THE move to stage the mid-August sale to the earlier July date proved a fortuitous one for the team at Cavan, as last Thursday’s edition delivered a host of strong returns.
Headed by a son of Dallas VDL at €14,000, a further six lots realised five figures, which in turn contributed to an improved average of €5,740 (€5,030). The clearance dipped slightly to 74% (76%), but overall the trade was solid - especially for straightforward, older horses with plenty of mileage.
Sale topper
While demand for the younger stock was modest in comparison to the earlier sectors, it was a well-related four-year-old by Dallas VDL (Lot 86), who topped the 95 lots at €14,000. One of 10 of the age group to change hands and the highest price by a distance, the Keith Wilson-consigned gelding was snapped up by Co Down based agent Louise Hollywood on behalf of an American client.
The bay, who is a sibling to the Liam O’Meara-ridden Russel Style (1.50m) and a further two international performers, was bred by Eamon Kelly out of the prolific broodmare Cruisings Carol (by Harlequin du Carel).
“I bought him about a year ago,” said the Co Monaghan vendor. “We’ve given him time to mature and, to be honest, he’s only been riding a few weeks.”
It was this slow production that appealed to successful buyer Hollywood, who added: “I thought he was just a really lovely big horse. He was light on his feet, had a good step and looked scopey. He will stay with me here in Ireland to be produced further before he is exported to the States.”
Older horses
Trade for the quiet older individual was competitive from the outset and none more so than for Shane McHugh’s Nethercross Zena Zee (Lot 47), a six-year-old mare by Colandro out of the KWPN registered Aster (Crown Z). Another with a strong performance pedigree, this mare counts the French-ridden 1.45m campaigner Poison as a half-brother, while in her own right, she has a career total of 13 SJI points under Harriet Pele.
Bred by Eamon McArdle at the Drumhowan Stud, she had passed through the same sale ring as a foal before selling to Leitrim-based McHugh a couple of years later. A useful individual with various options ahead of her, she was knocked down to busy Co Sligo trader Tiernan Gray for €12,500.
Keeping the top returns in the family, it was McHugh’s father-in-law Michael Reilly who landed the next best price at €12,000. This fell to Reilly’s The Dunner (Lot 34), a John Greene-bred eight-year-old dun/bay gelding by the Connemara sire Classiebawn Hughs Promise out of an unregistered Irish Draught dam.
Knocked down online to British buyer Margaret Andrews, the gelding is a very experienced hunter having four seasons’ mileage with numerous Irish packs. He was, according to his vendor, ‘an exceptional model’ and was prepared for the sale by Evan and Amy McKenna.
There was a solid online and on site customer base, but one who changed hands privately after not selling in the ring was Brendan Keown’s show jumping mare Baskin Quidams Touch (Lot 54a). Realising €11,000 when secured by Gerry O’Rourke, the six-year-old daughter of Untouchable 27 (dam by Quidam de Revel) was bred by Sarah Carey and under Jenna Keown had won 13 SJI points.
Always busy at the ringside was Tiernan Gray and, among his total of six purchases, at €10,600 was Oliver Doherty’s Ballachino (Lot 32), an eight-year-old gelding by Beach Ball out of Roadside Clover (Pacino). Making the same return was Grangebeg Farm’s Rocky (Lot 59) a five-year-old gelding by Kilmovee White Hero out of Fiach Rua (Purple Mate).
This traditional Irish Draught cob had been bought as a foal but, at just 15.3hh, he sadly never grew big enough for the vendor’s requirements.
Ponies
Although none of the 16 ponies to find new homes realised five figures, there was a lively trade for the better individuals. Topping the group at €9,500 was Philip Morgan’s home-bred An Lui Blue (Lot 9), a six-year-old gelding by Morgan’s well-known resident stallion Lettermuckoo Lad.
A double Clifden puissance winner, Lettermuckoo Lad was also placed reserve champion at the RDS, while this individual, who was another knocked down to Tiernan Gray, had clocked up a few SJI points under Morgan’s daughter Lily.
At €8,200, next in line was Pascal Holmes’ Hilltop Brandy (Lot 2 a), who looked well bought by trader Niall Daly.
Top returns