ON the back of February’s lively opener, the team at Cavan return to action to host a one-day mixed renewal next Tuesday. Offering a range of horses and ponies to suit all, this edition sports a varied selection of stock and, despite a smaller catalogue to that of 12 months ago, there appears to be plenty of attractive individuals on offer. Standing out among the entries are the experienced show jumper Tempo Mizpah (Lot 33) and the well-related mare Sugar Cara (Lot 41), while proven, warranted hunters also appear to hold an especially strong hand.

Looking at the stallion table, Padraig Howley’s ever-commercial Sligo Candy Boy remains the heavy hitter, with four lots forward. Also prominent is the up and coming Lagans OBOS Quality (3), while the remaining sires are very varied. Only a further four have multiple entries and, with two apiece, they are the Drumhowan- based thoroughbred Lucarelli, the popular newcomer Echonix, Coolballyshan Stud’s Vivant de Heffinck, together with the veteran My O My.

PONIES

Lot 9 Farran Rhona, reg 12 yo gr m 148cm by Roswat Prince out of Dunguaire Lily (Robe Earl). Described as ‘a diamond of a pony’, this full Connemara mare is proven as an ideal family pony. Sporting Class 1 breeding, she is said to be level-headed with a novice, but also has plenty of go for the more confident rider. Happy to jump ditches, banks, logs et cetera, and brave both inside and outside the arena, she is thought to be a super prospect for Connemara and working hunter classes.

Lot 12 Doadhbeg Boy, reg 7 yo pal g 148cm. This smart individual is fully measured and is the winner of 10 SJI points to date. Currently competing up to 1.0m level, he is brave and honest across country and will suit any discipline.

Lot 16 Knocka Darcy, reg 5 yo dun m 148cm. Darcy has hunted with the North Tipperary hounds, has competed in training shows and is registered with the SJI for this current season. She is described as having a fabulous temperament, has three good balanced paces and is a pleasure to work with.

Lot 20 Dunloughan Midas, reg 5 yo b g 148cm by Kings Cornet out of Gold Clonberne (Dunloughan Scot). Attractively bred by a son of Cornet Obolensky and from a Connemara maternal line, this fully measured youngster is fully warranted and, ready for the season, already has 3 SJI points.

Lot 21 Harwel Drummer Boy, reg 6 yo b g 128cm. One for the smaller competition rider, Drummer Boy has accumulated 43 SJI points. Thought to be an ideal prospect for the RDS 128cm (six- and seven-year-old) qualifiers this year, he has also proved successful in working hunter classes and is well schooled cross-country.

Lot 27 Slieve Rushen Susie, reg 4 yo gr f 148cm by Fitzpatrick out of Monaghanstown Dromore Grey (Village Boy). Bred to perform, this well-related Connemara filly is a full-sister to the British-based event and working pony Rushen Frank. The latter has competed successfully under British Eventing rules, as well as in the working hunter/sports pony ranks where he qualified for HOYS last year, the Burghley Gold Cup and claimed the Pet Plan dressage area championship. Ready to produce, this filly rides very well on the flat, moves well and has a great attitude to her work. She has jumped at a handful of training shows, where she is showing the promise and scope over a fence to make a top competition pony.

Valerie McCallister and Sugar Cara (Lot 41) at the Dublin Horse Show 2018 \ ES Photography

COMPETITION HORSES

Lot 33 Tempo Mizpah, reg 8 yo b m 168cm by Sligo Candy Boy (dam unrecorded). A catalogue standout, this daughter of Sligo Candy Boy is up for sale due to study commitments. Thought ideal for a competent young rider, she is the winner of 99 SJI points to date, and has a good, current record up to 1.25m level.

Lot 36 Gallagher, reg 8 yo b g 170cm by Amant du Chateau (Diamant du Semilly) out of Rien Q’une (Ephebe Forever). This French-bred gelding has been competing in 1.25m classes with a young rider, proving both scopey and careful. Carrying a career total of 21 SJI points, he has also schooled across country.

Lot 41 Sugar Cara, reg 7 yo b m 172cm by Cara Touche out of Sugar Sweet (Porsch). A very smartly bred mare and with brood mare potential, Sugar Cara won the yearling championship at the Balmoral Show in 2018. As a four-year-old, she was a silver finalist on the Youngsters Tour, and the following year qualified for the Cavan Classic. With an extensive blacktype pedigree, the dam is a full-sister to the European championship and five-star event horse Sugar Brown Babe (Sarah Ennis), as well as to fellow international CCI* campaigners Sugar Bunnie and Sugar Bob and a further four graded jumpers.

