The Bolesworth Elite Foal Auction, proudly presented by Gallagher, took place last night ( 7th June 2024 ) to a sell-out crowd of hospitality guests and attracted online and telephone bidders from around the globe. This prestigious event, now in its ninth year, showcased a stellar collection of foals and yearlings, reflecting Bolesworth’s commitment to excellence in equestrian sport.
The auction has steadily gained a reputation for producing exceptional young horses that go on to achieve great success in age classes and ranking competitions throughout the UK and Europe. This year’s event was no exception, with a strong emphasis on well-related dams and world-class sires.
The highlight of the evening was Lot 18, FF Ziidam Z, which achieved the top price of £30,000. This stunning Luidam filly, out of the Nations Cup mare Zira VH Kapelhof Z, captivated bidders with her remarkable pedigree and potential. Zira VH Kapelhof Z has an impressive track record, having partnered with Irish showjumper Anthony Condon to secure numerous Grand Prix victories up to the 1.60m level, and represented Team Ireland in Nations Cups. Her sire, Luidam, is equally illustrious, having competed in Nations Cups, European, and World Championships with Ireland’s Billy Twomey.
A total of 19 lots were sold during the evening, with an average sale price of £18,000, reflecting the high quality and desirability of the collection.
“It is incredibly gratifying to witness the success of the foals and yearlings we have sold over the past nine years,” said Nina Barbour, Managing Director of Bolesworth. “Seeing them progress and perform at high levels reaffirms our dedication to selecting only the best and building this auction into a key event on the equestrian calendar.”
This year’s auction was not only a commercial success but also a celebration of the dedication and passion of the British breeders, owners, and supporters who contribute to the ongoing success of the event.
Speaking on the importance of this auction, breeders of the top lot and International Showjumpers, Anthony Condon and Laura Johnson said:
It’s really important for British based breeders that we have the opportunity to offer our young stock for sale in this country using a top platform like Bolesworth, and we are lucky to have 1.60 mares to use for breeding future Grand Prix prospects, for which we’d like to thank The Hale’s family for their support, as well as the team at Bolesworth for all their hard work, making the sale of this top filly possible.
Mark your calendars for the next major auction event: the Bolesworth Elite Embryo Auction, set to take place at Chester Racecourse on Saturday 16th November 2024 – save the date!
For more information about the Bolesworth Elite Foal Auction and to view the full list of lots and results from Friday 7th June 2024, please visit www.boleswortheliteauctions.com