DELIVERING one of the best day’s trading in recent years, Cavan enjoyed a highly successful renewal last Thursday. Dominated by competition ponies, the one-day edition closed with a top price of €17,500 together with a turnover of over half a million euros.
While this April fixture has always been a lively one, the figures showed improvement across the board with only the clearance slipping marginally to a still healthy 78% (from 82%). The average illustrated an encouraging climb to €6,504 (€5,853) as 11 individuals realised in excess of four figures.
In hindsight, the writing was on the wall. The catalogue had looked stout on paper and, as one of the eye-catchers, it was Joanna Kunc’s home-bred Marvellous Vivant (Lot 58) who scooped the sale topping honours at €17,500.
A proven show jumper, the six-year-old son of Vivant Van De Heffinck had a career total of 94 SJI points and, as the winner of the most recent Woodlands League, had competed to 1.20m level.
“On the day, he gave a very good display and has the most immaculate record,” commented successful buyer Robert Stronge. “He has jumped 60 rounds in his life and has delivered 57 double clears. He also came with a set of x-rays and looks to have a super temperament.”
A regular visitor to the Irish sales, Stronge, together with his wife Bernice, runs a long-established yard in Newbury, Berkshire, where their daughter Poppy is a full-time professional on the jumping circuit. “The ideal with this one would be to jump him on a bit but in reality, we’re a bit short of horses to sell, so he might not be with us very long,” added Stronge.
“He was a lot of money, but nice horses are harder and harder to find, and you certainly can’t steal them any more.”
A tall horse, he was produced throughout by his breeder at the Woodlands Equestrian Centre in Killarney and is the first and only progeny out of the Killinick Bouncer-sired Delilah De. Describing him, Kunc’s spokesman Charlie Coakley commented: “He had great ability and a great temperament. Joanna produced him from a foal, but it was Jamie Landers who put the finishing touches to him over the past few weeks.”
The pair rated him highly and, while he was initially led out unsold, Stuart Clarke quickly finalised a deal at €17,500.
Phenomenal trade
Jumping ponies with form enjoyed a phenomenal trade and receiving two of the top three returns was the Co Clare-based Ciara Hannon. Both ponies were completely home-produced and first up was the hugely experienced Midnight Rain (Lot 21).
A 128cm grade A jumper with 582 SJI points, the 11-year-old had been in the same home for seven years, during which time she had given the vendor’s three children extensive mileage not only through the show jumping ranks, but also in charity rides and cross-country.
“We originally bought her as a four-year-old for my son Michael who was only nine at the time,” explained Hannon. “I thought we were being crazy, but it was the best decision we ever made. All my children - Michael, Emily Kate and Hazel - rode her and she was always so reliable and so honest.”
Bidding online, fellow Co Clare native Fergus Corry accounted for this one at €15,800, while a few lots later Fethard producer Paul Donovan paid €14,000 for Hannon’s six-year-old 128cm gelding Brookhall Royal Ensign (Lot 32) by Hilin Solace.
Brookhall Royal Ensign (Lot 32) made €14,000 at the Cavan one-day April sale
Similiarly home-produced from a three-year-old and the winner of 63 SJI points to date, he was described as having top track potential and a real contender for the six/seven-year-old classes at the RDS this year.
As ponies continued to command the better returns, Glen Walker of GFV Equestrian received €12,500 for his lightly produced 148cm pony Cloudy Cyfor (Lot 29) by Vittorio (dam by Lehenagh Lad). Regular buyer Penny Grimster was the lucky recipient of this Cavan Equestrian-bred youngster, while earlier in the proceedings, Shirley Ladd’s 138cm grade A jumping pony Aughinish Bay Boy (Lot 16) was knocked down to Felix Burke (Burke Bloodstock) for €11,500.
The latter was another home-produced pony, ridden by 14-year-old Dawn Ladd Finn, a niece of top flat jockey Billy Lee. “He came to us as a four-year-old to be produced and we ended up buying him,” said vendor Shirley Ladd. “Dawn has ridden him from zero to Grade A level, but is now out of the age group.We were happy to sell, but in reality its a lot of work and money to get these ponies up through the grades and to win that number of points.”
Completing the pony sale-toppers, Daphne Scholts’ five-year-old 148cm mare Little Ginger (Lot 20) by Lenamore Coolda Cruise was secured by Cian Dore for €10,000.
Cloudy Cyfor (Lot 29) was sold for €12,500 at the Cavan one-day April sale
Five-figures
Although the major spoils fell to the ponies, a total of six horses broke the five-figure barrier with the next best price at €11,500 falling to Ciara Horan’s 13-year-old mare Winsome Z (Lot 33) by Eurocommerce Washington out of Zuccherosa (Nassau).
Featured in the Premier selection and described as a top-class amateur or Children On Horses conveyance, she is a dual winner at the RDS (team and individual) and was another secured by Burke Bloodstock.
Among the premier league in terms of pre-sale marketing, Keith Wilson had a good day at the office when his full Irish Draught gelding It’s the Quiet Bouncer (Lot 68), by Moylough Bouncer, realised €11,500 to a Danish buyer and also when the five-year-old Juan Carlos (Lot 89), by Echo King out of Spanish Fire (Mr Combustible), changed hands online at €10,000.
Younger stock
Trade for the younger stock was weaker in comparison to the earlier bouyancy, but selling well at €11,200 was Caroline Mee’s Bluebell (Lot 111) a mare by the Irish Draught sire Young Zidane.
Sourced from Ballinasloe two years ago and typical of the quiet type in demand, she was snapped up by Mick Smith on behalf of Irish client Robert Sinagoga. “I gave a good bit for her and you always doubt yourself at the time, but I’m delighted with the price,” confirmed Mee, who together with her daughter Susan run a family producing yard in Castletownroche, Co Cork.
Winsome Z (Lot 33) made €11,500 at the Cavan one-day April sale
The Kennedy family rarely leave Cavan without at least one five-figure return and this time they did well when their unnamed four-year-old son (Lot 112) of Vivant Van de Heffinck (dam by OBOS Quality) was secured by Finoula Kelly for €10,000.
Demand for three-year-olds meanwhile was sketchy with the traditionally-bred and Irish Draught stock leading the way. Six lots changed hands with the best price of €4,800 going to Geroid Brouder’s traditionally-bred mare (Lot 130) by Cara Touche (dam Elm Hill).
French customer Helena Hormiere was the successful buyer, while next in line at €4,400 was Castlehouse Grail (Lot 124) a gelding by Inisfree The Holy Grail out of Castleview Farmers Lady (Tors Gentleman Farmer).