MIRRORING this edition of 12 months ago, last week’s Cavan sale-topper fell to a gelding from the three-year-old sector. The obvious standout in this performance sale, Keith Wilson’s Connemara-bred dun returned at €13,600 and while this figure did not emulate the 2021 headline making price, it was one of five lots to exceed the €10,000 benchmark.

With private buyers going head to head with those within the trade, a solid day’s trading closed with a clearance rate of 71% (70% in 2021) and at a slightly reduced average of €5,176 (€5,505).

Wilson’s sale-topping Star Blazer (Lot 130) was a Class two Connemara gelding who although only three, was broken and riding well. Very good to jump, the son of Truskan Boy stood a full 15.2 hands (but not 16.2hh as catalogued) and looked a versatile prospect. He was ridden and produced by Wilson’s partner Hannah Eakins, and in Wilson’s words: “He was gorgeous, and not one you would find every day of the week.”

Signing the docket at €13,500 was British event rider Lawrence Hunt, on behalf of Leicestershire-based event horse owner JD Miles. The latter, who used to attend these sales with his wife Jane, has been a long-term enthusiast of the Irish horse, and while he is not travelling at the moment, he always looks forward to seeing his purchases arriving back in England.

As the better prices spread across the age groups, Cyril Trenier’s six-year-old show jumping mare Tic Toc Candy (Lot 53) realised €12,000. Home-bred, by Sligo Candy Boy out of the Cool Diamond Star-sired Penny Diamond, this useful mare has been campaigned by JP Meegan and Natalie Abedi to win 15 SJI points.

“She started competing late due to the pandemic,” stated Trenier. “She’s a nice mare, and while everyone likes them to make a bit more, I put her on the market at €9,000 and I’m happy enough with the outcome.”

Quiet, well-produced horses with form proved popular throughout, and one such lot was Stephen Lynch’s Barnaboy Peach Cobbler (Lot 33), a nine-year-old gelding by the sport horse sire Cottage Fire. Bred by Conor Connolly out of the mare Oatfield Lily (Puissance), this well-related individual is a three-parts brother to the three-star event horse Barnaboy Peaches and Cream. Described as a gentle giant and ridden by a 16-year-old girl, he has competed in a variety of disciplines and most recently was placed sixth in a ridden hunter class at the RDS. Making the successful final bid at €10,000 was Cavan newcomer Polly Godsafe from Essex.

Co Monaghan-based Keith Wilson has certainly found the key to the demand, and scored again when his cob gelding Straight Jack (Lot 68) changed hands for €10,000. Bought locally, this 155cms five-year-old had no recorded breeding, but again with form in general activities was a type hard to find. Northern Ireland agent Mark English snapped this lot up, who is reputed to be travelling to Scotland.

As prices clustered well, and passing through the ring just one lot earlier, Lisa Carroll will have been pleased when her five-year-old Milly de Muze realised €9,600. A daughter of Triomphe de Muze, although at present lacking recorded breeding, she had competed at training shows as well as cross-country and was secured by English customer Veronika Delicarte.

Another with jumping form was Maura Counihan’s home-bred Killerisk Harper Lee (Lot 44), a seven-year-old mare by Future Trend. Owner-ridden, and the winner of 149 SJI points in classes up to an including 1.20m, this mare was placed in the six-year-old final of the youngster tour last year, and won her class at the finals in Clare Equestrian this season. Very well related and with paddock potential, she is a half-sister to Killerisk Can Ya (1.45m) currently ridden by Francis Derwin. Counihan also competed the imported dam R.Umonia 14, who was the winner of over 100 SJI points. The mare looked very well bought at €9,000 to a cash customer from Denmark.

Younger stock

The four-year-old trade was largely unremarkable, but heading the group at a healthy €8,000 was Jackie Conn’s Kinnego Cavalier Cruising (Lot 78). Making his sole purchase of the day, Jim Derwin accounted for this one, while a few lots later English buyer Hayley Speckman paid €6,400 for Thomas Breen’s home-bred filly (Lot 82) by Olympic Lux out of Georges Park Lady (Harlequin Du Carel).

Sale-topper aside, the three-year-old trade was steady enough, and next in line at €7,400 was Dan Fallon’s big grey gelding Moneencross Blue Ice (Lot 109) by Zirocco Blue VDL out of the predominately traditionally bred dam Annrattabeg Ice Princess (Blackice).

Ponies

The day kicked off promisingly when Paraic Kelly’s 138 cms jumping pony Hendricks (Lot 4) landed the first of the five-figure prices when knocked down to trader Tiernan Gray for €10,700. A catalogue pick on paper, the Connemara-bred six-year-old is by Roberts Pride out of Good As Gold (Tasty Pride) and having begun his competitive career in May last year, has clocked up 125 SJI points. Ridden and produced by Kelly’s daughter Oonagh, he was a multiple league winner in the Duffy’s Equestrian Centre, Glenamaddy and Mullingar and had been described as an exciting pony for the future.

“We bought him as a three-year-old,” commented the Ballinasloe-based vendor. “Oonagh has produced him the whole way, but as she is out of the 138cms classes this year, so it was always the plan to sell him. We could have done so earlier in the year, but she has created a bond with the pony and we didn’t want to take him off her.”

Also selling well at €8,000 was Fiona Donohue’s Connemara filly Erins Eye (Lot 23), a four-year-old pony by Festy The Chief out of Ech Na Sleibhe (Fridericksminde Hazy Move On). Well hunted at the end of last season and described as suitable for any level of rider, she was secured by Dean Curran.

Cavan