Grand prix leaping stallion sells at horse public sale for €2.3 million

The highest lot at this week’s Aloga showjumping horse public sale in Belgium was 10-year-old grand prix stallion Darkish Chocolate, who was bought for €2.3million (£1,975,000) for a pupil of Cian O’Connor.

Darkish Chocolate (Casall x Acodetto I) has been ridden and produced by Eire’s Denis Lynch for the previous few years, being topped the main eight-year-old within the seven- and eight-year-old closing at Dublin Horse Present in 2022 earlier than occurring to document loads of good placings at five-star stage together with the London Worldwide, Barcelona, Basel and St Gallen.

The stallion was one in all 19 high quality showjumpers to go underneath the hammer on Monday 6 Could on the newest Aloga Public sale, established by Irish showjumping brothers Bertram Allen and Harry Allen, and fellow showjumper Maxi Lill, held at Sentower Park.

€2.3million horse public sale buy: championship ambitions

Cian O’Connor instructed H&H that the highest lot was purchased for one in all his European-based college students.

“The plan is to develop her to the younger rider European Championships this yr,” stated Cian, who just lately had two prime horses secured for him because of funding by a British purchaser because the Paris Olympics method.

Denis paid tribute to a “class horse”, who he’s loved producing over the previous three years.

“One of many early highlights of our time collectively was leaping clear at Olympia grand prix, which is a extremely good character check,” he instructed H&H. “He gained the eight-year-old finals at Leipzig World Cup Finals, then we took it simple for a bit earlier than stepping him up and in his first massive check he was clear within the World Cup in Madrid. He’s been leaping clears once more as a 10-year-old – the entire means by, each time you requested him, he at all times stepped up. 

“His new rider may be very gifted, she gave him a gorgeous trial, the horse cherished her they usually actually clicked collectively, which is implausible, so hopefully they’ll go on effectively collectively.”

Three heaps from Monday’s public sale made in extra of €1,000,000 with two different superbly bred stallions finishing the trio. The second highest-priced lot of the evening was Ballywalter Stables’ thrilling six-year-old stallion Nikora TSH (Aganix Du Seigneur x Unaniem), who has been competed by Harry Allen and went underneath the hammer for €1.9million, and the nine-year-old stallion Kiritan (Kannan GFE x For Ever Soar) who has been leaping to CSI3* with Maxi Lill and bought for €1.7million.

You might also prefer to learn…

Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is filled with all the newest information and studies, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can get pleasure from the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and studies in addition to different advantages.

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her function as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her all over the world reporting from reveals and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to secure administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian trade as a using teacher and yard supervisor.