NEXT week marks the opening of a new sales year at Cavan where a one-day renewal of sport horses will take place on Tuesday, February 28th. Although there are no young stock or Irish Draught sectors as previously advertised, the catalogue of around 150 lots stands up well and offers buyers an interesting and quality range of entries. As usual the sale opens with a strong entry of ponies (53), several of which carry the ‘Premier pony’ tag complete with videos. With an emphasis on performance, many look ideal prospects for the coming season, as do a number of the following older horses which carry proven competition or hunting form. A smaller number of four-year-olds (14) and a single three-year-old will bring the day to a close.
No one sire is especially prominent, but those with two progeny forward apiece are Golden Lariat, KEC Maximum Joe, Lancelot, Luidam, Manor Welcome, Ramiro B, Ricardo Royale and West Coast Cavalier.
PONIES
Lot 5 Tabraghs Moonlight Dancer, reg 9yo gr m 138cms. The first lot to catch the eye is this mare from the intermediate height group. Very versatile, she has successfully competed in a variety of disciplines, including show jumping and cross country. Equally at home in the dressage and working hunter arenas, she qualified in third place for the Dengie finals and won a Northern Ireland working hunter qualifier. Away from competition, she has been an active member of the pony club for the past three years.
Lot 12 Hill Top Boy, reg 15yo ch g 148cms. The first offering from the Premier Selection is Hill Top Boy, a grade B show jumping schoolmaster with 179 SJI points. Only for sale as his rider is over age, he has competed in Ireland and at the Scope Festival in England. Successful up to 1.20m level, he has also taken part in pony club, has competed cross-country and is described as having perfect manners in every way.
Lot 14a Roundstone Jack, reg 7yo gr g 148cms by Linsfort Barney out of Roundstone Mary (Coral Prince). One of several registered Connemara ponies in the catalogue, this gelding is the winner of 50 SJI points. A real all-rounder, and quiet in all respects, he has also hunted, competed in working hunter classes and attended pony club.
Lot 19 Silver Blaze, reg 7yo gr g 148cms. Carrying a very clean record, together with 21 SJI points (from only nine outings), this quality pony has shown lots of potential. A good mover, he has also hunter trialled and is easy in every way.
Lot 30 Sleehaun Sparrow, reg 6yo gr g by Manniard Abel out of Garvagh Sparrow (Monaghanstown Boy). Possibly the pick of the Premier ponies is this young Connemara gelding, who has already clocked up 97 SJI points. Considered to have plenty of scope, he is registered to jump this year and thought to be an ideal prospect for the six/seven-year-old age classes.
OLDER HORSES/
COMPETITION STOCK
Lot 61 CSF Close Shave, reg 9yo b g 173cms by Conquistador out of Surprise Van de Soom (Major de la Cour). The winner of 53 SJI points in classes up to 1.30m, this gelding has also enjoyed success in the show ring. He has won several ridden hunter classes, has been schooled across country and thought to have the potential to event.
Lot 63 Ballyfore Luisa, reg 9yo gr m 168cms by Luidam out of Beau Diamond (Beau Royale). This easy mare is a registered grade C show jumper with 86 SJI points to date. Placed in classes up to 1.10m under an amateur rider, she has proved both careful and scopey and easy in every way.
Lot 71 J Grupo Prom Peter Pan, reg 8yo b g 167cms by Quidam De Revel out of Chapala (Chapultepec La Silla). Belgian-bred, this highly rated gelding has clocked up 29 SJI points in just four months of competition. He has competed to 1.30m level, proving very scopey, brave, easy and honest, and is thought to have the ability to progress to the top of the sport.
Lot 85 Adastra Royale Lady, reg 6yo gr m 159cms by Ricardo Royale out of Adastra Lady Parnell (Furistos Diamond). This mare show jumped last year to clock up 20 SJI points. Now back in work, she is fit and ready to progress further.
Lot 95 Master Keady, reg 6yo b g 168cms by Golden Master out of Augeawee Girl (Cavalier Two For Joy). This attractively bred young horse is competing and has won 35 SJI points in classes up to 1.0m level. He has schooled cross-country, is a good mover and shows the potential to compete in either sphere.
