Penshurt handler Ash Caruana had some help from his son Ryder to get his $17,500 Kelpie Skye right for the photograph.

INTERSTATE demand set the pace at the 29^th Premier Working Dog Auction at Casterton yesterday, where two Victorian kelpies made the top price of $17,500.

The top price was well below Casterton’s world record top price of $35,200 in 2021, but auctioneers James Tierney and Bernie Grant said demand was strong for good dogs despite the difficult seasonal conditions.

Stock contractor Jack Leonard and his $17,500 Kelpie Billy at Casterton.

The auction was interfaced with AuctionsPlus and dogs sold into South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia and across Victoria. The 41 dogs sold during the physical/online auction averaged $7645.

Western District stock contractor Jack Leonard was among several handlers who sold dogs for more than $10,000 early in the sale, including his 16 month-old Kelpie Roper for $12,500 to a Victorian buyer, before a South Australian buyer at Port Augusta paid $17,500 for 27 month-old Kelpie Billy.

“I knew what the dogs were worth and didn’t think they were going to do it, but it was good they did – it was a solid sale.”

He said the sale defied expectations a bit, and was driven by the northern demand.

Penshurst handler Ash Caruana sold 32 month-old Beloka Sky for $17,500 to an online bidder in Queensland.

James Tierney said there was a fair bit of depth in the dogs and the wet weather at Casterton wouldn’t have helped attendance at the sale.

“It was a better sale than last year.”

Bernie Grant said a few dogs sold into WA, Queensland, Tasmania and several into NSW.

He estimated the average was good as it has been in a long time, with two dogs at $17,500, two at $16,500 and several between $8000-$15,000.

“I thought it was a bloody fantastic result for the way everything is.”

Other key sales included $13,000 for Paul McPhail’s nine month-old Holly III to a Western Australian buyer; $15,000 for Kahlee O’Leary’s 30 month-old Petey to a Port Augusta buyer; $12,000 for Mr McPhail’s 27 month-old Sam VI to a Stockyard Hill buyer; $16,500 for Ross McIntosh’s 42 month-old Chris to a Queensland buyer; $14,250 for Neville Williams’ 35 month-old Joey to a Tasmanian buyer; $12,000 for James Leahy’s three year-old Glenlyon Ruth to a South Australian buyer; $15,500 for Jacinta Whitfield’s 31 month-old O’Leary Lotti to a Victorian buyer, and; $16,500 for Mr McIntosh’s 32 month-old Duck to a NSW buyer.

Casterton Kelpie Association president Karen Stephens said the auction results reaffirm Casterton’s reputation as the host of Australia’s premier working dog auction “where quality speaks for itself.”

Working dog auction committee chairman John Matthews, left, with Ash Caruana and Jack Leonbard with their $17,500 dogs and Casterton Kelpie Association president Karen Stephens.