2008 Iowa Gold Star and Iowa Fall Classic

Teamwork makes the Dream Work

Teamwork, Excellence and Adventure: These words define the very nature of Midwest Training Centre. David Boggs and his incredible Team, once again, worked around the clock to pull off a weekend that few others would dare attempt, with success that none other has achieved to date.

The 2008 Iowa Gold Star and Magnum Futurityover Labor Day Weekend was literally jam packed with events and activities that left its attendees reeling over the excitement of it all.

The weekend began with a cock tail party just prior to a presentation of Midwest’s Iowa Gold Star nominated Sires, a parade of stallions––hosted by Pete & Trish Kessler of Don Manuel Farms at the Midwest stalls––in which Midwest dazzled the crowd by joining together––in the ring––(instead of sending the traditional one by one) National Champions *Fausto with Alcides Rodriguez, LD Pistal with Greg Hazelwood, *Maddox Van Ryad and Robin Hopkinson, rhr Marcedes with Travis Rice and DaVinci fm with Ricardo Rivero.

Immediately following that presentation, Michele Pfeifer and David Halsch hosted a second cocktail party for 5 times National Champion, da Valentino. The crowd received an up close and personal visit with the Regal Champion while the tunes of some of the worlds top Love Songs were played by the live disc jockey, in honor of Valentino’s “Got Love?” ad and show campaign. Partygoers danced into the night and enjoyed each other’s company over sumptuous desserts and an atmosphere of camaraderie. The following morning the premier newspaper, the Des Moines Register, published a wonderful feature on the great stallion and the couple whose hearts he holds, Michele Pfeifer and David Halsch––who both have their roots in Iowa.

On Friday evening, the long awaited and prestigious Magnum Psyche Futurity, hosted by Fernando de Santibanes of Haras Mayed of Argentina, overflowed with more than 1000 spectators, including a new array of first time Arabian horse onlooker, Channel 13, Fox News, KCCI Channel 8, RFD TV, and PBN were there filming all the activities and waiting for that first sight of the stallion that had brought so many international friends together that special evening, The king…Magnum himself!

Among the horses attending to honor their sire in this fabulous event representing Magnum, was a parade of the likes of National Champions *JJ La Estrella, NBW Angels Kiss, GAA Millenia , DD Crown Jewel, and the up and coming JJ Bellagio just for starters.

Following the spectacular array of champions, the Yearling Futurity Colts and Fillies entered the stage and were presented to the international group of judges, Mr. Vicco Rocco of Brazil, Mr. Bob Boggs, and Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton.

The Yearling colt unanimous Champion on all three judges cards was *LC Prince Magnum, owned by The McGlinn family of Mystica Arabians, Perth Australia and bred by Lady Gina Pelham of Estancia la Catalina, Argentina. The Reserve Champion colt was Xanthuss, owned by new breeders Todd and Glenna Weegens of Freeport Illinois and was bred by Cedar Ridge Arabians, The remaining Top five colts were Montenegro C, owned and bred by Rhoda Coleal of California; HJ Magnumel Shah owned and bred by Shelley Brinkert Hjelm of Iowa; Magnum Medici III, owned by Oakridge Arabians.

The Yearling Filly Champion was the exquisite Divine Destinee GA, recently purchased by Jim & Sally Bedeker and bred by Cedar Ridge Arabians, The Reserve Champion filly was Dejavue HBV, imported from Brazil, owned by and bred by Luciano Cury of Haras Boa Vista, Brazil

The remaining Top Five fillies were, Alizee UA, owned and bred by Jennifer & Richard Fett of Michigan; KBT Kharra Mokha, owned by Kirk and Debra Thorn; Simply Margo, owned by Sherman and Elaine Miller. All in all it was a glorious evening and a fitting tribute to the breed’s great stallion, Magnum Psyche.

*The Iowa Gold Star Auction classes and The Iowa Fall Classic show promised more terrific success for Team Midwest.

Grand Champion Stallion – *Maddox Van Ryad
Grand Champion Mare – *LL Albufera
Junior Champion Colt at the Fall Iowa Classic– Eccentric Valentino
Reserve Junior Champion Colt – Phantom JD
Junior Champion Filly – Gabriella ORA
Grand Champion Gelding – Fortunate VF
Champion Half-Arabian Yearling Gelding – RHR Campus King
Champion Half-Arabian Gelding – Barossa LRA
Champion Half-Arabian Mare – Rhula
Champion Yearling Colt at The Iowa Gold Star Futurities – Xanthus
Champion Yearling Filly at the Iowa Gold Star Futurities – Divine Destinee GA

Immediately following classes was an afternoon bar-b-que hosted by Jim and Sally Bedeker celebrating their exquisite champion Da Vinci fm and the exciting Brazilian import *Maddox Van Ryad.

Early Saturday afternoon, David Boggs and company took Valentino “downtown” . . . to the massive Meredith Corporation Campus at the heart of Des Moines where the magnificent stallion was presented to Michele Pfeifer’s family and a crowd of Meredith employees. The visit was a very special one for Michele whose great grandfather, Edwin T. Meredith founded Meredith Publishing in the early 1900’s. All in attendance were thrilled to “meet” the spectacular Valentino in person.

The Iowa Gold Star Stallion Service Auction completed the weekend by breaking all previous records and topped over $433,000.00 in bids.

The Midwest Stallions included in the Auction were, Lot # 1, Da Vinci fm opening the festivities with a final bid of $20,000 followed by the likes of such greats as the upcoming Vegas dpa and the great ld Pistal, bf Renaissance, *Fausto, *Giovanni Chall, JJ Bellagio, *Maddox Van Ryad, *lc Prince Magnum, *Mister Style jm, Nations psy, JJ Senor Magnum, Prince Valentino sra, rhr Marcedes, Eccentric Valentino, *Ryad el Jamal, Baske Afire, Legacy of Fame, da Valentino and Magnum Psyche. The total amount of monies earned by the Midwest Stallions was $ 218,500 with Magnum Psyche breaking the all time record of $50,000 for his breeding right purchased by Jim and Sally Bedeker of Gemini Arabians.

If the excitement of the stallion auction wasn’t enough — the atmosphere of the Pirate costume party tipped the scales bringing new meaning to the phrase: “Party like a Pirate!”

Most of the Team Midwest crew showed up in boots, bandanas, eye patches, and dreadlocks, putting the outstanding Johnny Depp impersonator who came as Captain Jack Sparrow, to shame with their outrageous costumes!

A Special Thank you to the hard working talents of the Iowa Gold Star Committee