All American Cup Stallion Tour and Auction A Rousing Success
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
by Susan F. Harris
Three busloads of Saddlebred enthusiasts toured the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass country on January 19 and 20 feasting their eyes on dozens of the top American Saddlebred stallions in the country. They later opened their checkbooks to make the 2007 All American Cup Stallion Service Auction a huge success.
The All American Cup started four years ago as the brainchild of master colt man Jim Aikman. He wanted Saddlebred breeders to have an incentive and be rewarded for breeding good horses. The All American Cup has turned into a phenomenon that even Aikman couldn’t have predicted in his wildest dreams.
Not only did this year’s auction attract a standing-room only crowd, but the second edition of the stallion preview and tour grew from two to three luxury coaches, not to mention the small caravan of cars that followed the buses from one farm to the next.
Nine farms prepared and presented their own stallions as well as several visiting stallions. The horses and facilities were in impeccable order. The tour was planned and executed with military precision. Everyone in attendance was most appreciative of the opportunity to view so many stallions in such a concentrated time span and geographic area.
Buses cranked and ready to leave Claudia Sanders
Everyone gathered at the crack of dawn for a continental breakfast (and plenty of hot coffee) at Claudia Sanders Restaurant in Simpsonville. Three luxury buses were cranked and warm. Once receiving their bagged lunches (including yummy Nottage Cottage candy and Macadamia nuts) everyone climbed aboard with high expectations.
Jim Aikman and Joan Hamilton
The first stop on Friday was at Kalarama Farm in Springfield. Joan Hamilton, Larry Hodge and their staff were gracious in welcoming everyone. The following stallions were presented:
Harlem Globetrotter
Lakeview’s Rare-A-Phi
Kalarama Superman
Kalarama Cabernet
Simbara’s Living Legend (standing at Woodstock Farm)
A Rare Gift (standing at Dreamline Stables)
Slam Dunk H.G. (standing at Cardinal Farm)
Santana’s Tropical Heat Wave (standing at Lance Hayes Stables)
At Night (standing at Blythewood Farm)
After a picturesque drive through the countryside, the second stop was at Arrowhead Farm. While there, Melinda Moore introduced the new owner of Arrowhead as David Crockett. Work is already well underway with major restoration of the historic home on the property. The following stallions were presented at Arrowhead:
Molligny’s Don’t Worry Be Happy (S.A.) (standing at Silverstone Farm)
Everything Will (standing at Silverstone Farm)
New York Royale (standing at Nash Stables)
Joe Fabulous (standing at Silverstone Farm)
Callaway’s Extra Extra (standing at Silverstone Farm), and
Katie’s Rob Roy
Visitors were thoughtfully greeted on this chilly morning at Sunrise Stable with hot buttered rum. Yum! During the stallion presentations, it was announced that this farm also has new owners… Clark and Sheila Clouse, who also expect to be adding to their family in just a few months. Melissa Moore is building her new barn nearby. The stallions presented at Sunrise Stable were:
Basquiat (Standing at Sunset Farm)
Dellviews Dare Time (S.A.)
Jon Bugatti
Let’s Tango All Night, and
Gothic Revival
Willowbank has long showcased some of the top names in the Saddlebred world. Not only were there several recognized names, but also some new stallions standing their first season in 2007. The stallions presented at Willowbank included:
Seaforth’s Billion Heir
Samur
Undulata’s Nutcracker, and
Finally Attached
 
Ocean’s Roar Thundergun
The Cheetah
When the buses returned to Claudia Sanders Restaurant, everyone was on their own for dinner. On Friday evening, beginning at 6:33 p.m. (did we say military precision?) Jim Aikman and Dr. Scott Bennett hosted a most informative clinic on showing colts and mare reproductive health. Thrown into the mix were videos of historic Saddlebred show ring greats, more of Aikman’s anecdotes, as well as ASHA’s video “I Can Fly.”
Once again on Saturday morning, a continental breakfast was ready for those who got in bed earlier than this reporter the night before. The buses left promptly at 7:20 with Leatherwood Stud as the eagerly anticipated first stop.
