HAVING opened the year promisingly, and hoping for more of the same, Cavan stages its second performance sale next Wednesday. The catalogue is somewhat reduced from that of 12 months ago, but despite this, the edition appears strong with some notable performance stock holding entries.

The younger age groups also look stout on paper, while the ponies - which are always solid sellers - are well supported. In the stallion ranks, the two heavy hitters OBOS Quality and Sligo Candy Boy are well represented throughout, with a total of nine lots between them.

Ponies

Lot 6 Jack McCann, reg 19 yo bl g 138cms. Featuring among the early lots, Jack is a Grade A jumping pony with a wealth of mileage and some impressive form. Having competed up until the end of last season, he was the winner of the April pony championship at Cavan and headed the spring tour. Well placed in several leagues, he was also the top Ulster pony at the national pony championships last year and was a member of the Ulster interprovincial teams two years in succession. He was the top Ulster pony at the national pony championships last year.

Lot 7 Good Girl Poppy, reg 10 yo sk m 138cms. Sadly outgrown, Poppy has done it all and thought ideal for a child wishing to move up through the levels. A member of the Clew Bay Pony Club, she qualified for the National Classic 1.m championships, as well as the Robbie Bailey and Alice Mernagh festivals.

Lot 19 Jigsaw, reg 8 yo sk m 138cms. Described as a fantastic all-rounder, Jigsaw is a brave, forward but safe pony who enjoys everything she does. She competed at the RDS last year, has jumped in the age classes, and has hunted for two seasons.

Lot 21 Kassimos Sweet Tooth, reg 6 yo gr m 148cms. One for the future, this good looking pony has 21 SJI points to date, together with a very clean record. Believed to be a sport horse/Connemara cross, she has also hunted.

Lot 34 Lynncot Lord Sapphire, reg 4 yo dun g 148cms by Gwennic de Goariva out of Lynncot Lucky For Some (Westside Mirah). One of several of the native breed on offer, this young pony is ready to produce further. He is currently show jumping around 90cms tracks, has been lightly hunted and looks an ideal event or jumping prospect.

Lot 35 Killossery Katie, reg 6 yo b m 148cms by Newmarket Venture out of Killossery Robins Nest (Master Imp). Bred in the purple, and described as having the ability to match, Katie is probably the stand out pony in the sector. Considered a real contender for the RDS this coming season, and with 56 SJI points won to date, Katie is the second recorded foal out Killossery Robins Nest, a good grade B jumping mare who represented Ireland at Le Lion d’Angers as a six-year-old. This exciting pony has been produced carefully with her future in mind.

Older competition horses

Lot 39 Dante, reg 13 yo b g 155cms. One of the early lots among the horse ranks, Dante is a true all-rounder and is described as an ideal family horse. He has enjoyed a successful showing career, as well as in the show jumping ring and dressage arena. In the latter discipline he regularly competes in the riding club leagues and was placed second in the national championships.

Lot 46 TC Quality Cruise, reg 9 yo ch g 165cms by OBOS Quality out of TC Miss Cruise (Cruising). Another individual with plenty of mileage, this gelding has carried an amateur in show jumping classes up to 1.20m. The winner of 65 SJI points, he has also hunted with the Dungarvan Foxhounds, and evented.

Lot 46A Junior Kannan, reg 9 yo b g 170cms by Castlelawn Captain Junior out of White Kannan (Kannan). One of the catalogue stand outs, this Grade B jumper has competed up to Grand Prix level to clock up 161 SJI points.

Lot 47 Riverfield Kannafanta, reg 8 yo ch m 157cms by Kannan (dam unrecorded). This diminutive performer is a successful small riding horse, who competed at the RDS last year. In addition, she has accumulated 43 SJI points in classes up to 1.10m level, she has hunted, and also thought likely to event.

Lot 57 Bit of Mischief, reg 7 yo b m 162cms by Contendro out of Savannah Twist (Olympic Lux). An attractively bred mare, Bit of Mischief is well established on the flat and has evented and jumped to 1m level. Well related, she is a half sister to Into Mischief (CCI3*) while the dam was also a useful mare in classes up to 1.10m.

Lot 64 Grovehill Candy Cavalier, reg 6 yo br g 162cms by Sligo Candy Boy out of Grovehill Lady (Mohill Cavalier Clover). The winner of approximately 30 SJI points in classes up to 1.30m, this gelding is warranted in all repsects and described as suitable for any level of rider. He headed the summer league final at Mullingar and was placed fifth in the All Star final at the same venue. He also jumped clear in the ISH Studbook series.

