AS the early 2016 foals begin to hit the ground, we asked breeders to give us a sneak peak at the foals they are expecting and plans for the coming breeding season.

West of Ireland breeder Patrick Connolly told us about the breeding plans for seven of his mares at Connolly Stud Farm in Cummer, Co Galway.

His mare Vis Ta Vie Van De Farm (Darco – Roxanne Van De Farm, by Gottwald) is not carrying a foal currently and is set to go to Indoctro for her 2017 foal.

Bianca Vd Rampaarden (Darco – Noemi Vd Breemeersen, by Redford) is due to foal down to Womanizer this year and will go to that stallion’s newest colleague at Kylemore Stud, Tyson.

CSF Quick Pick (Quick Star – Ambitiously, by Voltaire) is in foal to Zirocco Blue VDL and will return to him again this year.

Another Connolly mare to go to the same sire, Glasgow Van’t Merelsnet VDL, for her 2015 and 2016 breeding season is CSF Telly Cruz (Cruising – Tell of Clover, by Clover Hill).

Highlighted in Marcus O’Donnell’s research as one of the last dams by Clover Hill, Olympic Clover (Clover Hill – Kubla Khan, by Sky Boy) is currently in foal to My Lord Carthago but will go the traditional Irish Sport Horse route in 2016, when she is set to be bred to Flexible.

The homebred mare CSF Lady At Last (Ars Vivendi – Vis Ta Vie Van De Farm, by Darco) is in foal to Cape Coral and will go to Kannan for the 2016 breeding season.

Finally, Angie Van Paemel (Darco – Querida Mia Van Paemel, by Feinschnitt Z) is in foal to Romanov and is scheduled to be bred to Cornet Obolensky this season.

Brothers Niall and Andrew Hughes of Ennisnag Stud in Co Kilkenny have two mares due to foal down to Lamm De Fetan. Halona De La Vie (Tampa – Aralou, by Charmer) will return to Lamm De Fetan again in 2016, while their former Dublin winner Arabella (Heartbreaker – Lady Kilkenny Cavalier, by Cavalier Royale) will go to Cardento for her 2017 foal.

Cyndara (Quidam Junior – Lady Kilkenny Cavalier, by Cavalier Royale) is in foal to Plot Blue and is destined for a date with Cornet Obolensky this breeding season, while Echo Beach (Clover Echo – Gifted, by Cavalier Royale) is in foal to Indoctro and will go to either Toulon or Singular LS La Silla this year.

ESI Flow (Warrant – Inspiration, by Balboa) is due to foal down to Plot Blue and Vigo d’Arsouilles has been pencilled in beside her name for 2016. Hanna vd Bischopp (Tinka’s Boy – Aphrodite d’Arsouilles, by Nabab De Reve) is in foal to Quality Time and will go to Indoctro this time around.

John McKibbin of Leestone Sport Horses has access to wide range of stallions through his semen supply business and already has a foal by Vigo on the ground out of Ultien V (Voltaire – Corrie, by Irco Polo). His intention is to use Emerald on her this time around.

Acajou Van Het Klosterhof (Heartbreaker – Lisa, by Ramiro Z) has foaled down to Connor and is set to go to Dominator this year.

Leestone Cassini (Cassini l – Thetis C by Corrado I) is in foal to Cornet Obolensky and will return to him again this year, while Crosskeys Cavalier (Cavalier Royale – Khan Diamonds, by Diamonds Are Trumps) will be inseminated with some of the last Cruising straws McKibbin has left or Coronet Obolensky.

Zidane VM (Heartbreaker – Paranda, by Zeus) has Emerald written beside her name for 2016.

Lastly, Ballintogher Whattababe (Cruising – Clover’s Lass by Clover Hill) was due to foal down this week to Singular La Silla.

Depending on the result of that pairing, McKibbin will return to that sire again or try Dieu Merci, a young stallion by Toulon that he rates highly.

50 MARES

Cheryl Broderick of Ballypatrick Stables in Co Tipperary told The Irish Field about some of the 50 mares they will handle this year for breeding.

