Court Cave notched up a new Graded winner on Saturday last with the impressive victory of Clondaw Caitlin in the Grade 2 Premier Novices Hurdle at Kelso. The Ruth Jefferson trained mare was recording her 4th consecutive win and remains unbeaten over hurdles.
Racing against the geldings for the first time, Clondaw Caitlin raced wide throughout and took up the running at the 2nd last and pulled away for a facile 5 length victory in the hands of Brian Hughes. With an official rating of 133 going into this event the 5yo mare looks set for another hike in the ratings and is an exciting prospect for mares’ graded races going forward.
Clondaw Caitlin was bred near Kilmessan in County Meath by Judy McMahon and was offered for sale as a three year old by Judy’s daughter Emily at the inaugural May Store Sale at Tattersalls Ireland in 2018. She realised €17,000 and was signed for by George Adams. She now holds the honour of being the first Graded winning graduate of this new sale!
In training with Mick Goff, she ran three times as a four-year-old in point to points, pulling up first time out before falling on her second outing. She re-appeared two days after her fall at Bartlemy point-to-point to finish a very close second. Ten days later she was offered for sale at Goffs UK Spring Horses in Training sale and the astute Bobby O’Ryan purchased her with Jefferson for £40,000 on behalf of owners Drew and Alisa Russell.
Named after his daughter Caitlin, Mick assured us all he was only using that name for a real good mare and his judgement has been well and truly vindicated now. This continues Mick’s great track record with progeny of Court Cave that includes Clondaw Court, Clondaw Cracker, The Holy One, Ballinsker and recent Tattersalls Cheltenham sales topper Clondaw Secret.
Clondaw Caitlin joins a growing list of black type mares by Court Cave that have graduated from the point to point field that includes Desirable Court, Listen To The Man, Ellie Mac, Queen’s Cave etc.
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