IF anyone was still in any doubt about the power of online bidding, their scepticism will have been well and truly quashed at Cavan last week.

Wednesday’s one-day sale was a phenomenal success which led to a top price of €18,000 and a further four five-figure returns. In addition, the fixture boasted a healthy clearance of 83%, together with an average of €5,898.

Heading this lively day’s trade was Jackie Conlon’s Loreto Quality (Lot 46), a home-bred seven-year-old gelding by OBOS Quality and the third produce of the imported mare Sterre (Larino). His sale was a huge boost to his owner-breeder, who living within a stone’s throw of the equestrian centre, has recently spent 15 months in hospital.

“He’s a lovely horse, but that’s why he’s short of mileage and still a bit green,” said Conlon. The combined efforts of John and Tadgh Mulligan had gone into producing this smart sort who, with six SJI points on his record, was knocked down to an Irish cash buyer.

Delighted

Regular vendor Keith Wilson was another delighted individual, when his five-year-old Pollux de Puise (Lot 75) by Pollux de Muze, changed hands for €15,500. British-based online buyer Rhiannon Rowland of Argento Equestrian accounted for this one, who was bred by Thomas Treanor out of Puiseaux by Puissance.

He was one of three lots snapped up by Monmouth-based Rowland, who had to battle hard to secure him. “We put to together a good video before the sale, and had plenty of interest as a result,” said Wilson. “He was a lovely horse, and I hope he goes on well.”

As a trader, Wilson sees both sides of this online growth in selling and added: “With these prices, it certainly makes it very difficult to buy to go again, although we’re lucky at the moment in that we have plenty of horses around.”

Seller/breeder Ronan Rothwell, who made €15,000 of his home-bred Boleybawn Aiken (Lot 64), concurred. “I’ve never seen the like of it,” commented Rothwell. “I would think that almost all of those sold were heading to private homes.”

Selling under the banner of Boleybawn Horses, Rothwell’s well related five-year-old is by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of HHS Anna (Andiamo). A standout in the catalogue, he is a half-brother to 2019 RDS four-year-old show jumping champion Boleybawn Bella and is now bound for Spain with English buyer Candice Dean. “He shows massive scope. I would hope he would make a good Grand Prix horse one day,” Rothwell added.

The final five-figure sum at €12,000 went to JAG Equestrian’s eight-year-old CSF Flexibles Dream (Lot 41) a gelding by Flexible out of SSH Dream of Glory (Cavalier Royale). Described as an easy, straightforward horse, he was knocked down to an English cash customer.

Solid trade

The horses that made the big money all had some form of experience and were aged over five. They and others of a similar ilk dominated the returns, but selling well to top the four-year-olds at €7,300 was another offering by the Kildare-based JAG Equestrian.

This one, who was knocked down to Sligo’s Felix Burke, was JAG Tyson (Lot 85), a gelding by Tyson out of Kalibra (Caintach) and a half-brother to several graded eventers and show jumpers.

The best three-year-old return at €6,300 fell to the colt Ballytemple Jackson (Lot 95). Bred by Megan O’Reilly in Cavan, this well-related individual was by Womanizer out of Newmarket Wonder One (Harlequin Du Carel). Described as an eye-catching and very athletic stallion, he is a half-brother to Newmarket Trooper (1.35m) and to the American-based SRS Status (Newmarket Joker).

The latter, who was ridden by Sophie Richards, won the four-year-old class in the RDS in 2014, while other half-siblings include Newmarket Peaches and the international event horse Ballygriffin Harvey. This colt was secured by the Irish-based Home Pride, while a few lots later Fethard producer Paul Donovan paid €6,000 for Dunwiley Numerix (Lot 98), a gelding by the very popular Aganix De Seigner out of the imported mare Pants On Fire (Numero Uno).

The sale kicked off with a solid trade for ponies. Thirteen of the 18 that changed hands made in excess of €3,000 with the top spot once again falling to an offering by Keith Wilson. Enjoying a bumper day, Wilson’s pony mare (Lot 16) realised €6,300 to a Belgian buyer while his second lot, the piebald mare Magie (Lot 28) changed hands for €5,600.