Sale of Siberian Summer Canceled

An auction of stallion Siberian Summer and 13 other horses owned by Mike Power has been canceled.

Power and Special T Thoroughbreds, the Temecula, Calif., farm where Siberian Summer stands, reached an agreement Wednesday that stopped the sale that was scheduled for Sept. 26. Rick Taylor, owner and manager of Special T, pursued the sale to cover expenses accumulated by Power throughout the year.

"There will be no sale of these horses," Taylor said in a prepared statement. "We have amicably settled this agreement with no hard feelings between us. Siberian Summer is a very promising young stallion, as his recent Del Mar stakes winner Siberland just proved, and I am sure he will become one of California's leading sires in the future."

Prior to the settlement, Power disputed the allegations that he did not pay his bills. He contended that the stud fees from Siberian Summer were enough to cover the costs of the stallion and nine mares he kept at Special T.

On Thursday, Power said he will soon send his mares and foals to different farms and is considering sending Siberian Summer to one of three farms that have expressed interest.

"Hopefully, the third time will be the charm," he said. "I probably make a decision within a month. The three farms are all reputable, financially sound farms. That is very important to me since I have been burned by these two farms."

Power had stood Siberian Summer at Jack Liebau's Valley Creek Farm until the after the 2000 breeding season. He moved the horse after alleging that Valley Creek's farm manager Leigh Ann Howard was using artificial insemination. Power complained to The Jockey Club, which conducted an investigation and found nothing. Regarding Special T Thoroughbreds, Power has alleged that the farm pursued the sale of his horses because it was in financial trouble.