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 scholar 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 ultimate 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 considered one of 19 high quality showjumpers to go below 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 informed H&H that the highest lot was purchased for considered one of his European-based college students.

“The plan is to develop her to the younger rider European Championships this yr,” stated Cian, who not too long ago had two prime horses secured for him because of funding by a British purchaser because the Paris Olympics strategy.

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 informed H&H. “He gained the eight-year-old finals at Leipzig World Cup Finals, then we took it straightforward for a bit earlier than stepping him up and in his first huge check he was clear within the World Cup in Madrid. He’s been leaping clears once more as a 10-year-old – the entire manner by means of, each time you requested him, he at all times stepped up. 

“His new rider could be very gifted, she gave him a good looking trial, the horse beloved her they usually actually clicked collectively, which is unbelievable, so hopefully they’ll go on nicely collectively.”

Three tons 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 below 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.

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the globe reporting from exhibits 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 business as a driving teacher and yard supervisor.