FOR judge Trent Johnstone, Trojon Shorthorns, Lyndhurst, NSW, it nearly took a "toss of a coin" to pick his supreme Murray Grey exhibit.
"Both grand champions really caught my eye as they walked in, both had great profiles and could really take a stud places," he said.
But it was the "overall presence" of senior champion female Arki Foxy Lady M71 from Lochclyde Pastoral Co, Russells Bridge, Vic, that got it over the line from the senior champion bull Ballyvaughan Powerful P21 from Ballyvaughan Trading Trust, Clare.
"The female has all the right make and shape," he said.
"I really admire its the structure, the depth of body, it walked very smooth for her size and structure."
Exhibitor Jess Parker, Lochclyde Pastoral Co, Russells Bridge, bought the cow at the Murray Grey National in Wodonga, Vic, last year from Geoff and Kate Buick, Arki stud, Western Flat.
"I really like it as a heifer and as soon as we got home, we got it in-calf to Eylwarra Sands Lincoln - a bull we also bought at the Murray Grey National, which was a reserve senior champion at the Sydney Show," she said.
"We had her on feed in preparation for this year's Sydney Easter Show, but had to pull out because it was back in-calf again.
"But we decided to keep feeding to show it at Adelaide, and it's paid off."
Arki Foxy Lady was four months in-calf and had a seven-month-old bull calf at-foot.
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The grand champion bull from Ballyvaughan had a "real sire outlook" for Mr Johnstone.
The senior bull in reserve was also from Ballyvaughan, brought up from the same 18-24 months class as the senior champion.
Owner Katrina Sanders said it was the first time Ballyvaughan Powerful P21 had been shown.
"It was eye catching as a calf out in the paddock and it's grown on really well," she said.
"We agreed with the judge, it has the softness and the doability that you need at the moment with how the seasons have been."
Ballyvaughan Powerful P21 weighed 794 kilograms, had a 103-square centimetre eye muscle area, 11-millimetre rump fat and 7m rib fat.
The bull was AI-sired by Wallawong Yippee LEJ K15 - the sire of the four-animal Ballyvaughan show team.
The Carrsview stud, Mount Torrens, took out both the junior titles, both entries were sired by Eylwarra Sands Lefty L30.
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Alisha Fogden
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
