placed owner of the Classic Challenge . He was quite excited by the fact that he ’ d also won his second Navaho Trailer at the event , his first being won back in 2017 , with Amaroo Diamantina .
As if that ’ s not enough , the Alloy and Mark Buttsworth combination just keep on proving their worth and displaying their talent , as the pair have just placed 2nd in the $ 15,000 Novice Cutting at DDCC . With some outstanding progeny already on the ground , the Branchvale Metal Alloy story is off and running , and looking so good !
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