TRADE at Mullingar’s Horse and Pony Sale on Saturday proved solid throughout and was largely dominated by Jim Derwin of Derwin Equestrian and Felix Burke of Rock House Stables who, between them, accounted for 10 lots, almost a fifth of the lots forward at the Co Westmeath venue. However, online buyers, including some repeat customers from the UK, also made their presence well felt at the sale securing several lots.

Mullingar’s Declan Fagan said: “Overall, we had close to 80% clearance (79%, 33 of 42 lots shown), there was a particularly nice selection of performance horses, with some very well-bred lots. Among the three-year-olds, Ronnie White’s three-year-old bay gelding by Cobra was an exciting one, sold for €6,200 to Wesley Ryan, WR Sporthorses, and we are looking forward to seeing this horse perform.’’

Wesley Ryan commented: “I’m delighted with this one, he’s a really nice horse in every way. By Cobra and a half-brother to Captains Call, jumping 1.45m in Italy. He was good value and it was a very well run sale. I think this horse has a very bright future in front of him and could go absolutely any road.”

Athlone’s Jim Derwin secured the sale-topper for €10,000 in Sarah Jane Murphy’s well-bred Du Rouet of Boherdeel (Lot 49), a bay gelding showing promising show jumping potential. Derwin also signed for three other lots, including Louise Farrell’s King of Ireland (Lot 36), a nine-year-old 16.1hh skewbald gelding which fetched €6,100. More moderate bids secured Derwin David Carvill’s seven-year-old 14.3hh skewbald gelding (€2,350) as well as Kerry Keegan’s 18-year-old 148cm pony grey mare for €900.

Meanwhile, Felix Burke of Rock House Stables was active throughout the day, accounting for six lots, the most expensive of which was Keith Wilson’s Imperial Gypsy, a four-year-old bay gelding for €4,000 and earlier in the session he also bought Wilson’s four-year-old bay mare Mya for €2,300. Other lots snapped up by Burke included paying €3,300 for Oliver McEvoy’s Tubbarco Lad, a 10-year-old appaloosa-bay gelding, as well as €3,000 for Gene Ormiston’s Goose, a four-year-old black mare. Burke also paid €2,800 for James Creagan’s Paris, a five-year-old bay mare and gave another €1,500 for Tom Flanagan’s three-year-old Connemara filly.

A Swedish home awaits Lot 4, Ashling Burke’s high performing 11-year-old 138 cm grey gelding Kevelle which sold to a cash buyer for €6,200. The Connemara type, described as a mannerly pony with great ability, boasts an impressive 351 SJI points in the 138 category.

Repeat online customers

Repeat online UK purchaser, Therese Englefield of Maricots Equestrian Centre in Essex, made her presence felt at the sale once again. Englefield purchased online at both the September Select Hunter Sale and at the September Performance Sale and being very happy with her purchases, she bought two last Saturday. These included paying €4,300 for Lot 37 James Creagan’s Dysart Tola, a five-year-old grey gelding and also €3,300 to secure Charles Gilroy’s Quivvy Lady, a five-year-old grey mare (Lot 50).

Online UK customer Therese Englefield paid €4,300 for James Creagan's Dysart Tola (Lot 37) at Mullingar Sales \ John Cauley

London produced another online customer at Mullingar in Jane Abbot of Abbeyfields Equestrian Centre, near Hayes in west London. She had reportedly been keeping a close eye on the online catalogue prior to the sale and was quick off the mark to purchase Lot 2, Gerard Clarke’s very pretty four-year-old 128cm bay mare Madonna IV, described as showing a lot of promise over jumps.

Coming away double-handed from Mullingar was Ballinasisla Stud’s Richie Fitzgerald who paid €4,000 for Dominic Keane’s Letterlough Chase, a nine-year-old 16hh grey gelding and €3,200 for G.F. Walker’s River Field Sky, a 10-year-old bay gelding.

Another to take home two was Carl Dore who struck early to buy two lots forward from Padraig O’Reilly, a five-year-old 148cm pony gelding for €2,700 and a five-year-old dark bay 150cm gelding, Drum Lane Blackey, for €2,500.

Meath-based Trade Horse Ltd had a quieter outing by usual standards, buying one lot for €3,000, Philip Morgan’s 11-year-old grey gelding (Lot 46).