LAST Saturday night was truly one to remember for Tuam breeder Patrick Connolly who hit the jackpot when his filly foal CSF Willow by Zirocco Blue topped the Goresbridge foal renewal for a mighty €35,000.
The figure was also a record foal price for the venue and crowned a solid day’s trading which saw a further three five-figure returns leading to an average of €4,082.
Friday’s business, which included broodmares and yearlings, was less buoyant but overall, the combined figures illustrated that both the clearance of 58% (55% in 2020) and the average €3,309 (€2,948) had improved from 12 months ago. Meanwhile, 22 lots made in excess of €5,000 in comparison to 15 in 2020.
“Brilliant for the breeders,” commented Martin Donohoe. “People like Patrick Connolly and his family are examples of breeders who are trying to breed the best and are now reaping the rewards – all credit to them.”
As has become the norm, the sale was as always somewhat two-tier. Breeders whose foals featured top end pedigrees fared well, and while those at the lower end of the tables may have been a little frustrated, there were definite signs of improvement in the general sector and certainly no shortage of customers.
The pundits and the pinhookers still cite the scarcity of ‘the ‘blood type’ foal as a problem, and felt they were paying top dollar for those they found.
The market for fillies with up-to-date performance pedigrees was especially strong, and while the demand for the thoroughbred-sired foals was still fairly weak overall there were some notable exceptions. As is usual, the sale was conducted both online and in house, and although the former was influential in boosting some prices, the vast majority of foals were snapped up by buyers in attendance.
Pat Kehoe's Carrera VDL filly out of a Kannan dam (Lot 220) fetched €14,000 at Goresbridge when bought by Michael Connole \ Sally Parkyn
Sale-topper
Although the Connolly family are no strangers to sale-topping honours, CSF Willow’s return of €35,000 exceeded dreams and far outweighed any of their previous sales. A good price was always on the cards however, as this young August foal (Lot 312) is a half-sister to the highly rated show jumper CSF James Kann Cruz (1.50m), who has recently changed hands to Shane Sweetnam for a reputed six-figure return.
The grey filly is a daughter of Zirocco Blue out of the well related CSF Telly Cruz, by Cruising, and is the result of a well thought out breeding programme, stemming from the foundation mare Tell of Clover (1988).
Tell of Clover (Clover Hill), who was originally sourced from Diarmaid Considine, was a former junior European show jumping gold medallist and has since produced a raft of top performers, as well as a stout broodmare line. Standing out among the most recent stars of course is CSF James Kann Cruz (1.50m), while other half-siblings to the filly include CSF Vinze (1.50m), CSF Kan Cruz (1.45m), CSF Premier Cruz (1.35m) and the five-year-old CSF Jackpot (1.20).
The sale itself was electric, as bids ricocheted up to €15,000 within 60 seconds. They then steadied, before a two-way tussle developed between an American-based telephone bidder and one online customer. It was heady stuff, and once on the market at €22,000, the bids quickened again progressing in multiples of €500. Finally, and to a round of applause, auctioneer Darac O’Neill dropped the hammer in favour of the online buyer.
This was soon revealed to be Anne Gannon, who together with her sister Mary, were the former owners and recent vendors of James Kann Cruz. “We had been to see the filly in Galway before the sale – we liked the breeding, we loved her model and were determined to buy her,” said Anne.
“Our father Michael, who is 94 years old, told us ‘whatever you do – buy that foal’ and of course we always do as he says! The plan is the same as it was for James Kann Cruz, the filly will be stored to produce under saddle with Francis Connors.”
As the breeder, and one who has been a pioneer in professional production, Patrick Connolly was rendered almost speechless. “It’s just brilliant,” he said afterwards. “Timing is everything and it worked which is lovely. This was the first time we have used Zirocco Blue – we thought it would be a good match and it was.”
Lauren Callery's Cookstown Rock n Roll (Lot 241), a filly by Rock n Roll Ter Putte, fetched €10,400 at Goresbridge when bought by Patricia Heffernan \ Sally Parkyn
Notables
Local breeder Pat Kehoe is another enjoying a purple patch, and having topped the previous week’s select sale of show jumpers and event horse with his home-bred ABC Copperhead Road at €35,000, he progressed to sell two foals at €14,000 and €9,400 apiece.
