DELIVERING a top return of €13,800 together with two more five-figure prices, Cavan’s seasonal opener kicked off with a steady market and a solid demand for well-produced, proven stock. Following last year’s trends, performance horses commanded the most interest, with a grade A show jumper and a successful working hunter pony heading the returns.

Driven largely by the trade customers, the overall figures were similar to those of 12 months ago. At the close of play, the average of €5,364 (€5,342) illustrated a marginal increase, while a little disappointingly, the clearance slipped to 65% from 73% at the equivalent renewal last year.

Sale topper

Typical of the type in demand, Erika Peciulyte’s Cruz N (Lot 58) headed the day’s trading at €13,800. A nine-year-old mare by the former Drumhowan Stud resident Cobra 18 out of Funny Girl (Star Cruise), Cruz N had enjoyed a very successful career, regularly performing at 1.20m level to win 60 SJI points. She was bought from her breeder Tony Noble as a four-year-old and has been produced by her vendor throughout. “She was initially bought to keep me out of trouble and she’s taught me so much” said Erika, who runs a busy mixed and pre-training yard adjacent to Gordon Elliott’s training base in Co Meath. “She has done everything for me, including the RDS qualifiers, six-bar classes and derbies, and sadly her sale is simply due to lack of time.” Busy Co Sligo trader Tiernan Gray accounted for this smart performer, adding her to his overall tally of nine lots.

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Lot 28, Emily Vial's Coco Carel, a six-year-old dun mare by Cornfield Prince, made €12,000 \ Cavan Equestrian Centre

The smaller of the species

Fulfilling her pre-sale pick to realise €12,000 was Emily Vial’s Coco Carel (Lot 28), a six-year-old 148cm dun mare by the Connemara sire Cornfield Prince out of Harlequin Charm (Harlequin du Carel). A big winner in the show ring, she has enjoyed many successes, among which was winning the Charleville side saddle championship and filling the reserve working hunter champion at the Hollypark spring show. She was bred by Paddy Reidy in Co Limerick, from whom Vial sourced her last year. “I had been trying to buy her for four years before Paddy agreed to sell her to me,” she revealed. “She has been a complete pleasure. It’s a sad sale, but I really didn’t think we would top our day in Charleville, so I felt now was the time.”

The lucky buyer was Somerset producer Hannah Taylor, who having been very busy buying in Clifden the previous week, settled on just this one from Cavan. “We loved her rideability and the obvious work that had gone into producing her,” she said afterwards. “I loved her Connemara-cross sport horse breeding and she really is the most lovely pony. We already have a customer for her, who loves a dun and will do a bit of everything with her.”

Another of the smaller of the species to achieve a five-figure price, this time at €10,000 and astounding her vendor in the process, was Grace Claffey’s five-year-old pony Satellite Cruiser (Lot 32). Standing just 138cm, the bay mare had been sourced eight months ago and, in the interim, had hunted with the Glasson Farmers and competed in training shows. “I’m completely gobsmacked,” said West Meath-based Claffey. “In my wildest dreams, I never expected so much for her. My little brother Paudie (aged eight) has been hunting her and she’s given him so much confidence.” Limerick-based Joe Barry was at ringside for this lot, who will now be ridden by his daughter.

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Lot 32, Grace Claffey's Satellite Cruiser, a 138cms five-year-old bay mare, made €10,000 \ Cavan Equestrian Centre

Rounding up the older stock, Jim Derwin moved into top gear when securing Francis Buchanan’s Trigger (Lot 91), a five-year-old Irish Draught by Dunbeggan Grey Mist (dam by Kilcotton Cross) for €9,900 and, a few lots later, paying €9,750 for Raheenagurren Stable’s five-year-old Aughvore Beauty (Lot 109) by Vivant Van de Heffinck. A well-bred mare, the latter was out of Ballylean Tower (Womanizer) and had clocked up 13 SJI points to date. She reached the four-year-old show jumping finals both in Cavan and Balmoral, where she was placed sixth overall.

Finally, Tiernan Gray, who was never far from ringside, signed the docket for Eddie Mulligan’s grade A jumper Charlie Goodwin (Lot 47) at €9,600. A 12-year-old by Douglas Cavalier, he had clocked up 257 SJI points under the vendor in classes up to 1.20m level and was described as being ready to progress.

Four-year-olds

Just two of the age group changed hands, with Keith Wilson’s unnamed gelding (Lot 112) realising the best return of €9,400. The pre-sale catalogue pick on paper, the gelding was by Corporal VDL and is the second foal out of Drumiller Sensation (Arko 111). Bred by Catherine Thornton, who also rode the dam to win 146 SJI points, this well-related gelding hailed from a stout maternal line that features both Puissance and Diamond Serpent.