Lot 113 unnamed, reg 5yo g 161cms by Golden Lariat out of Farharine (Silver Cloud). A half-brother to the British Speed Derby and Grand Prix winner Silver Lift (Harriet Nuttall), this gelding is exceptionally well related. He is also a half-sibling to the grade A show jumper Faherine Cliff, and to West Bay and Golden Lariot the Second.
Lot 115 Aston of the Paddocks Z, reg 5yo br g 167cms by Arko 11 out of Quidame Z (Quidam de Revel). Another carrying a smart pedigree is Aston, a promising young horse with plenty of ability. He is a half-brother to the Belgian-based 1.50m show jumper Asqui Z, while his dam is a sibling to four international show jumpers, and from the close maternal family of the sires Cassini 1 and Cassini 11.
Lot 125 Vastlerange Misty Boy, reg 5yo gr g 152cms by Dooneen Just Joey. By the Connemara pony stallion Dooneen Just Joey, this small performer is just embarking on his competitive career. He has been to a few training shows, and has hunted with both the Duhallow foxhounds and the Stonehall Harriers. Thought an ideal small young event horse prospect.
HUNTERS
Lot 67 Ballyskeagh Robertson, reg 9yo ch g by NC Clover out of Ballyskeagh Mary (VDL Arkansas). Well hunted with the Donegal/Tyrone Farmers hunt, this good-moving gelding jumps well and will cross any country.
Lot 97 Fast Echo, reg 6yo gr g 170cms by Fast Silver out of Derrynagarra Echo (Glenagyle Rebel). A fully registered Irish Draught gelding, Fast Echo gelding has hunted with the Leitrim Harriers for two seasons. A mannered weight-carrier, he is very brave and is considered an ideal master’s or huntsman’s horse.
Lot 99 Westie, reg 6yo b g 168cms by West Coast Cavalier (dam by Clover Ali). This fully warranted gelding has followed the Duhallow Foxhounds for two seasons. He is very mannered in all respects.
Lot 129 KEC Lily May, reg 5yo ch m 165cms by OBOS Quality out of KEC Northern Star (Glidawn Diamond). This good-moving mare is currently jumping 1.10m easily. A good prospect for her age classes this coming season, she is showing a great technique and plenty of scope. Home-bred, she is closely related to the two-star event horse KEC Akai.
ALL ROUNDERS
Lot 68 Boswell Lady Luck, reg 8yo liver ch m 158cms by Crosstown Dancer out of Castlelands (IRE) by Rashar. This experienced mare has competed under EI rules, and evented for two seasons in the pony club ranks. She has also been successfully shown in working hunter and small Riding Horse classes, and has followed the North Tipperary hounds on numerous occasions. Brave and safe, she is thought ideal for a young rider making the transition from ponies to horses.
Lot 68a Firagh Lad, reg 8yo ch g 162cms byYoung Convinced out of Namco (Flagmount King). Traditionally bred, this gelding has won numerous working hunter classes, and crowned champion on many occasions. The perfect all-rounder, he has a good jump and is quiet in all respects.
FOUR-YEAR-OLDS
Lot 143 Bonbon Rouge, reg 4 yo ch f 168cms by Sligo Candy Boy out of Amys Lass (Golden River). By the popular Sligo Candy Boy, this athletic filly is the fifth foal out of Amys Lass. She is a half-sister to the British-based show jumper Harmonizer (Womanizer) and is thought to have top competition potential.
FACTFILE
CAVAN HORSE MARKETING CENTRE
Address: Cavan, Co Cavan.
Telephone: 049-4332017
Fax: 049-4331400
Email: info@cavanequestrian.com
Web: www.cavanequestrian.com
Date: February 28th 2017
Time: Performance Sale: (150 lots approx).
Last year’s top lots: Performance Sale: Tom Casey’s Special Chip, 5yo m by Chippison (dam by Carrolls Flight) €9,400.