SEVEN of the 18 lots forward (23 catalogued) in Friday’s hunting and eventing horse and pony sale at Mullingar Equestrian found new homes.

This was the centre’s second year to run such a sale which followed the ‘Show and Go’ format established previously by the Traditional Irish Horse Association. Lots were showcased in the international grass arena where they jumped a course of fences comprising logs, a dyke and hedge.

The top-priced lot at €11,800 was Knockash Kimberly (Lot 3) who was sold by her Co Galway breeder, Liam McAlinden, to Britain’s Beverley Porter.

The six-year-old grey Castlelawn Galloway mare, who is out of Knockash Biscuit (by Merry Mate), has six Showjumping Ireland points, which were earned this season, and has competed at unaffiliated one-day events.

Co Longford’s Emer Esler received €9,000 from Niall McGarry for her black Sligo Candy Boy mare Tenelick Candy Girl (Lot 6) who was bred in Co Longford by James Teague out of Dernahatten Dusk (by Golden River). The five-year-old hunted with the Co Longford Harriers for a season, has attended Riding Club training and jumped up to 1.10m at training shows.

Germany’s Hans-Friedrich Nagel, who was also among the purchasers at Saturday’s performance sale, gave €8,000 for the ex-racehorse Misneach (Lot 13). The six-year-old Mahler gelding was consigned by Co Kildare trainer Sabrina Harty who saddled the bay to run three times – in a bumper, over hurdles and on the flat.

Since retired off the track, Misneach has competed under Dressage Ireland rules and was second in the Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored five-year-old final last autumn.

He has also competed at training shows and been cross-country schooled. He was bred in Co Wexford by Martina Doran out of the Compton Place mare Moon Light Shadow.

Performance sale

There was a clearance rate of 65% at Saturday’s performance horse and pony sale for three-year-olds and upwards where 13 lots were knocked down to Derwin Sport Horses including the six top-priced animals.

“There was a good trade, especially if you were selling!” said Athlone-based dealer Jim Derwin. “If you’re buying, horses and ponies are expensive these days – they’re making top dollar – and Covid-19 has just made things more awkward with the online bidding and everything.”

Derwin parted with €9,000 for Sean Keane’s Irish Sport Horse gelding, Moydrum Black Jack (Lot 58), a black four-year-old by Moore’s Clover who has been well-schooled on the flat and across the country. Standing around 15.3hh, he is a full-brother to the Grade A mare Ballynoe Galway Girl and to Bearnaderg Clover who is jumping in Britain.

Derwin had earlier given €8,800 for Clarissa Doherty’s 15.1hh Connemara mare, Lisrua Debbie (Lot 47), who has been performing well at training shows. The 15.1hh five-year-old roan Coral Misty’s Bobby mare is out of Katie’s Dream, by Matty’s Rock.

Lot 47, the Connemara mare Lisrua Debbie, was sold for €8,800 to Jim Derwin

Another five-year-old among the top six lots sold was Captain Bruce (Lot 70), a black cob with no recorded pedigree for whom vendor David Cole received €8,200. The 16hh gelding has jumped successfully at 80cms and 90cms levels in registered company at Mullingar Equestrian and has been schooled cross-country and hunted.

Mr Boy (Lot 33), for whom Derwin gave Co Tyrone’s Roisin Blayney €8,000, was described as a ‘dream pony’ who has been ridden in all Pony Club activities, including mounted games. The 13-year-old 14.1hh grey gelding, who has also taken part in endurance riding events, is a full Connemara being by Forest View Sparrow out of the Castleside JJ mare Forest View April.

Top-priced three-year-old

The top-priced three-year-old at the sale at €8,000 was Michael Keane’s Moveen Ascalon (Lot 75), also purchased by Derwin. The 16.2hh chesnut gelding, who was bred in Co Clare by Jenny Glynn, comes from the first Irish Sport Horse crop of foals by the British-bred Galileo stallion Ascalon out of Travellers Girl, by The Traveller.

The top-priced three-year-old at the sale at €8,000 was Lot 75, Michael Keane’s Moveen Ascalon

Co Down’s Fergal King purchased a trio of three-year-olds, giving Michael Morrin €7,200 for his black Greenvale Draco gelding who was bred in Co Mayo by Gabriel Slattery out of the Welcome Flagmount mare Welcome de Revel.

He parted with €7,000 for Jim Cullen’s gelding (Lot 78), a Padraig Howley-bred son of Sligo Candy Boy. The bay is out of the DPB Landlord mare Sligo Landlady, a half-sister to the Verdi mare Castlefield Mieke (CSI3*) and to the Ard VDL Douglas stallion, Castle VDL Douglas.

King only had to give €2,100 for Declan O’Brien’s traditionally bred ISH filly (Lot 80) by Mountain Diamond. She is the only foal registered on CapallOir out of the non-winning thoroughbred mare Executive Games (by Executive Perk) who also bred three Weatherbys-registered progeny.

The last of these is the six-year-old Arctic Cosmos gelding Vintage Prosseco who won a bumper at Limerick last November for the Gavin Cromwell yard.