A WELL-grown filly foal from an instantly recognisable family landed the top honours at Cavan last week. Changing hands at €7,000, the Ciaran Ward-consigned filly was the standout in a somewhat inconsistent day’s trading, which saw the clearance close at 55%.
Selling to a selective clientele, this figure mirrored that of 12 months ago, but more encouragingly, the average rose to €3,244 in comparison to €2,924. Once more, it came as no surprise to see a two-tier trade throughout. Looking at the positives, 13 foals equalled or made in excess of €3,000, but less satisfactorily and despite lively competition for the better lots, this figure was less than a third of those on offer.
Sale topper
Ciaran Ward’s broodmare Donogue Cavalier Girl has been a lucky mare throughout her breeding career and, now rising 23, she has produced yet another sale topping foal in a filly (Lot 221) by Chacoon Blue.
From a stout performance family, she has 14 registered progeny to date, among which is the Cameron Hanley-ridden Good Lux Lucy (1.50m), as well as the Danish-based Donogue Doctor George (1.40m). Another is the American ridden Ladies Man (1.35m), while more recently, her last year’s foal by Another Pleasure won the HSI foal championship at Coilog.
“It was a grand price on the day,” commented the Co Longford-based vendor. “She’s been a good mare to us, and is back in foal - this time to Another Pleasure.”
Signing the sale’s docket was Cookstown producer Richard McIvor, who remarked afterwards. “Something drew me towards her and I liked both the pedigree and her step. I hoped I could have bought her a bit cheaper but it wasn’t to be.
"The plan from here is to store her, break her and to produce under saddle – hopefully she turns out to be a good one.”
Notables
With show jumping pedigrees to the fore, Kayleigh Soden’s attractively bred Affinity LR (Lot 207) was next in line at €6,000. Another offering from the ‘Winter Collection’ of foals with notable bloodlines, the son of Andiamo Semilly was out of the former RDS six-year-old champion and Lanaken campaigner CBI Bella Donna (1.40m).
Co Kilkenny show jumper Taylor Cummins was at ringside to secure this smart colt, who also hails from the illustrious family of Wodiena Van de Somme (1.60m).
The pinhookers were out in force, and battling for the remaining major lots, it was Trade Horses Ltd who secured Sean Healey’s smart Mendoza colt (Lot 281) at €5,700 and earlier Gemma Phelan, who accounted for Jackie Lee’s Balou du Rouet-sired colt (Lot 216) at €5,200.
The former is the third recorded foal out of Baba Yaga (Orestus), who has since been covered by Flexible. The latter meanwhile, is a half-brother to a Tyson-sired colt who realised €5,500 at the equivalent renewal last year, and is out of Kinlough Rose (Ard VDL Douglas), a sister to Jane Arnett’s Hold Up (1.50m), as well as MBF Mandino (1.45m).
Others to catch the eye included Joe Walsh’s colt (Lot 234) by Sligo Candy Boy at €4,500 and Adrian Hurst’s Tattygare Mickenix (Lot 210), who looked well-bought by Thomas Quigley at €4,400.
Top returns