WE always had horses on the farm in Cummer, near Tuam. My father Jim bred Irish Draughts and Connemara ponies and sold them as two or three-year-olds. He bred the Irish Draught stallion, Mourne Mountain Star.
I started buying youngstock and selling them as three-year-olds. I bought my first broodmare in 1994: a Glacier Mint two-year-old filly and covered Cummer Glory with Cruising. She bred Cummer Cruise, who competed to 1.30m and, when we put her in foal to Ramiro B, she bred Ramiro Cruise, who competed at 1.55m with Edwina Tops-Alexander.
In 2001, we decided to start expanding our breeding programme and I bought my first Clover Hill mare, Cummer Clover, the grandmother of CSF Vendi Cruz (1.60m with Shane Breen).
We bought Olympic Clover and she produced the Zangersheide-approved stallion CSF Olympic Cruz, the seven-year-old CSF Olympic Jewel (1.45m) and is the granddam of CSF Olympic Lady (1.50m).
Another Clover Hill mare, Doolin Clover bred Warrenstown Well Aware (1.50m).
We then bought a couple of Darco mares. Vis Ta Vie Van De Farm bred WCE Cruco (1.60m) and WCE Falco (1.50m), both by Cruising.
Another Darco mare, Princess, bred Paddy’s Dream Z (Picasso Z. 1.60m) and is also the granddam of CSF Princess Blue (Zirocco Blue. 1.50m) and CSF Kilrush (Contendro I. 1.40m).
Our mare Norrira (Cavalier Royale x Diamond Lad) bred Sera Vue (Harlequin du Carel. 1.45m), CSF Mr. Kroon (Kroongraaf. 1.50m), CSF Royal Cruz (Cruising. 1.50m) and CSF Sir George (Sir Shutterfly) the Lanaken five-year-old silver medallist. Norrira is also the grandam of CBI Karhari (Goodluck VDL. 1.45m).
We’ve used the CSF (Connolly Stud Farm) prefix since 2007 to follow the progress and performance of our stock.
1. Congratulations - another phenomenal year for CSF James Kann Cruz (Kannan - CSF Telly Cruz) and Shane Sweetnam. Tell us about his background?
In 2002, we expanded our broodmare herd and bought Tell Of Clover, a team gold medallist and individual fourth for Switzerland at the European young riders championships.
She bred CSF Telly Clover (Ars Vivendi) and CSF Telly Cruz (Cruising), the dam of CSF James Kann Cruz, named after our first grandson James.
We sold James Kann Cruz as a foal to Mary and Ann Gannon, who produced him up to 1.50m in Ireland, then he was sold to Gizmo Partners LLC for Shane Sweetman to compete.
We’d like to congratulate Shane and Team Ireland on winning a European team silver medal this year.
CSF Telly Cruz also bred CSF Vinze (Luidam. 1.50m); James Kann Cruz’s full-brother CSF Kan Cruz (1.45m); the full-brothers CSF Jackpot (1.40m), a seven-year-old and the year-younger CSF McGregor (1.30m), both by Glasgow van’t Merelsnest and more youngstock.
Her 2023 foal CSF Good Vibes (Goodluck VDL) was the Cavan Elite Sales sales topper, when he was sold for €38,000 to McLain Ward and Eamon Hughes and he has recently arrived in America.
The Connolly clan with CSF Telly Cruz: Dolly and Patrick, Pauline and Brian, Shane and Mags and grandchildren: Alison, James, Jack and Megan \ Susan Finnerty
2. Proudest breeder moments?
Winning the RDS leading breeder award at the 2013 Dublin Horse Show is definitely one, back then we didn’t realise how unique it was to win this award.
The family photo with the Aga Khan Trophy and Shane last year is another and then, just how lucky we are to have bred such a successful horse as CSF James Kann Cruz.
3. And this year’s highlights?
There are always good and bad years with horses, but thankfully, this was a good one. Having CSF James Kann Cruz and Shane compete in the Aga Khan Cup for the second year, when the Irish team finished second. It’s just every Irish breeders dream to breed an Aga Khan horse.
Then, they won a team silver medal at the European championships, won their first World Cup qualifier at Lexington and competed in the Rolex IJRC Top-10 final in Geneva recently.
It was a good year too for other CSF-bred horses, including CSF Hi Spec (Ars Vivendi), who competed in the European junior championships.
4. 2023 was also another successful one for the CSF team at the sales?
Having the top-priced foals (CSF Good Vibes and CSF Harrison) at the Supreme Sale of Show Jumpers in Barnadown and the Elite Foal Sale at Cavan in the one year was a first-time double for us.
5. Patrick was a guest speaker at the Irish Horse Board marketing conference in November. A good day out?
A great day, a very interesting panel of speakers and the presentation for breeding CSF James Kann Cruz was very much appreciated.
6. How many broodmares are in the current CSF herd?
We have 25 mares and 22 are in foal. It’s a long list!
Three mares - CSF Natasha (Carrera x Norrira), CSF Dolores (Ars Vivendi x CSF Doorn Cruise) and James Kann Cruz’s half-sister CSF Ali’s Diamond (Diamant de Semilly x CSF Telly Cruz) are in foal to Tangelo.
Call Me Cool Z (Clinton x Carianda) and CSF Kayla (Kannan x CSF Quickpick) are both in foal to Chacoon Blue. Likewise, we have two mares: CSF Princess Ida (ARS Vivendi x Princess) and CSF Nicole (Cardento VDL x CSF Kylie) in foal to Grandorado TN.
Another of James Kann Cruz’s half-sister’s CSF Ali’s J (Diamant de Semilly x CSF Telly Cruz) is in foal to All Star and we also did an embryo transfer with her to Contagious.
Then there’s Angie Van Paemel (Darco x Feinschnitt) in foal to CSF Castlelawn Emerald.
CSF Telly Cruz gets into the festive spirit for her photoshoot with the four Connolly grandchildren: James (holding the ‘queen’), Jack, Megan and Alison \ Susan Finnerty
7. You bought your first broodmare Cummer Glory 29 years ago. Breeding sport horses, would you do it all over again?
Yes, I love breeding and it has been very good to us. We have made great friends and have enjoyed so many good days. It is hard work and takes a long time to build up your broodmare herd, but I wouldn’t change it.
8. Christmas Day plans in the Connolly households?
Open all Santa’s presents first, then doing the usual feeding on the farm (with extra feed being the day that it is) and afterwards, we all get together for turkey and a few festive drinks ’til the early hours.
9. An Irish Ferries ticket to France could be an ideal present under the Connolly Christmas tree. Any other Christmas wishes?
Our wish for Christmas is good health and happiness and looking forward to 2024 being another successful year for CSF.
10. Galway Bay FM is playing Christmas tunes, what’s your request?
The favourite Christmas song has to be Shane McGowan’s Fairytale of New York.