A beautiful farm looking like it would be at home in the English countryside with its picturesque stone barns, Leatherwood is home away from home for an outstanding selection of stallions. In his introduction, Fred Sarver explained that most of the stallions spend a good part of their time outdoors, and most are kept barefoot. A fact all the more impressive as each stallion was led out for the group’s inspection. Despite the chilly weather, Leatherwood’s presentation was held outside and the horses were definitely feeling their oats. Stallions presented at Leatherwood included:
Leatherwood’s Starlight
I’m A New Yorker
Nureyev
(SA) Zoboorvij Commander In Chief, and
Mountainview’s Heir To Fortune
Callaway’s Gold Rush
Callaway’s Northern Kiss
(SA) Tornaado
Double D Ranch was the next stop. Only two stallions were on tap, but they made it well worth the stop. First up was the young stallion Charmed and Bewitched, a full brother to Oceanfront, CH Belleavanti, CH Mercer Raceabout, and others. For those who may have seen Sir William Robert win his world’s championships in harness, watching Dena Lopez guide him down the hallway like a rocket under saddle took people’s breath away.
Bret and Susi Day’s Grey Ridge Farm was the third stop of the day. The Days and their staff pulled out all stops to ensure warm hospitality and beautifully prepared horses. The stallions presented were:
Royal Revival (standing at Blue Willow Stable at Rigby’s Green)
Belle Reve’s Voodoo Magic (standing at Poser Farm)
The Mac Attack
The Sky King
Grey Ridge Heirosmith
Not tiring in the least, everyone loaded back up and were off to Copper Coin Farm. With lively music in the background, the following stallions were energetically presented:
Day of Revival
Wild Eyed Warrior
Promise Keeper
(SA) Dorian Wild Temper
Bess Night Out
Copper Coin’s Contender
Deep Blue
The tour arrives at Alliance Stud
The last stop of the tour was Alliance Stud where Danette Musselman and her staff put on quite a show with each stallion coming out to music especially selected for that horse. Wine was served, and a table was set up for videos and stallion literature. The enormous arena easily accommodated the crowd. Like an assembly line, the following thirteen stallions were presented:
Giovanni Villani
Our Charm
My Magical Moment
Rifles And Roses
Perfect Cover
Simply Majestic
Only Man In Town
Ultimatum
Burning Flame
Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man
General Steel, and
Call Me Ringo
Born Contender
But wait! There was one more four-footed beast to be shown. To the audience’s amusement, out came Megan Thibo with Moses, a seven-month-old camel that had been rescued from a neighboring petting zoo that was closing. Hey, Jim! What would it take for Moses to be entered in the All American Cup?
Moses and Megan Thibo
In all, more than 50 stallions were presented in two days. Several people on the tour remarked that although they had seen videos for some of these horses, nothing takes the place of seeing them live and in person. Where else can this many stallions be viewed in such close proximity?
Although the tour took up the better part of two days, it was simply the opening act for the main event of the “Greatest Show On Earth” … the All American Cup Stallion Service Auction. Back at Claudia Sanders, the All American Cup’s headquarters for the weekend, approximately 200 people gathered for dinner, fellowship, and bidding.
Jim Price, veteran auctioneer, kept a quick pace as 180 stallion services were auctioned in alphabetic order. Stallions not receiving a bid were repurchased by their respective consignors for $500 each.
Under new ownership this year, Undulata’s Nutcracker saw the same result as he topped the sale for the third year in a row. As she signed the ticket for $9,500, Willowbank customer Carole Worthington from Knoxville, Tenn. explained that she already has several Nutcracker babies.
Carole Worthington signs the ticket for Undulata’s Nutcracker
Sir William Robert, sire of the first Weanling Cup winner Mosette, brought the evening’s second highest price for owner Tom Galbreath. Signing the ticket for $8,200 was Joe Lengacher of Grabill, Indiana.
The Licorice Drop Kid VHF, The Mystery Writer, and Simbara's Living Legend each brought $5,000 or more. Click here to see a list of the top selling stallions.
Why are so many people so interested in this auction? The progeny from the mares bred to the stallions whose services were purchased through this auction will be eligible for the Weanling Cup with an estimated purse of $150,000, as well as another estimated $150,000 in the Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Cup. These are the richest purses in the Saddlebred industry.
Jim Aikman is to be congratulated for creating an event that not only has the industry talking, but puts its money where its mouth is.
Jim Aikman and Steve Kildow take a well-deserved after the auction
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