Top Returns
M Cummins’s Brockaghfield Conrad, colt foal by Conthargos (dam by Cassini 2) €10,000.
Francis Tubman’s Derena Starlight, filly foal by Tangelo Van de Zuuthoeve (dam by Cornerado VDL) €7,500.
Ballsallagh Sport Horses’ Ballsallagh Agapeic, colt foal by Aganix du Seigneur (dam by Beachball) €7,250.
E Rankin’s Catalina KN, filly foal by Carrera VDL (dam by Campbell VDL) €6,600.
S Kelly’s colt foal by Tyson (dam by Cesano 11) €6,600
Eamon McArdle’s filly foal by Caracas (dam by Avalon 224) €6,400.
A WELL-related colt foal by Conthargos was the star of the show at Cavan last week, where at €10,000, he headed the one-day renewal by a distance. Returning the sole five-figure sum of the edition, Brockaghfield Conrad was one of the standouts on a day that delivered an inconsistent and rather low-key set of returns. Largely mirroring the trade of 12 months ago, and predictably two-tier, Thursday’s renewal saw 41 lots change hands leading to a modest clearance of 43% (42% in 2024), but with an improved average of €3,789 (€3,276).
As expected, the foals from the ‘winter premier selection’ fared the best with the top return of a healthy €10,000 falling to Megan Cummins’ Brockaghfield Conrad (Lot 48), a colt foal by Conthargos out of Chalice BGM Z (Cassini 2). Carrying a smart European pedigree, the dam herself competed to 1.40m level and is a half-sister to Charise BGM Z (1.40m), Calgary BGM Z (1.35m) and from the same family as the sire Corlando (1.50m).
Based in Currafin, Galway, Cummins together with her father JJ sourced the dam in England three years ago. At the time, she was in foal to Big Star and, carrying a good jumping record herself, she was an attractive prospect. “We really liked the breeding, and the fact she was in foal to Big Star was a real plus,” explained JJ. “That foal turned out to be a filly, which we have retained and have since covered with Highway TN. There are also two siblings in Europe, who are just starting out and are currently competing at 1.20m. Breeding is a family hobby - we have three or four mares at any one time, and like to do them well.”
It is important to the Cummins family that their equine progeny go to homes that will give them a chance to progress, so they were particularly pleased when they discovered that the successful buyer was Lorcan Hennessy, father of show jumper Seamus. The Co Cork man had been looking for a well-bred foal initially to keep another company, but also to buy one with a future. “He was the standout,” said Hennessy. “If he had been in the elite sale the previous week, I probably wouldn’t have been able to buy him. I thought he had all the ingredients to make a jumper.” With Seamus back home following a spell with Bertram Allen, Hennessy plans to store the colt with a view to producing him under saddle. “He’s by a super sire and the dam’s page reads very well - it’s a long road and only time will tell if our judgement was correct!”
Star in the making
Earlier in the day, Francis Tubman did well when his filly Derena Starlight (Lot 29) changed hands for €7,500. A daughter of Tangelo Van de Zuuthoeve, she is out of CSF Bella Rose by Cornerado VDL. Another well-related individual with a solid blacktype pedigree, the dam is a sibling to the Canadian-based jumper CSF Princess Blue (1.45m) and the Aiden Killeen-ridden CSF Kilrush (1.40m), as well as several further graded performers. Co Cavan pinhooker Ollie Ward accounted for this eye-catcher, while a few lots later, show jumper Kenneth Graham signed for Ballsallagh Sport Horses’ Ballsallagh Agapeic (Lot 34), a colt foal by Aganix du Seigneur out of Kinmar Beech Lady (Beachball). A pre-sale catalogue pick, the dam is a maternal sister to many top performers including the Paris Olympic show jumper Maxwin Kinmar Agalux (1.60m) and to the event horse Mr Eastwood Bright Side (CCI4*). Paying €7,250 on behalf of his Swiss owner, Regula Wassmer, Graham commented: “We’ve bought a few from Cavan and they’ve all been lucky for us. We’ve been buying foals for a few years now and the oldest are six and seven-year-olds, who are jumping their age classes and doing well. We liked this foal as a type and, of course, we like the fact he was by Aganix.”
A further two lots changed hands at €6,600 with the first up being Emma Rankin’s Catalina KN (Lot 66), a well-bred filly by Carrera VDL out of Gaby by Campbell VDL. Another from the premier selection, the dam jumped to 1.40m under David O’Brien and is a sister to the 1.60m performer Easy Money, as well as to Bernard (1.40m). Kilkenny-based show jumper Taylor Cummins signed for this filly, before Sean Kelly’s Tyson-sired colt foal (Lot 110) was secured for the same amount to the telephone bid of Jordan Coyle.
The final lot to make in excess of €6,000 was Eamon McArdle’s attractive filly (Lot 74) by Caracas out of CSF Ava (Avalon 224). Knocked down to Katie Hutcheson for €6,400, this very well-related filly is out of a sister to the notable jumpers CSF Mr Kroon, CSF Sir George and CSF Royal Cruz.
Demand for the remainder was both selective and modest, while interest for the three well-bred brood mares on offer was negligible.