First up was the multiple Grand Prix winner Mrs Quinn (Laughtons Flights x Sky Boy). She will be covered with Emerald, Presley Boy and Elvis Per Tuttle this year, having already produced foals by Cardento, Emilion, Dignified and Vigo D’Arsouilles by embryo transfer.

Ballypatrick Flight (Laughtons Flight x Cavalier Royale) is a half-sister to MHS Going Global and a 1.50m jumper in her own right. Her Elvis Ter Putte colt foal topped the 2015 Irish Breeders Classic foal sale at €22,000 and she is currently in foal to Quidam Junior but will be covered by Emerald and Diamant De Semilly this year.

Maja (Ragazzo x Argentinus) jumped to 1.50m had what is believed to be one of the only Presley Boy foals in Ireland last year and will be covered by Big Star and Presley Boy this year.

Linzi Johnston’s recently retired multiple Grand Prix winner Uptown Girl (Concord x Ahorn) will be covered by both Plot Blue and Emerald this year.

Noel Cawley’s Irco Rain (Irco Mena – Bahrain May, by Bahrain) has already produced three Nations Cup horses in Mullaghdrin Gold Rain, Touchable and Touch The Stars and she is set to be covered by Kannan and For Pleasure this year.

Aziza W (Carinjo x Carthago) is a joint venture between Bertram Allen and Greg Broderick and has already produced a foal by Kannan, also sire to Allen’s Molly Malone V. She will return to Kannan, as well as Emerald and Stakato Gold for embryos this year.

Sticking with the Nations Cup theme, MHS Going Global’s unnamed full-sister will go to Diamant De Semilly this year, while his half sister by Kannan will be covered by Presley Boy.

Finally, Ballypatrick Eve (Cruising x Ginger Holly) has bred a four-year-old stallion by Plot Blue that Greg has high hopes for, as well as embryos by Diamant De Semilly. This year she goes to Vigo D’Arsouilles for further embryos.

Paula Cullen, breeder of 2014 Badminton Horse Trials winner Paulank Brockagh, also revealed the breeding plans for seven of her traditional mares.

Gemini Jessie (Loughehoe Guy – Glidawn Interest, by Glidawn Diamond) is in foal to Superior Premium and Cullen has yet to decide between a full thoroughbred or traditional Irish Sport Horse date for her in 2016.

Liberty Belle (Huntingfield Rebel – Pride Of Kildalton, by Prospect Pride) is in foal to Kiltealy Silver and the question for 2016 is whether she will go to Dilshaan or Nazar.

Paulank Calla Lilly (Ghareeb – Calendar Girl, by Triggerero) is in foal to Jumbo, while Paulank Havannah (Billies Bank – Richmondlea Delia, by Crosstown Dancer) is not carrying a foal this year. A definite sire choice has not been made for either mare but he will come from the Slyguff Stud stable of sires, according to Cullen.

Paulank Kimble (Cruising – Calendar Girl, by Triggerero) is not in foal but is earmarked to go to Island Commander, while Wilsons Imp (Kings Master – Cregaun Beauty, by Nad Elsheba) is also empty and is possibly going to Clover Brigade.

Finally, we asked Barbara Hatton of Slyguff Stud in Co Carlow about her breeding plans for 2016.

Carnival Mistress (Kings Master – Carnival Abbey, by Carnival Night) is in foal to Nazar and is earmarked for covering by Pointilliste, while Slyguff Anika (Master Imp – Trumpet Major, by Diamonds Are Trumps) is carrying his foal and return to him again.

Diamond Diablo (All The Diamonds – Castle Ginger, by Ginger Dick) is in foal to Golden Master and will either go back to him or go Golden Master, while Marbridge Lady (Laughtons Flight – Park Prince Lady, by Legaun Prince) is in foal to Pointilliste and will be covered by Golden Master this time around.

The full-sisters Slyguff Jewel and Slyguff Royal Queen (Kings Master – Peace Queen, by Broken Hearted) will go to Nazar and Pointilliste.