A breaking donkey named Rocky stole the show at the inaugural Caboolture Mazda Beef Grand Prix sale, fetching $13,000 and securing top honours in a competition that puts owners in the running for a Mazda BT-50 and $10,000 in cash prizes.
The two-to-three-year-old jack donkey, offered by Troy Hepburn of Top Notch Fitting and Michael Robinson of MKR Simmentals from Casino in New South Wales, commanded fierce bidding from buyers who recognized his potential as a breaking animal for young cattle on the show circuit. The sale at Ivery Downs near Colinton on January 30 marked the first stage of a competition that will culminate with prizes including a brand-new Mazda ute.
While Rocky took the overall top price, he wasn’t the only one making history. The bidding went into overdrive for a four-month-old Limousin steer named Kayce, offered by Alsace Limousins. The calf eventually fell under the hammer for $9,000, setting a new Australian record for a led steer prospect at auction.
Intense Bidding From Across Queensland and NSW
About 70 people filled the stands at Ivery Downs with another 175 joining online to watch bidding on 21 lots. The sale delivered a 100 percent clearance, an average price of $4581, and a gross of $96,200, with buyers attending from as far west as Charleville, north to Rockhampton, and into northern NSW.
Fierce bidding started on the first lots and continued throughout the sale, with four prospects selling for more than $6000. Online interest proved particularly strong, with 73 individual online bids from 45 registered bidders delivering $56,500 in online transactions.
Breaking Animals: The Unsung Heroes of Show Cattle
Rocky’s $13,000 sale price reflects the high value placed on experienced breaking animals by show cattle operations. These animals serve as teachers for young cattle, helping them learn to walk calmly on a lead, stand correctly, and respond to handlers before entering the competitive show ring.
Donkeys and older steers used for breaking often develop gentle temperaments while maintaining enough presence to keep younger cattle focused and calm during training sessions. For show cattle teams preparing multiple head for events like the Royal Queensland Show, having a reliable breaking animal can make the difference between success and failure in the ring.
Competition Continues Through 2026
The Caboolture Mazda Beef Grand Prix sale represents just the first stage of an ongoing competition that will follow animals through the 2026 show season. To snag the keys to that brand-new Mazda BT-50, owners have to do more than just sign the cheque.
The major prize is reserved for the Overall Grand Champion, a title earned through a rigorous “Hoof and Hook” judging process later this season. With $10,000 in total cash prizes also up for grabs across the categories, the pressure is now on the exhibitors to turn these raw prospects into champions.
Sale organiser and Ivery Downs Speckle Park principal Stacey Jones said vendors intentionally kept lot numbers tight, picking the best of their crop to ensure quality over quantity. The strategy paid off, with strong bidding throughout the day from both local producers who filled the stands and interstate buyers who participated online.
Rockhampton Grammar Takes Bulk Purchase
The Rockhampton Grammar School show cattle team purchased the largest number of lots, buying five head for an average of $3240 to build their competition string for the upcoming show season. The top-price heifer, seven-month-old Speckle Park and Limousin-cross HeartP4 Little Miss, sold to the school team for $3600.
Gililand Livestock Marketing agent Connor Veraart said the incentives helped the sale result, but the quality of cattle on offer spoke volumes. The event demonstrated strong demand for quality show prospects across Queensland and northern NSW, with the Mazda BT-50 prize adding extra excitement to an already competitive market.
What This Moment Means
Though the action took place ringside at Colinton, the event’s heart sits firmly in the Moreton Bay region. The massive support from Caboolture Mazda has transformed a local sale into a premier interstate event, proving that when local business backs the bush, the whole industry wins.
Published 16-February-2026.
