SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- An Arabian stallion made history in Scottsdale on Tuesday night when it sold for $2.8 million as the world's highest selling Arabian horse at a public auction, said Laura Ames at Cedar Ridge Farms in Scottsdale.

Ames said the previous record was $2.4 million in the 1980s.

The horse, Baske Afire, is "perfection," according to horse expert Crystal Rae Coddington.

"You know how Carol Shelby's special car went for $5 million at Barrett-Jackson? This is kind of like our Carol Shelby," said Coddington. “He's had performance and halter champions as babies."

Baske Afire’s trainer, Jim Stachowski of Cedar Ridge Farm, agrees.

"He's one of the most special horses in the breed," said Stachowski. "He's a brilliant, most intelligent and beautiful horse."

Barbara Chur, the purchaser of the horse, said buying Baske Afire was a dream come true.

"I never dreamed in a million years that he would ever be for sale or that I would own him," Chur said.

Chur plans to take the 9-year-old stallion to a farm in either New York or Ohio.

The previous owner had to sell because of personal health problems.

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