Lot 68 MS Cavacruise, reg 6 yo b m 165cms by Cruisings Micky Finn out of Our Cavalier (Cavalier Royale). Cavacruise has been competing at 1.20m level to win 22 recorded SJI points. An ideal young rider prospect, and eligible to jump in the RDS qualifiers, she is an honest, scopey mare who loves to jump. She has also been schooled across country and was hunted as a four-year-old.

Lot 79 Spring Lux, reg 5 yo b m 164cms by Tyson out of Rockspring Lux (Lux Z). Lightly produced last season, Spring Lux qualified for the Youngster Tour grand final and competed in her age classes. A high class mare, she looks to have the ability to jump at the top level.

Lot 89 Ballykealy Stella, reg 5 yo b m 165cms by Big Dan Du Rouet out of Levallys Girl (Russel). By the Liam O’Meara ridden young jumping stallion Big Dan Du Rouet (by Querlybet Hero), this mare has accumulated 22 SJI points in classes up to 1.10m.

Lot 95 Mr Mercedes, reg 5 yo gr g 168cms by Pointilliste out of Slaney Master Cruise (Master Imp). Carrying an exceptional event pedigree, this gelding is out of a full-sister to the Olympic event horse Master Crusoe (Aoife Clarke) as well as to the three-star campaigner Slaney Imperial Cruise. Mr Mercedes has competed at training shows and is now ready to progress further.

Hunters

Lot 53 Munthers Bash, reg 8 yo ch g 170cms by Munther out of Brookfield Miss Lux (Lux Z). This versatile individual has been well hunted with the South Union Foxhounds and is the winner of 24 SJI points.

Lot 97 Ballyhearne Patsy, reg 4 yo gr g 165cms by Tors Gentleman Farmer out of Beech Hill Jane (Powerswood Purple). One for the future, this easy Irish Draught gelding has been lightly hunted with the North Galway Foxhounds on three occasions this season.

Lot 119 Apache, reg 4 yo app g 158cms by Rebel Mountain out of Miss Apache Poppy. A smart sort, Apache has hunted this season proving very sensible. He has plenty of ability to jump and will be a lovely horse to produce as small event horse or showjumper.

Four-year-olds

Lot 121 Unnamed, reg 4 yo ch g 16hh by Sir Jim Jim out of Ballykealy Cruise (Quarlybet Hero). An exciting youngster by the very promising young Grand Prix jumping stallion, this gelding is out a half-sister to the international campaigner Russel Style (1.50m). Second dam is by Cruising.

Lot 123 Wellview Cruise Striker, reg 4 yo gr f 157cms by Numero Cruise out of Geelong Speed Line (Maltstriker). A slowly produced filly who is a half-sister to the international jumper Wellview Lucy. Other siblings incude the British-based event horse Wellview Captains Boy, and Wellview Lux Striker (1.30m).

Lot 128A TWS Clara, reg 4 yo b f 160cms by Vivant Van’t Heffinck out of TWS Carnival (Shannondale Sarco). This exceptionally well-related filly has been to training shows and is easy to work with. She is the second progeny of the dam, who is a half-sister to the jumper Quick Dollar (aka Camaron Hills Quick Dollar) who competed at 5* level (1.60m) for both USA and Canada. Another half-sibling to the dam is the British-based event horse Cavalier Micky Finn (CCI4*) while adding depth, the second dam is a sister to Cavalier Carnival (1.60m).

Lot 132 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b f 165cms by Colandro out of Crosskeys Lady (Limerick). One of eight three-year-olds on offer, this smartly bred filly is out of the useful Children On Horses mare Crosskeys Lady (1.20m). Hailing from a very stout maternal line, the dam is a sibling to the up and coming German-ridden Nations Cup event horse Black Ice (CCI4*), and to the Irish owned Bikini (CCI3*) and Malcolm X (CCI2*).

Cavan Horse Marketing Centre

Address: Cavan, Co Cavan.

Telephone: 049-4332017

Fax: 049-4331400

Email: info@cavanequestrian.com

Web: www.cavanequestrian.com

Date: Wednesday 29th March 2023

Total Lots. 144 approx (36 ponies)

Performance Sale: 10am

Last year’s top lot: Sean Hynes’ Agharanny Chloe Clover, seven-year-old 148cms mare by Boherdeal Clover (dam by Poetic Justice) €23,500