TRADE for the ridden stock was fairly low key at Cavan last week, but a lively demand for three-year-olds saved the day.
Not only did the age group produce the renewal’s top return of €9,000 but it contributed to notable hike in average to €3,408 (€2,566 in 2018). This was accompanied by a similar clearance rate of 59% (58%) while, despite a smaller number of horses passing through the ring, the turnover also increased to €252,225 (€200,150).
As usual, the figures mirrored the quality on offer, leading Cavan’s Stuart Clarke to comment, “It was a bit of a disappointment that there was not a sharper and stronger trade earlier in the day, but things did pick up as the day progressed and it was very good to see the increase average and the turnover.”
Cavan has been a lucky venue for local vendor Matthew McBreen whose three-year-old gelding delivered the day’s top return at €9,000. Better known as a consignor of foals, and indeed an elite foal sale-topping vendor two years in succession, McBreen always likes to have the odd three-year-old to run on.
On this occasion, he opted to produce his home-bred MC Crosskeys (Lot 149), an eye-catching gelding by Creevagh Ferro out of the good broodmare Jumeirah (Ard VDL Douglas).
Beautifully related, he is a half-brother to the 2018 elite foal sale-topping colt (by Tangelo Van’t Zuuthoeve) as well as to the Nicola Pavitt-ridden derby horse Thomascourt Atlantis (1.60m) and the Mervyn Clarke-partnered Thomascourt Emirates (1.30m). A flashy individual, he was the subject of considerable interest prior to sale and despite passing through the ring as the penultimate lot of the day, there were plenty of buyers for him.
Encouragingly for bidders, he came on the market early at €4,500 before he was knocked down to an Irish ‘cash’ buyer at €9,000. “Delighted,” said McBreen. “We never brought him out to sell as a foal and I wish the new owners all the very best with him.” McBreen went on to reveal that the dam did not have a foal this year but, he added cryptically: “Crossing fingers, she is carrying something very exciting for 2020.”
Older horses and four-year-olds
While the sector was sluggish overall, it did deliver several notable returns. First up and heading the four-year-old division at €8,000 was Jessica Tighe’s gelding SVS Stardust (Lot 103), a well-produced individual by Diamant de Semilly out of P Zermie (Palfrenier).
A catalogue pick on paper and bred in the purple, he is a half-brother to the Eric Lamaze-ridden World Cup horse Zigali (1.60m) and also to the CCI3* event horse J’Taime Cooley (Katie O’Sullivan).
Surprisingly, bids only reached €7,000 in the ring, but he was later secured privately at €8,500 by Kilmessan show jumping owner Nigel Howe. Buying for his daughter Hallie, who will be moving off ponies next season, Howe commented: “We were looking for something suitable to bring on for the age classes. Alexander Butler, who trains Hallie, had sat on him earlier in the year, and liked him. We also liked the fact that he had manners, and of course we loved the pedigree.”
Co Carlow producer Thomas Quigley was responsible for the excellent presentation of this smart sort, so it was rewarding for him that his own and Shane Dalton’s All Rollo (Lot 75) also reaped a good return, Selling earlier in the day for €7,400, this standout lot was by Sligo Candy Boy out of Coevers Delight (Coevers Diamond Boy). Bred by Tony Carrabine, the five-year-old had competed in the Irish Breeders’ Classic last month, and also at the recent show at Cavan.
Hertfordshire dealer Kate Thurston signed the docket for this one, while another active trade buyer was David Sheerin of the Somerset-based equestrian centre of Wellington Riding.
Accompanied by his finance director, and quipping “I must bring her more often”, Sheerin accounted for four lots including the €6,700 purchase of Joseph O’Keane’s Creavagh Sidney (Lot 91). This four-year-old gelding by Creevagh Ferro out of Chica Rubia (by Couleur Rubin) had been placed second in the four-year-old working hunter classes both at Balmoral and at Dublin, leading Sheerin to add: “We have to buy horses with quality for our clients and also to use for student assessments. Standards have gone up considerably over the years, so now we have to find more uphill horses and ones than can progress.”
Joseph O'Keane's Creevagh Sidney (Lot 91), a four-year-old Creevagh Ferro gelding sold for €6,700 to Wellington Riding, Somerset / Cavan EC
With this in mind, Sheerin also snapped up Lawrence Patterson’s impressive Tolano (Lot 96), a home-bred son of Tolan R out of out of Drumnaconnell Rojo (Guidam). Emma Jackson showcased this big gelding, who qualified for the potential event horse championship at the RDS this year.
Three-year-olds
The crowd swelled for the three-year-olds, and while the session ran late, it produced the liveliest if selective trade. Sale-topper aside, seven further lots realised between €4,000 - €6,700 and among the remaining standout was Nick Cousin’s RNH Ultimate (Lot 141), a gelding by Ustinov out of Onette (Junior STV).
Another pre-sales pick, this well-bred individual is a full-brother to the international event horse RNH MC Ustinov (CCI4*), who, ridden by Victor Levecque, was placed fourth in the CCI4*-L in Saumur earlier this year. Gareth Nethercott secured this one, while Sinead Weir and Jim Tempany’s gelding (Lot 113) by Sligo Candy Boy (dam by Into The West) was knocked down to David Conroy at €6,500.
Ponies
While there was a smaller than usual collection of ponies, the prices stood up fairly well. Eleven changed hands, with the best return of €5,000 falling to Peader Murphy’s Beechmount Dot Com. This nine-year-old full Connemara by Dooneen Supermatch (dam by Monaghanstown Fionn) had clocked up seven Dressage Ireland points.
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