Reader's Digest, Price Highlight at 2006 Vechta Spring Elite Auction

Sun, 04/01/2007 - 00:00
Vechta Auction News

Through his trainer Norbert van Laak, Brazilian Dr. Jorge de la Rocha purchased the price highlight of the 2007 Vechta Spring Elite Auction. The grey stallion Reader's Digest, a Royal Diamond x Dream of Heidelberg offspring bred by the Belgian Marcel de Wilde, sold for 150,000 euro to Dr. de la Rocha.

Van Laak's wife, Eva Schülte-Günne, will be training the young stallion. (editor's note: Reader's Digest was later renamed Renaissance Tyme)

The second most expensive sold to the sponsor of Martina Hannover-Sternberg. She purchased Donna Medici (Don Larino x Rouletto) for 140,000 euro. The licensed stallion Weltclassiker (Wolkentanz II x Goldstern) sold for 120,000 euro to the Spanish Pepe de la Lastra. Spanish Grand Prix rider Laura Yubero Preito bought Rialto Star (Royal Diamond x Castro) for 64,500 euro.

The 68-year old horse dealer Bernhard Schaerffer bought Friedensreiter (Florestan x Rubinstein) for 85,000 euro after a bidding duel with Spanish buyers. He also purchased Wonderful Dream (Weltissimo x Royal Angelo I).

American A-team rider Arlene "Tuny" Page, who was competing in the U.S. League Finals in Burbank, CA, during the auction, bought the Rastede Brilliantring mare Donna Latina (by Don Larino x Florestan), owned by American Holly Simensen, for 50,000 euro.

On his first visit to the Vechta Elite Auction, the six-time Indian Dressage Champion Kapil Modi purchased the black gelding Point to Point (Pik Noir x Don Gregory) for 30,000 euro. The Sandro Hit x Donnerhall son Solitär sold for 56,000 euro to Karl-Heinz Reipen from New Zealand.

57 riding horses were sold at the Vechta spring elite auction and they achieved a total turnover of 1,655,500 euro. The average price for a horse was 29,044 euro. 50% of the horses sold abroad.