THERE were more people at Cavan on Thursday for the Irish Draught sale but, again, trading conditions were tough as the market, in every sphere it seems, continues to adjust itself.

Twenty-four of the 101 lots catalogued were withdrawn, leaving 77 to go through the ring of whom 33 were sold, giving a clearance rate of 43%, an aggregate of €92,500 and an average of €2,803.

The top three prices were paid for mares, Co Fermanagh’s Brendan Keown parting with €9,800 for Vincent Burns’s Dolly Herself (Lot 219), an eight-year-old daughter of Fintan Himself out of the Castana mare Springvale Dawn Rose. The grey bred four foals from 2020 to 2023, all fillies, and was sold certified in foal to first season sire WGS Irish Rajah (by Western Blues).

British buyers were far more active on Thursday than Wednesday and the next two highest-priced lots were heading across the water, following their turn in the Cavan ring.

Lancashire’s Chloe Taylor signed the €7,500 chit for ‘Ballymeeney Sue’ (Lot 207), who was consigned to the sale by Co Sligo’s Martin Connolly. This three-year-old Class 1 grey by Castleview Inisfree Farmer is out of the Grosvenor Lad mare Shanwar Dawn.

Lot 207, Ballymeeney Sue, was sold for €7,500 at the Cavan Irish Draught sale \ Cavan

The last lot sold on Thursday, Donal Shine’s Rowels Sarah (Lot 224) will now be residing in Northumberland, having been purchased by ex-pat Dan McCaffrey for €5,600. The three-year-old chesnut by Trumps Warrior out of Rowels Sally (by Penmerryls Rhythm And Blues), is in foal to Baltydaniel Golden Boy.

“I had earmarked six lots, five of which were among the top lots sold,” revealed McCaffrey. “I may have gone slightly above my budget for this mare, but I liked the traditional stamp to her and her breeding. While I’m happy enough to take a foal off her, I think it’s unnecessary to breed from mares that young. You’d like to think they had a job first, be that in competition or on the hunting field, and this mare will be broken and ridden down the line.”

Asked about the sale in general, McCaffrey replied: “I thought the foals weren’t as good as in previous years and some of the mares could have been better produced. Those people who put in the effort to have their stock looking well for the pre-sale photographs and videos deserve to get better prices. There were a few nice two-year-olds in the sale, but there weren’t the buyers for them.

“There are also a lot of stallions out there. I do my homework and, for my own mares, I pick those stallions that are not just popular and producing results, but that suit my bloodlines.

"I love the Irish Draught, they are a lovely animal. You just have to put the effort in and that’s what we do.”

Also heading to Britain are Lot 190, Rachel Sweeney’s two-year-old grey gelding by Beechmore Silver Crest out of Lough Star Katie (by Millhollow Real Mac Coy), for whom Jessica Walker paid €4,000, and Maeve O’Meara’s Callows Georgiana (Lot 206), an 11-year-old show winning mare by Young George out of Athlone Annie (by Sir Rivie). In foal to Dunbeggan Grey Mist, Callows Georgiana was sold for €3,400 to Caroline Harvey.

Two lots made €4,700 apiece. Roscommon’s Edward Connolly gave that amount to secure Martina Coyle’s home-bred Ashtree Dubh Cash (Lot 187), a two-year-old black gelding by Heigh Ho Dubh out of the Scrapman mare Ashtree Susie. Cookstown’s Lisa Talbot did likewise to buy John Boland’s My Woodfield Zoe Brooke (Lot 220), a four-year-old grey mare by Carrickcottage Star out of Springvale Dawn Rose (by Castana) and thus a half-sister to the sale’s top-priced lot.

Consigned by his Co Meath breeder, Gene Ormiston and sold to Co Offaly’s Breda Murphy for €3,200, the top-priced yearling (Lot 182) was a brown gelding by Dernahatten Vision out of the Drumri mare Cherrymount Star, whose progeny to date have excelled in the show ring or the hunting field.

Lot 182, a yearling by Dernahatten Vision, made €3,200 at the Cavan Irish Draught sale \ Cavan

Monaghan’s Vincent Burns also sold the top priced foal at the sale, when Stephen Finn gave €3,100 for Lot 197. Described as “an eye-catching, smart looking colt... with RID stallion or top show hunter potential”, the liver chesnut by Dunsandle Diamond is out of Fuerty Legacy Lady (by Moyglass Legacy).