Selling late into the night, Cavan staged another bumper edition of their annual Elite foal sale last Thursday. The evening 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 twelfth year, this popular fixture attracted yet another high-class entry of pre-selected foals, and while the figures dipped slightly from twelve months ago, it was a lively night and an undoubted success.
Selling late into the night, Cavan staged another bumper edition of their annual Elite foal sale last Thursday. The evening 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 twelfth year, this popular fixture attracted yet another high-class entry of pre-selected foals, and while the figures dipped slightly from twelve months ago, it was a lively night and an undoubted success.
Statistically, twenty-one foals changed hands from twenty-eight forward, leading to a clearance of 75% (81% in 2023) together with an average of €14,619 (€15,368).
Sale toppers
Almost every one of the foals on offer hailed from a black type pedigree, and one bloodline 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 twelve months, she was represented last week by an outstanding colt by the popular Diamant de Semilly.
Now twenty-three 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, 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.
The latter was the result of a frozen embryo bought on the continent and is out of the Rodrigo Pessoa ridden CSIO5* nations cup mare Tinkabell 12 (1.60m) who is a sister to John McGuinness’s Talent (1.50m).
Lot 1077, Carrickview Cotique, was the top priced three-year-old sold €26,500 at the Goresbridge September Sales. \ Sally Parkyn
Probably the breeder with the most to celebrate was Dundalk based vendor Brian Kearney. Represented by two colts, he landed a €26,000 return with his JFJ Phoenix by Dominator Z and later picked up €21,500 for another colt JFJ Perfection, by Chacco Blue.
Carrying a top dam’s line, both foals are out of the 1.50m jumping mare A L’Amour de Longpre (Heartbreaker) who having been sourced in England, is a sibling to the 1.60m horses Quat de Longpre and Quarnak de Longpre, and also to Vie Ta Vie de Longpre (1.50m).
Both were snapped up by jumping customers, with the former heading to the Co Limerick yard of regular buyer Carl Dore while the latter was secured by the American based Tamarack Ridge Farms.
The remaining prices ranged from €6,000 to €16,000.
Goresbridge
In a contrast to the outstanding trade for older stock in week one, the second week at the Goresbridge September sales was a trickier affair.
Confined to three-year-olds, the demand over the three days proved selective, and while there were a number of truly creditable returns, the majority of breeders and producers found the going tough.
One who did celebrate was George Campbell whose gelding by the Pegase Van’t Ruytershof headed a lively final session at €26,500. His sale was one of five lots to land five figure prices and contributed to a set of returns, that in terms of clearance (57%) was identical to that of twelve months ago.
The biggest disappointment however was illustrated by the average, which dipping to €3,658 (€4,547) probably reflected the quality on offer. It was not all bad news however, as in line with the increased catalogue and the storming trade in week one, the six-day turnover significantly hiked to €2,549,150.
Honours
Selling late on the final afternoon, George and Jordan Campbell’s Carrickview Cotique took the sale topping honours by a distance.
A son of the popular Pegase Van’t Ruytershof, he was sourced as a foal from his breeder John Haughey in Co Armagh, and is the first progeny out of the Belgian bred mare Larcotique Van Dael by For Passion V Ive Z (by For Pleasure).
Both the dam (1.35m) and the grandam (1.40m) competed internationally, and hoping that this smart sort will emulate them, he was secured by Co Tyrone show jumping owner Derek Reid of Electro Tech Machinery.
Round up
Next in line at €16,000 was Richard Power’s Cillbhrid Buddy, another gelding by Pegase Van’t Ruytershof out of the very well related black type mare Cillbhrid Babe (Luidam).
He was secured by KM Sport Horses (Clokemar Ltd), while earlier in the proceedings Co Wexford pin hooker Henry Foley paid €14,50 for PJ Kearns’ homebred Acragar Quality Star by Conticco.
Jumping breeding and presentation proved a premium, and the remaining lots to realise five figures were Gareth Clingham’s Emerald sired gelding and Gina Hamill’s well related gelding Rubico by Liamant W VDL.
At €14,000 the former looked well bought by show jumping producers John Kearney and Martin Egan, while the latter, who was imported as a foal, was snapped up by Co Wicklow show jumping owner Pat Costello.
These prices aside, trade opened sluggishly on Monday and slowly gathered pace as the week progressed. Buyers were reluctant to pay a premium for anything less than top drawer, and with a distinct lack of a middle market, only just over half of those sold realised prices in excess of €3,000.
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