A SON of the jumping sire Eldorado Van De Zeshoek was the star of the show at Cavan last Friday where, during the inaugural edition of the Cavan Exclusive Three-Year-Old auction, he realised the top return of €23,000.
Consigned by his owner Camryn Clarke, the well-produced gelding was one of two lots to make in excess of €20,000 on a night of mixed returns.
This new showcase sale was staged during the August jumping championships at the centre and, while there were plenty of positives and a further five, five-figure returns, it was a sale of two halves. Buyers were discerning and, at the close of play, 48% of the 23 pre-selected lots on offer changed hands, which in turn produced an average of €12,291.
Camryn Clarke’s sale-topping Serado (Lot 19) had gained plenty of admirers during the jumping phase of the evening, but none more so than successful buyer Michael Balfe. The Termonfeckin man was determined in his quest to buy the eye-catcher and commented afterwards: “Hats off to Camryn Clarke, who produced him so well.
“He had the most phenomenal temperament and was already broken. My daughter Abbie works for Cian O’Connor, so while the plan is for her to eventually compete him, he will begin his education with Feaha Moore.”
Nineteen-year-old Clarke sourced the gelding in Holland last year. By the popular KWPN sire Eldorado Van De Zeschoek, he was out of the 1.35m jumping mare Haserania (Karandasj), who in turn is a sibling to Lethal Weapon (1.40m).
Among the others to feature in the pedigree is the Irish-bred CBI McGregor (1.45m) and the Holly Smith-ridden Carolus K DHI (1.45m). “He was always easy and a good jumper,” remarked Clarke. “The idea moving forward is to have more like him for this sale next year.”
Well-related
Next in line, and another by Eldorado, was Jonathan Smith’s well-related gelding (Lot 12) out of Mimosa JPL (KEC Maximum Joe). Carrying a solid pedigree and from the family of KEC Pyjama Party (1.50m), the second dam competed under Liam O’Meara and is a sibling to numerous graded jumpers.
Lot 12 was sold for €20,000 at the Cavan Exclusive Three-Year-Old sale \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net
Online customer Alison Falocin accounted for this good sort at €20,500, while two lots later, Shirley Hurst’s home-bred Tattygare Extra Addition (Lot 14) was knocked down for €18,000.
This versatile individual had been well placed in the lightweight class at the RDS the previous week and, earlier in the year, had claimed the championship at Mullingar. A son of Corporal VDL, the grey was the first foal out of the 1.20m mare Kilbrackan Cornet Queen (Orestus), who in turn is out of the CSIO4* Nations Cup mare Cornetta (1.50m) and from the immediate family of Cayen Van Het Hobos (1.60m) and Gorla Minore (1.55m).
It has been a busy few weeks for Hurst and the Tattygare team who, having landed both the yearling and the two-year-old titles at the RDS, had also shown the winner of the prestigious All-Ireland three-year-old championship at Bannow and Rathanagan. “The market is very up and down, so we were pleased,” said a pragmatic Hurst. “Even though ideally I wanted a little more, you have to be sensible.”
Successful buyer Tom Spence had viewed the gelding at the RDS and, while he was unable to be at the sale in person, he was able to secure him by telephone. “He was a lovely type and very light over the ground. He could do either job, but hopefully he will go jumping,” he commented.
Tattygare Extra Addition (Lot 14) was knocked down for €18,000 \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net
Popular sire
Another popular and commercial sire is Carrera VDL, who was responsible for the next two best returns at €16,000 and €14,500. First up was Jackie Lee’s Ruby (Lot 21), a gelding out of Cullen Aphla (Courage). Carrying an instantly recognisable blacktype pedigree, he is a sibling to Hold Up (1.50m), ridden by Jane Arnett, as well as to MBF Mandino (1.45m) and D Cullen Dominator Z (1.40m). Jenny Fitzsimons signed for this smartly-bred gelding at €16,000 while, as the best-priced filly, Alan Wheeler’s Carracino (Lot 20) realised €14,500.
The latter is out of Kappo Cino (Pacino), who is a sister to the CCI5* event horse Cooley Snapchat, as well as to the 1.30m campaigners Hilton Humdinger (Clem McMahon) and Cashless.
At €10,500, the final five-figure return fell to Mark O’Sullivan’s Zino (Lot 24), a gelding by Zuccero HV out of Dagostina (Indoctro).
Top returns