TOP-PRICED FOALS

THERE appears to be no end to the demand for top jumping-bred foals, and dominating the specialist renewals was the Elite Foal sale at Cavan.

Staged during the big show in September, the edition closed with an impressive top return of €31,000 and, in line with the quality of the catalogue, a further four lots smashed the €20,000 bench mark. Now in its 12th year, this popular fixture attracted yet another high-class entry of pre-selected foals and, while the figures dipped slightly from 12 months ago, it was a lively night and an undoubted success.

Almost every one of the foals on offer carried a blacktype pedigree, and one maternal line that delivers commercial success year after year, is the progeny from Declan and Ciara Phelan’s top 1.60m jumping mare Biscaya d’Eversem (Sheyenne De Baugy). The dam of the 2022 sale-topper, and runner up 12 months ago, she was represented by an outstanding colt by the popular Diamant de Semilly. Now 23 years old, the mare has already bred Full Speed D’Eversem (1.35m), while the second dam also competed to 1.60m and has bred Capacity D’Eversem (1.60m). Realising the night’s best price of €31,000, the colt was secured by an Irish ‘cash’ buyer.

In the closing stages of the same evening, a further two foals realised €27,000 apiece. Co Limerick’s DJ O’Sullivan (Bulimba Sport Horses) accounted for the Roundabout Stud’s filly by Ermitage Kalone (dam by Eros Platiere), while just two lots later, Samantha Fegan’s colt Berkleys Telesto by Cornet Obolensky (dam by Casco) was secured by Co Wexford show jumper and producer Shane Kenny.

At the Goresbridge Irish Breeders’ Classic sale in September, the top return of €15,000 was also healthy and fell to John McKibbin’s Leestone Cheers Patricia, a filly by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve out of Leestone Cavalenski (Cornet Obolensky).

A few weeks later, the popular Mayo and Roscommon breeders’ group staged a satisfying renewal at Glenamaddy, where the colt Acrehill Protaganix by Aganix du Seigneur out of Verona B (Valeron) scooped the best price of €13,000.

In the country

Summing up in just a few words, the foal trade in the country could be described as extremely strong in parts, but very tricky in others.

That said, the figures showed very little change from both 12 and 24 months ago, with clearances closing at around 50% and with far too many foals selling for less than €1,000.

At the better end of the market, local breeder Pat Kehoe scooped a healthy return at Goresbridge in October, when his ABC Rock Anthem, a colt by Hardrock Z out of ABC Tiny Dancer (Mermus R) sold for of €16,500. One of the obvious catalogue stand outs, this colt was out of a half-sister to no less than five top-ranked international show jumpers, including ABC Quantum Cruise (1.60m), ABC Private Jet (1.60m), ABC Cortana Cruise, as well as former Lanaken six-year-old world champion, ABC Saving Grace.

ABC Rock Anthem, a well related colt by Hardrock Z out of ABC Tiny Dancer sold for €16,500

At the revived one-day foal sale at Goresbridge in December, Pat Finn’s aptly named FSH Phenomenal also made the headlines at €15,000. A precocious and independent colt by Chacco Blue, he was out of the KWPN-registered mare Elandra by the thoroughbred Coconut Grove.

The Tuam-based Connolly family are never very far from the business end of proceedings and, at Goresbridge in October, it was Shane Connolly’s CFS Evita who proved the pick of the fillies at €14,200. A deep, well-made foal, bearing the renowned Connolly presentation and production, she was by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of CSF Jazzy Lady (Kannan).