The Circle J Futurity Weekend Warms Up Colorado For 2007
Monday, February 5, 2007
by Diana Davidson
GREENWOOD VILLIAGE, Colo.- The Denver area bore a strong resemblance to Siberia after three consecutive weekend snowstorms and temperatures hovering around zero. However, the weather did nothing to faze the area’s loyal and dedicated Morgan owners, breeders and trainers from their well-planned weekend of festivities centered around the Circle J Futurity Stallion Service Auction.
The Circle J Futurity and its annual auction held during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, have set the standard in the industry. Since the first auction in 1994, there have been many records set and trends started here. The 2007 edition was no exception.
Cindy and David Vogels were the exceptionally gracious hosts on Friday evening, Jan. 12. They once again opened their fabulous Greenwood Village home to welcome everyone to Colorado. The guests marveled at the culinary creations Cindy prepared in the kitchen which were accompanied by cocktails, wine and great conversation. Those in attendance from Colorado and around the country certainly enjoyed a great start to the weekend at Andover Morgan Horse Farm thanks to the Vogels.
Saturday’s activities started off with a trip to Elizabeth, Colo., for a well-attended open barn and presentation at The River’s Edge. With the thermometer still struggling to rise above zero outside, Mary Cockriel and Bob Kellert made sure to warm things up at The River’s Edge. The immaculate barn was warmed up nicely, the buffet kept everyone well fed and the best was yet come.
Bill Carrington took his familiar place on the microphone to introduce 16 present and future champions presented by The River’s Edge. The presentation was anchored by 2006 Reserve World Champion Stallion TRE Master Of Disguise, who performed in hand with Bob Kellert to start and in harness with owner Deborah Phelan to cap off the exciting presentation. Phelan’s other magnificent stallion, Lookaway’s High Roller, had the audience cheering him on as well. Phelan also rode her recently acquired Grand National Champion Whispering Masqued Man, while Mary Cockriel did the honors with Phelan’s newest addition, the brilliant Belle Escada.
Monty Kugeler also enjoyed a great ride on her lovely new mare AMHF Missiplicity, while Bob Kellert modeled Kugeler’s handsome stallion Queen’s Johnny Angel. Vince LeMaster and HR Perfectly Clear matched up for a fine drive for Cricket Coleman, while Jay Kleiber took over the lines of Noteworthy’s Nobel Heir for a crowd-pleasing drive. Kleiber along with Julie Ouska are excited about their Ridgewood Farm prospects including the Beethoven yearling colt RWF Paganini who posed for the approving audience.
The Charles Buller family enjoyed another fun weekend in Colorado as they watched a trio of their promising youngsters perform. 2006 Grand National Reserve Champion Yearling Colt RWF Noble Peace, the outstanding yearling colt ECP Anchor Man sired by LPS The Boogie Man and the lovely three-year-old MWR Myskinetics all enjoyed center stage.
Sisters Kristen and Lauren Wade did a great job with their mares as Kristen rode her new partner Plum Haven Minuet, while younger sister Lauren took over the reins of AMHF Double Miss C. David and Cindy Vogels’ breeding program has produced many champions and the Mainframe son AMHF Mister Gates is looking to add his name to the list. Alison Bendele had a great time speeding around the arena as she and RRG Margarita look toward adding the roadster under saddle division to their repertoire.
Following the presentation many other clients and visitors enjoyed watching some other exciting prospects and catching up on the winter happenings in the Morgan industry.
The weekend concluded with the main attraction as a large and enthusiastic crowd gathered at the fabulously appointed Inverness Hotel in Englewood, Colo., for the Circle J Futurity Stallion Service Auction. The Circle J Futurity began as a way to promote the breeding and marketing of top Morgans within and outside of the region. The 2007 Futurity co-chairs Marilyn Esteb and Julie Ouska have worked tirelessly to attract many of the Morgan breed’s top breeding stallions to the auction and continue the success of this program that has attracted the attention and admiration of this industry.
After everyone mingled and enjoyed a delicious dinner buffet, it was time for the main attraction. Bill Carrington once again served as the evening’s master of ceremonies and auctioneer. Several fine products and services donated by members of the Morgan industry were first up for bid with $4,100 of the proceeds of the evening going to benefit the Circle J Horse Show, the site of the Circle J Futurity each July.
The excitement continued to build as 2007 breeding services to 31 of the nation’s top Morgan breeding stallions were up for bid. With a room filled with eager bidders and a large number of phone bids as well, the evening concluded with over $100,000 raised by the Circle J Futurity and the prize fund for the resulting yearlings eligible for the 2009 Circle J Futurity.
For the second year in a row the top bid of the evening was for the service to TRE Master Of Disguise with Charles Buller again securing the breeding for $8,700. Buller and his Fortress Crest Morgans also had the second highest bid for 2007 World Champion Stallion Mizrahi at $7,100 along with the breedings to nine other stallions.
Gail Bratz of Stove Prairie Ranch, a staunch supporter of the Futurity and former chair, made the third highest winning bid of the evening at $6,500 for Minion Millennium as well as a bid of $5,000 for Astronomicallee. Three-time World Champion Stallion LPS The Boogie Man, who topped the auction in 2005, drew strong bidding with Debra Hurst Walters making the winning bid of $6,000. With world titles in hand, harness and saddle, El-Toro drew a bid of $5,900 with Dr. Robert Jones securing the breeding over the phone.
Ridgewood Farm looks to continue their breeding success as they purchased six stallion services as well as a “Name Your Own Mare” slot. Jay Kleiber and Julie Ouska signed the tickets for Ridgewood, which included Stand And Deliver at $5,300 and DBA Street Talk at $5,000.
The winning bidders for each of the 31 stallion services as well as the four “Name Your Own Mare” slots look forward to the prospects of winning the top prize at the Circle J Futurity in 2009. Thanks to the generosity of the stallion owners and other donors as well as the evening’s bidders as the Circle J Futurity looks to continue to set records and trends in the Morgan industry for years to come.
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