Top returns

Fairview Stud’s Its Only Magic, seven-year-old 138cm gelding (no recorded breeding) €15,000.

Gabriel Corless’s Rockstown Dundrum, five-year-old gelding by Captain Caruso (dam by Corrib King) €12,200.

Ciara O’Reilly’s Buddy, five-year-old gelding by Pegase Van’t Ruytershof (dam by Luidam) €10,400.

Maja Dym’s Top Cat, five-year-old gelding by Derryveeny Lad (dam by Earl of Newbridge) €10,200.

Michael Moore’s Manulla Galaxy, six-year-old 148cm gelding (no recorded breeding) €9,500.

Report

NOT for the first time at the venue, it was a 138cm jumping pony who made the headlines at Cavan last week. Realising €15,000 to top the one-day fixture by a distance, the Fairview Stud consigned Its Only Magic IV was one of four lots to garner a five-figure return on a busy day of mixed trade.

Overall, demand was steady and, while the figures slipped a little from last year’s outstanding renewal, there were plenty of buyers for the right individuals. Statistically, the clearance dipped to 70% (83% in 2025), which in turn led to an average of €5,697 (€6,547).

Sale topper

No strangers to sale-topping honours, the father and son team of James and Dylan Cregan scored again when their well-campaigned jumping pony Its Only Magic IV (Lot 37) headed the day’s returns at €15,000. A former reserve champion at the Young Irelander in Millstreet and standing just 138cm, Its Only Magic had been entirely produced by 12-year-old rider Dylan. An obvious standout on paper, the seven-year-old grade A gelding had clocked up 450 SJI points to date and, successful in classes up to 1.10m level, had delivered clear rounds in both his RDS qualifiers this year.

“We bought him as a three-year-old and Dylan is the only one to have ridden him,” commented Askeaton-based Cregan. “I thought we might have got a bit more for him, as he has a super record, but that’s how the market valued him on the day, and we have a lot of young ponies coming on.”

Signing the docket was Galway show jumping producer Wesley Ryan, this time on behalf of a Scandinavian client. “I don’t often buy at sales, but it was all very straightforward at Cavan and, having been asked to find a pony, I was pleased to find this one, who was big enough and did the job,” he said. “I still have more to find, as I have a lot of orders, but nice ones are hard to come across.”

Lot 83, Buddy, was sold for €10,400 at the Cavan performance sale

Notables

The stand out among the older stock was Gabriel Corless’s Rockmount Dundrum (Lot 104), who was knocked down to a Cash customer for €12,200. Attractively bred, the five-year-old bay was by the jumping sire Captain Caruso (by Captain Clover) out of the Connemara dam Caltra Lady by Corrib Prince.

Bred by Shane Walsh in Co Galway, he had been produced though local shows and at the Flowerhill try eventing day. “My father and I bought him from Shane as a three-year-old and this was always the plan for him,” explained Corless. “Sadly, my father passed away a few weeks ago, and he would have been so proud of him today. I’m on crutches at the moment, so I must thank Pauric and George Kelly, who rode him at the sale today.”

Earlier in the proceedings, Ciara O’Reilly’s Buddy (Lot 83) also sold well at €10,400. An eye-catching son of Pegase Van’t Ruytershof, he was bred by Marianne Power, and was the first progeny of Cillbhridd Babe (Luidam). Having been lightly jumped last season, the five-year-old looked well bought by British trader James Whyte.

Remaining with the commercial buyers, another bound for the UK at €10,200 was Maja Dym’s Top Cat (Lot 103), a 157cm Connemara gelding by Derryveeny Lad out of Kinard Lucky (Earl of Newbridge). This smart performer had hunted with the North Mayo Harriers for two seasons, as well as jumping in leagues and cross-country.

Lot 103, Top Cat, was sold for €10,200 at the Cavan performance sale

A consistent demand for ponies resulted in a solid trade and, sale topper aside, Michael Moore’s six-year-old Manulla Galaxy (Lot 10) also sold well when changing hands for €9,500. The winner of 19 SJI points under Layla Moore, the six-year-old was secured by regular British customer, Hannah Taylor. Busy at ringside throughout, Taylor also accounted for the nine-year-old TWS Josh (Lot 53) by Shannondale Sarco at €8,100 and paid the same for Rainstown Rebel Anne (Lot 55) by Rebel Mountain.

Also proving popular was Alison Smyth’s Glebe Farm Belle (Lot 51), who, having been a pre-sale pick, had hunted a full season with the Donegal and Fermanagh Harriers. At a healthy €9,200, she was snapped up by Warwickshire hunter trader Kate Lansbury. Another to realise €9,200 was Elizabeth Hayden’s seven-year-old MGG Bridge Brigade (Lot 64) by Caricello, who was secured by Co Cork customer Kieran O’Connor.

With a few exceptions, the younger stock struggled a little to find momentum. The four-year-olds fared the best to deliver five returns in excess of €7,000, with Gro Hylen’s Rocky (Lot 135) selling well at €8,000. Another Connemara-cross, this time by Glenmore Mirah Patrick out of the thoroughbred dam Picpoul de Pinet (Dragon Pulse), he was described by his Dundalk vendor as a ‘once in a lifetime horse’ and was knocked down to Natasha Breen.