CAVAN’s final sport horse renewal of the year delivered a buoyant trade and some of the venue’s best returns of the season. Closing on a welcome high, trade proved extremely strong for horses and ponies of all ages and disciplines, and bettering the 2016 figures by a distance, a five-year-old son of Mermus R realised the session’s best price at €15,300.
Most encouraging was the size of the crowd over the two days, and while some of the regular Scandinavian visitors were missing, there were plenty of British buyers to compensate. Their contribution led to a healthy 69% clearance (54% in 2016) together with a notable hike in the average to €3,636 (€2,463). It was equally pleasing to see the vast majority of these sales conducted through the sales ring, and reflecting, Stuart Clarke commented: “Trade was very good, and it’s pleasing to end the year on a good note. The market has been improving all year, and these results enforce that.”
Demand was at its most solid for hunters, and well produced three-year-olds, but standing out to head the sale was Frank Casey’s Galwaybay Dundee (166), a five-year-old show jumper by Mermus R. Bred by Justin Burke out of the Quick Star mare Contesse, he was sourced by his vendor two years ago. In the interim he had clocked up 21 SJI points under Co Wexford producer Jason Higgins and his obvious potential was not lost of Graham Smith, who eventually signed the docket at €15,300.
Leicestershire-based Smith and his show jumping wife Holly are well known for their preference for the Irish horse, and will be hoping this one will follow in the footsteps of their previous performers Dougie Douglas and Quality Old Joker. “I had my father John with me, which is when I usually buy an expensive one – he’s a bad influence,” jested Smith. “I had watched the horse jump last year, and on seeing him again I decided to take a punt on him. He’s smaller and lighter than I would usually buy, but there will always be a market for him.”
As the vendor, Frank Casey was equally pleased with the outcome. Although the Co Clare producer and pinhooker usually turns his stock over as younger horses, he always enjoys having one on the circuit. “Olive Clarke rode him here for me while Jason did a super job of producing him, and I say he’ll go on to be a good one,” he remarked.
FOUR-YEAR-OLDS
Numerically the smallest of the age groups, just nine four-year-olds changed hands. The quality was mixed, but standing out to easily head the sector at €9,000 was Dorothy Wilson’s home-bred Templepatrick Tango, a gelding by Je T’Aime Flamenco out of Premier Touch Royale (Touchdown). Bred to perform, he is a half-brother to the current national CNC* event champion Templepatrick Cooley (Katie O’Sullivan), as well as the useful eight-year-old Templepatrick A-Z (1.30m), who under Peter Smyth has clocked up 67 SJI points.
“He’s bred to do both jobs,’’ commented Wilson, “But although eventing seems to be the route, he has a great jump too.” Successful buyer and dealer John Hancock certainly thought so, and remarked that he will go show jumping if not sold beforehand.
THREE-YEAR-OLDS
All the pundits were out to view the three-year-olds, and it was never going to be easy to buy a good one. As selective as ever, buyers clustered for the better individuals, and the market could not separate the merits of two smart geldings who realised €9,100 apiece. First up was Annette Walsh’s home-bred son (97) of Sligo Candy Boy out of the traditionally bred mare Welcome Holly (by Ginger Holly). One of many eye-catchers by the stallion, who was described by auctioneer George Chandler as the sire of the moment, this smart individual was knocked down Co Clare show jumping rider Saoirse Dobson. “This is the first by Sligo Candy Boy that we’ve had, but I know the line, spotted him and liked him,” she said.
Selling as the last lot on the opening day, and realising the same return was a gelding (212) consigned by Wilson Equestrian on behalf of Co Wicklow man Jim Rogers. An attractive sort by Russell out of Stakkato Rain (by Stakkato), he was the subject of a lively exchange before selling to Ray Thornton, father of show jumping rider Catherine.
Other good prices included €6,800 paid by Jim Derwin for another of the Sligo Candy Boy progeny (192), and €6,500 for a Plot Blue gelding (90) who was secured by Willie Lapsley. The latter, who was consigned and bred by Leanne Paul, was notably well bred, and being out of GHS Cyprus Hill (Saracen Hill) was closely related to Shalom Roxanne who jumped to 1.30m level under Cavan’s proprietor Stuart Clarke, and to Mary King’s Olympic event horse Imperial Cavalier. This gelding will remain on home turf, and will be produced by Lapdley’s son, show jumper Kenneth Graham.
The remaining lot to make €6,000 or more was Padraig Woods’ well-related filly (96), once again by Sligo Candy Boy. A flashy sort, she is out of Castlemly Lass (Aldatus Z), and a half-sister to Sligo Candy Cane, who filled third spot in the potential event horse class at the RDS last year. As one of the stallion’s biggest fans, show jumper and producer Gabriel Tunney accounted for this one saying. “I now have 15 of them and I love them,” he said. Among Tunney’s herd is the five-year-old Candy Man who was placed at the RDS and Cavan this year, while his four-year-old Castle OJ also jumped in the RDS.
OLDER STOCK AND PONIES
Sale-topper aside, trade for the older horses stacked up well. The market for hunters was extremely solid, as it was for cobs and ponies. Heading the hunter and riding horse trade was Gortacar Stables’ Arctic Louis (147), an eight-year-old by Luidam who was knocked down to Cheshire dealer Andrew Callwood for €7,000.
As usual at the venue, the pony market was particularly strong, and kicking off Thursday in good style was Joanne Widger’s Inishturkbeg Bright Dawn (109), an eight-year-old grade A jumping pony by Walstead Cartier (dam by Atlantic Prince of Peace). The fully registered Connemara had clocked up 221 SJI points to date, and at €6,600 was knocked down to Swedish buyers IDA Eliases Hallhlint. A sad sale, the mare had been with the Widger family since they sourced her as a foal from Clifden, and had been produced thoughout her career by the vendor’s daughter Laura. Crowning a good day for the Co Waterford family, Laura’s uncle Johnny later sold his offering BM Chello (120) by Ramiro B who, in a private sale is also bound for Sweden at €6,500.
Completing the sale-toppers, the six-year-old Debbicot Orla (115) gave vendor Finola Heslin a good return when she changed hands for €6,300. A daughter of Brooklodge Buster, she was sourced unbroken in the spring and produced by Shaun Heslin. Somerset show jumper Sam Dunning was the happy buyer of this potential show jumper, who will line up next season with his best pony Rathmore Bob.