Lot 42 Ardglen Star Happiness, reg 7 yo ch m 164cm by Road To Happiness out of Ardglen Star Dancer (Crosstown Dancer). A traditional Irish Draught/thoroughbred cross, this mare won the four-/five-year-old performance class at Balmoral in 2021. Ridden by a 14-year-old, she has been lightly campaigned up to 1m, has competed in schools show jumping and has schooled cross-country.

Lot No 45 Annaghmore Capitol Junior, reg 7 yo gr g 170cm by Quite Capitol 11 out of Shannondale Naomi (Darco). Suitable for amateur or a young rider, this gelding is the winner of 22 SJI points. Thought likely to excel in either eventing or show jumping, he has also been hunted and is good across country. Well-related, the dam is a half-sister to the international event horses Shannondale Mel (CCI4*), Shannondale Icarus (CCI4*), Shannondale Harmony (CCI3*) and Shanondale Levi (CCI1*).

Lot 60 JAG Pretty Woman, reg 5 yo b m 166cm by Tyson out of Kalibra (Countach). A mare with three good paces and a snaffle mouth, Pretty Woman has competed in numerous training shows and is thought ideal either for the RDS Young Rider qualifiers or equally suitable to make an event horse. She is a half-sister to several graded jumpers, as well as to the international event horse Winterdown Flamenco.

Lot 64 Warrior, 5 yo bl g 153cm (breeding not recorded). For those looking for a proper Irish cob, this push button performer has a long list of wins and placings in working hunter, show hunter and combined trainning classes. Fully warranted, he has competed in a pony club show jumping league and has hunted on three occasions.

Lot 70 Ardglen Miss Lucky Feet, reg 5 yo m 153cm by Lucarelli out of The Mistress (Master Imp). Not overly big, but well-related, this straightforward mare is the first progeny out of the Joseph Murphy-piloted advanced event horse The Mistress (CCI1* and EI 115 level).

HUNTERS

Lot 43 Cappog Pollux, reg 7 yo b g 175cm by Pollux de Muze out of Zeepaard (Athletico). Described as a machine to hunt, this big gelding will go first or last. A regular with the Tara Harriers and the Donegal Harriers, he is a good mover and also has the abilty to make a show jumper or an event horse.

Lot 47 Aglish Pet, reg 6 yo b g 167cm by Huntingfield Sunny C (dam unrecorded). This experienced campaigner has followed the Leitrim and the Sligo Harriers for two seasons. Ridden by both the master and the whipper-in, he has proved brave across any type of country, and thought likely to especially shine in big jumping country.

Lot 49 KMS You Can Do It, reg 6 gr g 170cm by Inaico VDL out of KMS Juliette (Womanizer). A mare with a great temperament, who has show jumped and hunted for two seasons. Happy to jump gates, ditches, hedges and wire, she rides well on the flat and has shown clear ability to go further in show jumping, eventing or hunting.

FOUR-YEAR-OLDS

Lot 83 KSH Centennial Imp, reg 4 yo b m 158cm by Centennial out of Emblem Imp (Laughtons Flight). For the traditionalists, this filly is unbroken (due to lack of time) but is very easy to work with. Attractively bred, her dam is a half-sister to the smart Grand Prix jumper Porschs Diamond, while the maternal line features the sires Master Imp and Diamond Clover.

Lot 84 Annaghmaconway Tully, reg 4 yo gr g 168cm by Gortfree Hero out of Annaghmaconway Sky Crest (Luke Skywalker). This full Irish Draught, whose breeding goes back to Sea Crest, has hunted with the Leitrim Harriers for one season. Described as suitable for any rider, and with a wonderful temperament, he will go first or last and is a very careful easy ride.

Lot 86 Doonaveeragh Lass, reg 4 yo b m 165cm by Lagans OBOS Quality out of Doonaveeragh Seabrae (Creevagh Grey Rebel). This well-related filly has competed in training shows and has schooled across country. With future paddock potential, she is a half-sister to the American-based jumper Doonaveeragh Balou (1.50m). while the dam is a sister to the event horse Balta Zar (CCI2*).

Lot 88 Kilcahills Son, reg 4 yo gr g 164cm by Castlegar Cool Grove out of Kilcahill Sweetheart (Huntingfield Rebel). Another for the Irish Draught enthusiasts, this young gelding has schooled over cross-country fences and show jumping. He is thought to have the potential for the RDS Performance Irish Draught classes.