Oaks Cocoa Jay was a bay 14.2 hand, registered quarterhorse stallion. He was broken in and started in the field of cutting by Hamish Macallum. Then later an extremely successful partnership with Aaron Wheatley was established which saw Cocoa go on to enjoy a long and successful career in the filed of cutting. Some of his achievements are listed here:
- NCHA Certificate of Ability.
- NCHA Certificate of Merit
- 1996 Victorian Spring Derby - 3rd Place
- 1997 Victorian High Point Novice
- 1999 National Area Shootout - Novice Champion.
- 1999 Equitana Cutting Masters - Champion
- 2001 Equitana Cutting Masters - 3rd place
- 2002 and 2003 Gold Cup - 4th
It is a testament to Cocoa's ability as a cutter that he finished his career having ranked National Top 10 six of his eight years in competition.
Cocoa then moved on to become a sire of successful cutting horses. Both whilst he was still competing and in the ensuing years since his retirement, horses such as the Goondiwiindi futurity winner, Dara Cocoas Preview, highly successful geldings such as Dara Oaks Allota Roc, Dara Still A Rockin, Dara Ima Gunna, Dara Boy Whatta Spin and the mares, Dara Cocoas Image and Dara Lookin Good were produced from the Dara mares.
Cocoa has left us for greener pastures but he will always be remembered here at Dara Quarterhorses for his incredible never say die courage in the cutting pen. We will always be grateful for his unfailing ability to pass his 'cow sense' and his athleticism on to his progeny. We look foward to seeing them continue on in the years to come representing him at the highest levels of the sport of Cutting.
