The Oaks Third Annual
Premiere Sport Horse Auction

Created: Sunday September 7, 1997 - 7:40:50 AM

Record price of $43,000 for two year old by South Pacific

Joe Montana buys sale topper Chaka Khan for $75,000

San Juan Capistrano, CA - Joan Irvine Smith and her staff at The Oaks training farm here in San Juan Capistrano, California, held their third annual Premiere Sport Horse Auction on Saturday, August 16, 1997 under the expert management and administration of Jeff Marsh and his Eurosport Auctions of Culpepper, VA. The auction is the latest step in Smith's plan to develop an American sport horse to rival the Europeans. Many of the horses offered were her own homebreds by Holsteiner stallions out of thoroughbred and warmblood mares. Smith hosted more than 1,000 buyers, sellers and spectators to cocktails and hors d'oeuvres during the auction, which was held under the large California oak tree for which the farm is named. Although The Oaks auction is still quite new, it drew prospective buyers from around the U.S., Canada and Mexico. This was due to the successful show records of many of the horses sold at the two previous auctions. These horses include, among others, Full Cry, sold in 1995, who has consistently been a champion in amateur/owner hunters on the east coast in 1996 and 1997, and Atlas, sold in 1996, who won the $50,000 Grand Prix of Tampa and also won in Europe this year.

While the older horses drew the highest sale prices, a two year old gelding, Sea Spray, became the star of the sale when he sold for $43,000: -- a Eurosport Auctions record for a two year old, according to Marsh. Sea Spray is by South Pacific, The Oaks' flagship stallion, out of Daisy II an Oldenburg mare. When asked about the sale, Smith said, "It's a great deal of money for a warmblood two year old, but this horse is an outstanding individual and was bred to be a champion. His bloodlines include Cor de la Bryere, Silbersee and Prinz Gaylord. Also, we had about a dozen bidders interested which pushed the price up, but that's what makes an auction exciting."

The highest prices were brought in by: Chaka Khan, an 8 year old Holsteiner stallion by Cor de la Bryere - $75,000; Orlando, a 12 year old Holsteiner gelding by Othello - $74,000; and Sanskrit, a 4 year old stallion by Solid Silver - $70,000.

Joe Montana (of football fame) and his wife, Jennifer, were the top bidders with their purchase of Chaka Khan. Their trainer, Charles White, said, "we held off buying until today because the quantity and the quality of horses offered here made it more practical to come to this event rather than visit a number of places over several weeks."

According to Marsh, a total of 39 horses were offered: 27 were sold: total sales were $629,410; average overall sale price was $23,311: average sale price for two year olds was $16,238, which is also a new record average price for two year olds at Eurosport Auctions.

Plans are already underway for the next Oaks Premiere Sport Horse Auction which will be held August 15, 1998. For more information call The Oaks at (714) 240-9335.



Please also note that the AHHA Holsteiner Auction will be held on October 11th.... Watch this Website for more details!
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