IT was always hoped that the momentum from Wednesday evening’s edition would carry forward to the performance sale on Thursday, and indeed it did – delivering in spades. Running late into the night, the one-day sale recorded possibly its best day’s trading ever, delivering a clearance rate of 82% (76% in 2020) together with a vastly improved average of €5,501 (€3,691).

Trade was lively from the outset, and illustrating this, there were five-figure returns in every sector. Both ponies and horses sold above expectation, leading to 10 lots making in excess of €10,000 and 31% of all sold did so online.

“Again, a very, very, strong trade, and even the three-year-olds kept selling right through until the end,” commented Stuart Clarke. “The sales have been solid all year, and it looks like the trend will continue.”

Thursday session-topper

Heading these was at €15,000 was Frank Casey’s four-year-old gelding Ballyknock Kings Quality (Lot 195) who, as his name suggests was by OBOS Quality out of the unrecorded dam Castlebanny Pride. No stranger to sale-topping honours, Ennis-based Casey had bred this individual who was secured by on-site buyer Shaun Ruth.

Based in Co Kildare, Ruth is a full-time producer, and plans to compete this high-class gelding himself. “I thought he was a lovely model and mover, and had a good way of jumping,” he said afterwards. “I tend to produce them to a certain level and then sell on – you can never refuse good profit!”

Older stock

The strongest demand came in the older horse sector, as traders and online bidders fought things out between them. One to catch the eye was Robert Hartigan’s home-bred Je Suis (Lot 167), a striking palomino five-year-old by Future Trend who is the only recorded foal to date out of Ballymolloy Chantilly (Crown Ace of Pearls). The hammer fell at €13,000 for this mare, who now travels to England with regular Cavan visitor and trader Rhiannon Rowlands.

A few lots earlier Michael Duignan’s Niosfar also sold well at €12,500. A catalogue pick on paper and under Tadgh Mulligan, the winner of 33 SJI points to date, the six-year-old son of Lancelot (dam by Salluceva) was knocked down to agent Donal Galvin.

Four-year-olds

Sale-topper aside, the four-year-old trade produced further good results. Sixteen of the age group changed hands, with the next best prices at €10,000 going to Paddy Joyce’s Ballyheane Candy (Lot 185a), a son of Sligo Candy Boy out of the jumping mare Ballyheane Flight (Roseberry Avenue). Padraig Dolan of the Munsboro Equestrian centre signed for this one.

Brian Connell’s home-bred King Cruising of Kilbeg (Lot 182) sold three lots earlier at €9,400. He’s by Royal Cruise and is bound for Sweden.

Three-year-olds

While the trade did dip for the final age sector on Thursday night, Martin Conway received a healthy €11,500 for Cassallco Jumping Jack (Lot 248) a gelding by Casallco out of the Grade A jumping mare Suzanna Lux (Lux Z). After a competitive exchange, Co Meath-based Trade Horses Ltd accounted for this one, who headed the age group by a distance. The remaining returns fell between €6,800 and €2,000.

Pony trade

The day got off to a good start when Dylan O’Connor’s 138cms pony Humberto (Lot 111) changed hands for a very healthy €11,000. Described in the catalogue as a potentially top-class pony, he was only being sold due to lack of time. After a competitive tussle for ownership, this was a second of the good priced lots to head the way of Roscommon buyer Padraig Dolan.

The remaining prices fell between €6,700 and €2,000.