THURSDAY’s sale of youngstock at Cavan saw figures dip from those of 12 months ago to reveal that 42% (60%) changed hands at an average of €2,394 (€2,521).

Several did stand out however, and among them was Hazel Bye’s bay colt foal by Cormint out of Coevers Silver Lady by Coevers Diamond Boy. Selling for the day’s best return at €6,100, this attractive sort was secured by Co Carlow pinhooker Pat Fenlon of Brandon View Stud in Co Wexford.

A versatile sort, Fenlon summed him up when saying: “He was a very good mover, and elegant. He’s either a show horse or a competition horse, and could go either way.”

The foals in the special Winter Selection had limited success, but selling well to Tommy Curran at €5,600 was John Meade’s colt foal Sea Kingfisher (Lot 263) by Luidam. A catalogue pick on paper and bearing the well-known Sea prefix, the colt is out of Castleforbes Bellina (Equest Carnute), a daughter of the Jessica Kurten-ridden winning Nations Cup mare Quibell (1.60m). Very well related, the dam is also a sibling to Castleforbes Denzil (1.40m) and Catleforbes Ellie (1.30m).

Another colt foal to make an impact was Lauren Maher’s Clashagad Prince by Ganesh Hero Z out of Ballnagoul Scamall (Olympic Lux). Interestingly bred, the sire is by Gemini XX (a clone of the thoroughbred Olympic jumper Gem Twist) and was a 2019 four-year-old finalist at the RDS when ridden by Damien Griffin. He is the first recorded foal out of the dam, whose pedigree includes Clover Hill and Cruising.

The filly foals clustered well among the better returns, with Co Clare’s Niall O’Doherty paying the best price at €4,000 for Owen Griffin’s Cloocauneen Sun Rise (Lot 259). This filly is by Flexible out of Cloonacauneen Black Caviar by Future Trend and well related, is from the immediate family the Brian Morrison-ridden international event horse Cloonacauneen Black Beauty (CIC3*).

Topping the broodmare returns at €5,500 was Joanne Houston’s Designed For You (Lot 241) a six-year-old mare by Destano out of Starlight Surprise by Sandro Hit. Secured by online buyer Lana Cheney, this 17hh mare, is due to have her second foal (by Vittorio) in early June.