REALISING an impressive €23,500 and topping the day’s trading by a distance, Willie Craig’s home-bred gelding by Luidam was the star performer at Cavan last week.
A seven-year-old with show jumping form, his return crowned a lively renewal, which delivered some of the best results of the year. Demand for proven older horses proved especially strong and, while trade steadied on the appearance of the younger stock, the concluding figures illustrated an upturn in all quarters.
At the close of play, the year’s final edition recorded a very satisfactory 75% (71% in 2023) clearance at an average of €5,507 (€5,157).
SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR TABLE OF SALES RESULTS
Sale topper
Co Tyrone’s Willie Craig had a day to remember, when his home-bred gelding Fyfin Glenn Boy (Lot 45) changed hands at €23,500. A son of Luidam, the seven-year-old gelding was the penultimate foal out of The Classic Porsch (Porsch), a mare that Craig himself competed to win 28 SJI points.
A good broodmare, she has bred eight graded jumpers, as well the American-based event horse Ice Cool Cooley (CCI2*). Fyfin Glenn Boy meanwhile, has clocked up 111 SJI points under Jonathan Smyth and latterly Jennifer Torrens, and was, according to his vendor, “a very good horse who was always going to be worth that price”.
The tussle for ownership was lengthy and, while successful buyer Jim Derwin might have hoped to have paid less, he had strong opposition from the private sector.
Rarely has the Athlone man spoken in such glowing terms about a purchase, but having taken a real shine to the grey, he commented: “He’s a smashing horse - a dapple grey, a bit old fashioned, and the sort you do not see every day.”
Derwin went on to admit that, while he doesn’t have an immediate client in mind, he is unconcerned, and is looking forward to a few days hunting him himself. “He rode well and jumped well,” he added. “Of course, I had hoped to get him for much less, and maybe he’s too expensive, but to the right man he’s going to do his job and much more.”
Notables
Having secured the purchase of 11 lots during the course of the day, one of the busiest buyers was trader Tiernan Gray. The Sligo man opened by buying the top priced pony and capped his collection when securing Alan Fitzpatrick’s imported jumper Nala (Dutchie) for €16,200.
A KWPN-registered daughter (Lot 53) of Entertainer out of Fay (by Clinton), the six-year-old has clocked up a career total of 66 SJI points under Catherine Dunphy and had competed here in Ireland in the four and five-year-old age classes. She had also picked up placings in Belgium and Spain and, only being sold as her owners have emigrated, she was consigned to the capable hands of Co Kilkenny producer Diarmuid Ryan. “We are a bit low on nice used horses, so we thought we would stock up, as they are hard found when you need them,” said Gray.
Lot 18, Lydican Black Star, was sold for €8,000 \ Cavan Sales
Never far from the ringside, he also secured Rachel Moloney’s nine-year-old mare Holmoak Carlotta (Lot 32) for €13,500. Another with jumping form, Carlotta was bought in Germany three years ago and, in the interim, has racked up 97 SJI points.
“We’ve had great fun togther and I wish whoever buys her the very best of luck,” commented her Tralee-based owner. The mare was by Cayetano L out of Stutbuch 1 (Laudator) and was ridden on the day by Christian Kennedy.
The Kennedy family enjoyed a most successful sale at Cavan last month, and their good run continued when their KEC Santiago (Lot 56) changed hands for €12,000. Another to go the way of Tiernan Gray, this home-bred six-year-old was by Lagans OBOS Quality out of KEC Sassari (Aldatus Z).
Quietly produced to win 35 SJI points in this his first season, the well-related Santiago is a half-brother to the event horse KEC Sazzoon (CCI4*) and closely related to the jumpers KEC Aldalice, KEC Valdavici and Quality Collusion.
A further four horses realised five-figure returns and, among those in the older sector, was Tom Fitzgerald’s home-bred Lates Kingdom (Lot 61a). A son of Mermus R, he carried winnings of 35 SJI points and, at €11,500, was one of four horses knocked down to the Normandy-based Horse Elite.
A few lots earlier, Willie Craig scored again, when his Castle Ferro Crus (Lot 34) by Creevagh Ferro was secured by Tieran Gray for €11,000 and, finally, British buyer Gillian King succesfully bid online to account for Keith Wilson’s unnamed gelding (Lot 83) for €10,000.
Four-year-olds
In comparison, demand for the younger horses was steadier and more selective. Kieran Kennedy’s Vivant Van de Heffinck-sired If You Love Me (Lot 87) was the market leader at €13,700, while next in line at €8,000 was Regina Bonner’s My Deelside Calero (Lot 90), a piebald gelding with no recorded breeding.
The former, who was bred by Michael Tyther was out of Farnes Hope by OBOS Quality.
Three-year-olds
Slow to sell in a tricky market, the age group was headed by Peter Mannion’s Bohola Empress (Lot 126) at €7,800. British buyer Ben Shortt was the successful customer for this filly who, bred by Fran Kelly, is by HHS Cornet out of Ghareebs Cruise (Ghareeb).
Late in the evening, Mark Grimes’ gelding (Lot 143) by Cornets Son (dam by Couler Rubin) also sold well at €7,300, while next in line at €4,800 was Jackie Lee’s Ruby (Lot 117), a home-bred filly by Zirocco Blue (dam by Emerald).
Lot 7, a six-year-old pony by I Love You Melody was sold for €8,000 \ Cavan Sales
Ponies
Although not as strong as usual, the pony sector closed positively, when Tiernan Gray paid €9,000 for Ciara Hannon’s 148cm jumping pony Clashroe Jack (Lot 14). A six-year-old with 51 SJI points, Jack had also hunted.
A full report of Thursday and Friday’s sale of Youngstock and Irish Draughts will appear in next week’s edition.
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