A DAUGHTER of OBOS Quality took the star billing at Cavan last week, where she headed the two-day performance returns at a healthy €8,800. Hailing from one of the country’s most prolific maternal lines, the four-year-old filly was one of a number of well-produced individuals in a two-tier sale that was let down only by the mixed quality of the stock. As a result of this inconsistency, the figures suffered a dip in the clearance rate of 58% (63% in 2015) together with an average of €2,463 (€2,720). On the plus side, the sale attracted a good quota of overseas buyers, who contributed to 32 horses selling for in excess of €4,000.

Cavan’s Stuart Clarke said: “Trade wasn’t just as strong as we would have liked, but sometimes at this end of the year it can go either way. Overall however the clearance was still near the 60% mark and the turnover was decent enough.”

SALE-TOPPER

The sale-topper, who was consigned by Pat Dwyer from Co Kilkenny and listed in the supplementary catalogue (Lot 248a), was a progeny of one of Mary Brennan’s illustrious equine families. MHS Thirty Three was the third foal out of MHS Juliana Joy (Furistos Diamond), who is, in turn, a half-sibling to the international show jumpers Gowran Park and Badgerhill Cruise. Adding to the depth of pedigree, the third dam bred five top performers including Dorada and Camblin, and it was this breeding, along with her model that appealed to successful purchaser Tamsyn Hutchins. “We just loved her type, step and jump,” said the Cornish-based event rider. “Even though the sterling rate made her seem expensive, you have to just keep going.”

The filly had been sourced from the breeder at the end of last year, and in the interim had been competed in training shows under Mark Cleary. She was prepped for the sale by Eddie Moloney, who said afterwards: “She’s a very straight and genuine filly, and should have a good future agead of her.”

Although the quality of the horses seemed much better on the second day, David Conlon’s grade A show jumper Ballyrath (Lot 44a) bucked the trend on Wednesday to return the sale’s second best figure of €7,200.

Another from the supplementary sheet, the homebred 10-year-old by Clover Echo (dam by Carrolls Flight) had clocked up a career total of 264 SJI points and, under Gavin Conlon, had won the young riders at Balmoral last year. It came as no surprise to see a number of bidders for this genuine sort, but one with a special reason to take him home was London-based dealer Harvey Drea. “I bred the grandam Black Lama, who was grade A as a four-year-old, and won Grand Prix after Grand Prix for both my sister Jackie Drea, and also Con Power.” He revealed: “With the connection, I had to have him, and will keep him for my wife Anna to compete and have fun with.”

While Drea was delighted with his purchase, vendor David Conlon was unsurprisingly sad to see him go. “Gavin has gone off to college, so we’ll just keep a couple of young ones for him to compete now,” he said. “It’s been lovely to have bred him,and to have produced him to that level.”

A further two lots realised €7,000, the first of which was Reggie Walsh’s homebred mare (Lot 241) by Lux Z out of a mare by Diamond Clover. A real eye-catcher and lightly produced in training shows, the five-year-old was knocked down to Sussex-based customer Bryony Whittington. The sister of top international Francis, Bryony was making her first visit to Cavan, and will produce this mare to sell on.

Padraig Howley’s young stallion Sligo Candys Boy has been making headlines all season and did so again at Cavan on Thursday evening when his three-year-old son (Lot 241) headed the age group returns at €7,000.

Owned and bred by Mary Brennan in Co Sligo, the well-related bay is the first foal out of Macia (by Semper Odem), who jumped in the RDS both as a three-year-old and under saddle (Cathal McMunn) two years later. This was the first time away from home for this attractive gelding, who looked well bought by Andrew Williams (GHF Equestrian) on behalf of event rider Vicky Tuffs.

“He jumped enough, and seemed the right sort to do the four-year-old classes next year,” said the Monmouthshire-based buyer.

Of the remaining lots, the most solid trade belonged to the hunters and all rounders. Although not spectacular, the market remained steady and heading the group at €6,000 was Eimer Staunton’s six-year-old Moylaw Squerve (Lot 217) by Moylaw Alabama.

In the same ownership since a three-year-old, and the winner of 20 SJI points, he was one of a large consignment knocked down to Trade Horse Ltd of Co Meath.

FOUR-YEAR-OLDS

Sale-topper aside, the quality among the four-year-old age group was varied and, as a result, demand was selective. Just five broke the €4,000 barrier, and at €5,800 the highest price went to Leslie Goudie’s Carrickadawson Sarco (Lot 129). Bought last year, the son of Shannondale Sarco had been slowly produced for sale and was eventually secured by Castleblayney show jumping rider Lauren McCabe. “I came to buy another one, but I had a sit on him and liked him,” she said afterwards.

THREE-YEAR-OLDS

The three-year-old sessions ran late into the evenings and, although the main bulk of buyers had retired to their homes and hotels, the purists remained on site. None reached the €3,000 mark on Wednesday evening, but an improvement in quality on Thursday saw several sell well. The aforementioned gelding by Sligo Candy Boy was the clear sale-topper, but others to impress included Vincent Meaney’s Mallards Quality Boy (Lot 250), a gelding by OBOS Quality out of Mallard Flight by Diamond Serpent. Bred by Sean Barron in Co Wexford and sourced by his Co Clare producer as a yearling, he was snapped up by Adrienne Daly as a show jumping and working hunter prospect.

PONIES

Prominent Swedish pony buyers Annika Linde and Pierre Ljungh were on holiday in Thailand last week but, despite their absence, ponies sold fairly well. There were no big returns, but compatriot S. Westberg accounted for the highest price lot when parting with €5,000 for Ciaran Nallon’s Lisboy More Clover (Lot 191). The five-year-old 148cms performer was by the good sire of jumping ponies Moores Clover, and had lightly competed in classes up to 1.10m level to gain a few points under rules.