MATTHEW McBreen’s chesnut colt by Kafka VD Heffinck (Lot 23), became the top lot of this year’s Cavan Elite Foal Auction, when he sold to the Ohio-based Freestyling Farms for €48,000. Out of Jumeirah by Ard VDL Douglas, the foal is a sibling to several top-level performers, including the Nicole Pavitt-ridden Thomascourt Atlantis (1.60m), Thomascourt Emirates (1.50m) and Anna Duff’s MC Crosskeys (1.50m).

“I flew in especially for the foal sale with this foal in mind,” said the successful purchaser, Trevor Gaffney of Freestyling Farms. “We already have a top eight-year-old, FF Tiger, and a top six-year-old, FF Megastar, from the dam of this foal. There are other horses from her that are jumping great at the highest level and Kafka looks like he is passing his ability on to his progeny, so hopefully all the ingredients are there for this foal to go all the way. The odds are in his favour and I’d like to congratulate his breeder Matthew on another fine foal. Breeding isn’t easy, but when it all comes together it’s great.”

Freestyling Farms also accounted for Lot 8, Stracomer Stables’ unnamed bay colt by Kannan, this time in partnership with Duffy Sport Horses for €20,000. This foal’s dam Centura (by Cento) competed up to 1.55m level under James Fisher and has also bred Chento (1.50m) and Contento 130 (1.60m).

“I thought the Kannan colt foal was a good type, very light across the ground with good character. We already have a five-year-old out of the same dam, so I was quite keen to add him to our youngstock and I was delighted we could. For now, both foals will stay in Ireland with their mares, but they will eventually be joining us in America. Hopefully they will grow up healthy and have great futures ahead of them,” concluded Gaffney.

The average price realised by the 25 foals that changed hands was €14,940. Just four remained unsold, leaving a clearance rate of 86%.

The second-highest price was achieved by Lot 28, Berkleys Farm’s Berkleys Californication by last year’s sale-topping sire United Touch S. Out of Cassinja S (by Carinjo HDC), who jumped to 1.65m with the USA’s Charlie Jacobs in the saddle, the bay colt was knocked down to the leading rider at this year’s Dublin Horse Show, Jordan Coyle, for €32,000.

“Berkleys Californication was a foal we always thought would be special,” said Oisin Finn of Berkleys Farm. “He was unique from day one, and we were delighted with the interest in him and the price he achieved. We would like to thank Cavan Equestrian for putting on such a great sale and we’re also delighted that all three foals have gone to such good owners, so we look forward to following their progress in the future.”

Lot 15, J Finlay's chestnut colt made €30,000 at the Cavan Elite Foal Auction \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.com

J Finlay’s Lot 15, a chesnut colt by Epleaser Van’T Heike out of the Chiwago 5-sired mare Lara Leah made more than double the average, when he sold to C O’Connell for €30,000. The foal boasts a strong pedigree and is a sibling to the Christine O’Sullivan-ridden Cushlas Corlea Z (1.30m), with second dam Amandaleah having jumped to 1.60m, as well as having bred the good mare Lizziemary (1.65m), who won the King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead when ridden by Billie Twomey.

The most expensive filly of the evening proved to be Patrick Connolly’s CSF Cool Breeze, a filly from the family of Quite Easy (1.60m) by Zirocco Blue VDL, who was sold to D Sheridan for €22,000. The eye-catching grey is out of Call Me Cool Z, a Clinton 1-sired mare who competed up to 1.40m when ridden by Ciaran Nallon.

Like the aforementioned Lot 8, who was purchased by Freestyling Farms and Duffy Sport Horses, Lot 18 also realised €20,000 for vendor B Kearney when he was knocked down to G McNamara. A grey colt by Ermitage Kalone out of the blacktype mare Dubai (1.55m) - who unusually is by a stallion of the same name - this foal is related to the Greg Broderick-ridden Duco (1.55m) and from the family of Royal Future (1.60m).

Lot 5, a chesnut colt by the Neal Fearon-ridden 1.60m stallion Cocktail de Talma, was the first foal to realise five figures, when he was purchased by Dutch-based Jens Van Grunsven for €17,500. Out of Britt W by AD Unaniem, this foal is a sibling to the 1.60m performer Gemma W. He was immediately followed through the ring by Frenchfort Charissa Z Special, another five-figure success at a price of €16,000. This grey filly is by I’m Special De Muze, and is related to numerous horses jumping up to 1.45m level. Her dam, meanwhile, is a sister to Chesta Z (1.60m) and Clinta Z (1.40m).

Lots 16 and 29 each made just under the average at €14,000. The former was another consigned by Berkleys Farm, Berkleys Cobain, a chesnut colt by Balou De Rouet out of the well-related dam Chacco-Red (Chacco Blue). This foal is a sibling to Peder Fredericson’s 1.60m partner JCS Chacco Dia. The latter is an unnamed bay filly consigned by The Wood Stud and sold to Dermot and Virginia Considine’s Trade Horse Ltd. The filly is by Casallco out of Bfalke (by Ustinov), herself a sibling to Cingdoctro (1.55m) and Indoctro (1.55m).