First up on Saturday afternoon was a filly (Lot 220) by Carrera VDL out of ABC Saving Grace by Kannan. The dam was placed fourth in the Cavan Classic five-year-old final last month, and is a half-sister to the Harry Charles-ridden ABC Quantum Cruise (1.60m), as well as to the younger ABC Private Jet (1.45m) and ABC Caruso (1.40m).
This smart filly was secured by Co Wicklow show jumping owner Michael Connole, while the latter, a colt (Lot 247) from the same family and by Aganix du Seigneur out of ABC Cavalier Carly (Cavalier Royale), was snapped up by an Irish-based cash customer for €9,400.
Breeders with solid breeding plans were the winners on the day, and another family yard to shine was that of the Callerys from Kells in Co Meath. Heading their consignment at €10,400 was Lauren Callery’s Cookstown Rock n Roll ((Lot 241), an attractive young filly by Rock n Roll Ter Putte. Once again, stoutly bred, this July born filly is out of Cookstown Lux Good (Lux Z), who is a half-sibling to Cookstown Quidam (1.40m).
“We love the sire, who is a full brother to Elvis Ter Putte going back to Darco,” said Donal Callery. “We thought he would suit the mare who breeds a lot of blood.”
Event owner Patricia Heffernan signed the docket for this eyecatcher, who will go eventing with rider James O’Haire. Interestingly she will initially be a companion to another filly, who is an embryo daughter out of Heffernan’s international event mare China Doll, who sadly passed away last year.
As the continentally bred fillies continue to impress, another eyecatcher was Anna Dillon’s AKD Elle Divine (Lot 303), a daughter of Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of AKD Luxurious by Lux Z. This beautiful filly, who counts AKD Corline (CCI3*) and AKD Corella (1.30m) as half-siblings, realised €10,400 and now heads to Co Clare with successful pinhooker Alanna Morgan. “I liked the breeding, the model and the step,” said Morgan. “She will be stored until a three-year-old.”
Also selling well at €8,700 was Gearoid Griffin’s Loughville Luxs Balou (Lot 169), a flashy colt by Balou du Rouet out of Loughvilles Lady Z (Lux Z).
“We had a good deal with fresh semen,” said Griffin. “And we love the fact that the foals bring the same markings as the sire. If we hadn’t sold today, I would have kept him and shown him myself as a three-year-old – you don’t get many like him.” Gloucestershire-based event rider Steve Heal was the successful buyer.
A moment in time - Eamon McArdle and Mrs Kitty Donohoe were delighted to share a chat with one another at Goresbridge Sales last weekend
Round-up
While the divide between the continental pedigrees and the more traditional, thoroughbred cross bloodlines shows relatively few signs of lessening, there was a definite improvement for thoroughbred-sired lots.
Standing out among them was the late-night sale of Charlie Carter’s attractive colt (Lot 326) by the Co Wexford-based Jack The Robin out of Ballyquirke Quality (OBOS Quality). Selling for a very respectable €7,400, he was secured by Trade Horses Ltd.
Encouragingly, another by the same sire realised €3,600 while stock by Pointilliste were also in demand at €3,400, €3,250 and €3,200 respectively.
On Friday a good-looking colt by Gamut (dam by Jackaroo) changed hands for €3,100 to go showing, while foals by Move To Strike, Golden Master and Financial Reward also sold satisfactorily.
Anna Dillon's AKD Elle Divine (Lot 303), a daughter of Emerald Van't Ruytershof out of a Lux Z mare fetched €10,400 at Goresbridge when bought by Alanna Morgan \ Sally Parkyn
Disappointingly however, the demand for broodmares was weak, despite some well-related mares on offer. Top price of €1,900 went to a Cobra Clover (Lot 107) an 11-year-old mare by Cobra out of Mahon Clover by Clover Hill. She is a half-sister to Fernhill Harry Clover (1.45m) and several others while the dam line also features the top event horse Maja’s Hope (CCI5*).
Pinhookers Pat Fenlon, Paul Douglas and Hugh Douglas at Goresbridge Sales \ Sally Parkyn