PAULA CULLEN, PAULANK STUD

Although Calendar Girl, the dam of Rio team bronze medallist and 2014 Badminton winner Paulank Brockagh (Touchdown - Calendar Girl, by Triggerero) is now retired, Paula has several relatives waiting in the wings.

A fan of traditional breeding, Paula opted for thoroughbred stallions in 2016.

“Paulank Havannah (Billies Bank - Richmondlea Delia, by Crosstown Dancer) is in foal to Nazar and subject to what her foal is, we may go back to him. Brockagh’s half-sister Paulank Calla Lilly (Ghareeb - Calendar Girl) is in foal to Gamut and again we may repeat this cover.

“Wilsons Imp (Kings Master - Cregaun Beauty, by Nad Elsheba) is in foal to Pointilliste and we have yet to decide where she goes next, while Paulank Kimble (Cruising - Calendar Girl) is in foal to Island Commander. Again all going well, we will return to him.

Jemini Jessie (Loughehoe Guy - Glidawn Interest, by Glidawn Diamond) foaled late to Superior Premium and was not covered in 2016.

We are now thinking of using Jumbo. Likewise Liberty Belle (Huntingfield Rebel - Pride of Kildalton, by Prospect Pride) had a late foal (now a very fine yearling filly by Kiltealy Silver). Hopefully she will go back to him.”

PATRICK CONNOLLY,

CSF STUD

West of Ireland breeder Patrick Connolly has several sire choices lined up for the team of mares at his Tuam base.

“Vis Ta Vie Van De Farm (Darco - Roxanne Van De Farm, by Gottwald) is due to foal in June to Indooctro, we may plan to cover her with Casall Ask.”

Bertram Allen’s recently retired Romanov is pencilled in for Bianca van Rampaarden (Darco - Noemi vd Breemeersen, by Redford), as is Zirocco Blue for CSF Quick Pick (Quick Star – Ambitiously, by Voltaire).

“CSF Telly Cruz (Cruising - Tell of Clover by Clover Hill) is in foal to Glasgow, we’ll see how that goes, we may go back or to Dakar or Diamant [de Semilly),” says Patrick, who prefers to wait until after foaling for a final decision.

“Olympic Clover (Clover Hill - Kubla Khan, by Sky Boy) is one of the very last Clover Hills, she had a foal by Mylord Carthago last year but she’s not in foal now. We might cover her with Cape Coral.”

He or last year’s covering sire Kannan, are possibles for the in-foal CSF Lady At Last (Ars Vivendi - Vis Ta Vie Van De Farm, by Darco).

Angie Van Paemel (Darco - Querida Mia van Paemel by Feinschnitt Z) isn’t in foal this spring – however stallion choices include Romanov – “she had a lovely foal by him last year” – Hector Van D’Abjihoeve, Quintero La Silla or Tyson – “I think he’s going to breed a lot of blood”– are all possibilities.

JOHN MCKIBBIN,

LEESTONE SPORT HORSES

A.I agent John McKibbin has plenty of options in store. He used Cornet Obolensky extensively last year with Ultien V (Voltaire - Corrie, by Irco Polo), Ballintogher Whattababe (Cruising - Clover’s Lass by Clover Hill) and Leestone Cassini (Cassini I - Thetis C, by Corrado I) all in foal to him.

The latter mare’s still-to-arrive foal has already been sold, while the first of his Cornet Obolenskys this year was a filly produced by Crosskeys Cavalier (Cavalier Royale - Khan Diamonds, by Diamonds Are Trumps) on March 24th.

Zidane VM (Heartbreaker - Paranda, by Zeus) is in foal to Emerald and Acajou Van Het Klosterhof (Heartbreaker - Lisa, by Ramiro Z) will be used to flush embryos from this year.

“Stallions I’ll be using this year are a six-year-old called Cazaan, by Casall la Silla; Cornet Obolensky; Toulon; Chilli Willi, another interesting stallion jumping 1.60m, maybe even use an old Cruising straw I have. Or Emerald, Bisquet Balou, Darco, the choice is endless just from the stallions I have in the tanks,” he added.

FRANCES HATTON,

SLYGUFF STUD

While there are no definite plans yet for 2017 sires, transport won’t be a problem. “We’d always wait until the mare has foaled safely before deciding but they don’t have far to travel!” is Frances Hatton’s pragmatic advice.

Carnival Mistress (Kings Master - Carnival Abbey, by Carnival Night), Slyguff Anika (Master Imp - Trumpet Major, by Diamonds Are Trumps), Diamond Diablo (All The Diamonds - Castle Ginger, by Ginger Dick) and Slyguff Royal Queen (Kings Master – Peace Queen, by Broken Hearted) are all in foal to Pointilliste, while Royal Queen’s full-sister Slyguff Jewel is in foal to Nazar.

Marbridge Lady (Laughtons Flight - Park Prince Lady, by Legaun Prince) is in foal to their third thoroughbred resident, Golden Master.

WILLIAM KELLS

While Saracen, the dam of Mighty Nice, is long retired, her owner has retained the Rio bronze medallist’s full-sister Corradorns Miss Ohio. “Sarazen is fine, she’ll be going out to grass shortly.”

Her successor is due to foal to Arkan in late April. “I just liked the look of the horse on the ground,” said William, who used that same eye for a horse when previously selecting hers and Mighty Nice’s sire, Ard Ohio. “It can be a last minute decision with me sometimes!” he added.

Corrardorns Miss Ohio produced the sales-topping foal at the November foal sales in Cavan last year, a Creevagh Ferro filly and William has also retained a two-year-old full-sister to her.