ONE of the new and exciting events to look forward to at next week’s Dublin Horse Show is the inaugural Elite Show Jumping Foal Sale in partnership with Goffs. The sale features 16 outstanding foals which will be offered for sale on Friday, August 7th in the Laya Arena at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show, immediately after the Nations Cup.
International selectors Philipp Baumgert and Marcel Beukers chose 16 foals from the 40 presented for assessment, and among them is a full-brother to James Kann Cruz, the winner of the recent five-star Rolex Grand Prix of Falsterbo with rider Shane Sweetnam. This foal is Lot 9, CSF Shay Kann Cruz by Kannan ex CSF Telly Cruz, who was bred by the Connolly family of Connolly Stud Farm.
Speaking to The Irish Field was Shane Connolly who is feeling very positive about the sale. “I was talking to Fiona Sheridan the Show director and she told me about it and I just though what better place to put him, you are right in the middle of global market there and there will be a great number and variety of Irish and international clientele at the show. The whole process was very smooth and professional, the selection days in particular. Our fella was only 12 days old at his so he did very well.
“He’s out in the field now and he’s looking very good and very happy so we are very hopeful for a good outcome at the sale. There’s some nice fillies in the catalogue too so while we are there to sell you never know, we might end up coming home with one as well!
“We always look forward to Horse Show, the international jumping in particular is a standout for us and of course the Nations Cup is a big draw, we are excited for a great week ahead.”
Another standout foal is Lot 4, Pembrook Kildare by VDL Cardento ex MHS Pembrook Lady who is a full-brother to Irish Olympic horse Kilkenny. Among the fillies, two standout would be Lot 1, an unnamed daughter of Heartbreaker ex Chaccloubette and Lot 6, an unnamed Filly by Grand Slam VDL ex Pewit Dezessete, from the family of the influential Stakkato Gold.
The sale was developed by the RDS to provide Irish sport horse breeders with a dedicated international sales platform during the Dublin Horse Show.
“We are extremely pleased with the calibre of foals catalogued for the inaugural RDS Elite Show Jumping Foal Sale in partnership with Goffs,” said Gallagher Dublin Horse Show director Fiona Sheridan. “The response from breeders and the quality of the foals presented for selection are a strong endorsement of the sale and of the new opportunity that it provides both commercially and in platforming Irish sport horse breeding.”
Henry Beeby, Group Chief Executive of Goffs, added: “It is a great honour for Goffs to have been selected by the RDS to stage the Elite Showjumping Foal Sale. The quality of the inaugural catalogue reflects the strength of the concept, the robust selection process and, most importantly, the breeders who have supported this new venture with such an outstanding group of foals. Returning to the RDS, where Goffs held sales for almost a century before moving to Kildare Paddocks, also makes this occasion especially meaningful as we conduct an auction in Ballsbridge for the first time in over 50 years”. All foals can be inspected at the RDS Showgrounds from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday, August 6th in Stabling Area 4.
On sale day, all lots will parade in Ring 1 from 11.35am to 12.25pm, followed by a further viewing opportunity from 2pm to 3pm at the stables ahead of the sale at 6.20pm in the Laya Arena. Queries regarding buyer registration should be directed to Andrew Nolan at Goffs before the Show, or to the Goffs desk in the RDS Equestrian Offices from Monday, August 3rd onwards.