AS the sales season moves into top gear, the first of the major three-year-old auctions is due to take place at Cavan next week.

Preceding Wednesday’s performance sale, Tuesday’s pre-selected showcase puts the emphasis on quality over quantity and, as a result, offers a reduced catalogue of just 59 lots.

Selected by Stuart Clarke, together with Alo McEntee (Day 1) and Gabriel Tunney (Day 2), most sport solid blacktype, predominately jumping pedigrees, both imported and home-grown.

In a repeat of 12 months ago, the recently deceased Vivant Van’t Heffinck, together with Sligo Candy Boy, head the numerical stallion lists, but this time the duo share the top placing with the popular Diamant de Semilly.

Others to feature prominently include Conticco, as well as Acorad 3, Cornet Son, Castlefield Kingston, Imnotafraid Fortuna, Pegase Van Ruytershof and Tyson.

As usual, Wednesday’s performance sale offers a broad mix of horses and ponies, but in keeping with the sale’s three-year-old bias, it is this age group that stands out as being exceptionally strong on the second day. Once again, the stallion lists show the dominance of both Vivant Van’t Heffinck and Sligo Candy Boy, who head the list with six progeny apiece.

Performance Sale

Premier three-year-olds

Lot 10 OCS Sopresa. Rg b f 166cm by Dallas VDL out of Coco Chic (by Touchdown). From a world-class contemporary family, this filly is a half-sister to OCS Tolan (Gary Dooley), who is currently competing at 1.40m level. The dam (1.45m) is another smart performer under Michael Duffy, and counts Rincoola Milsean (1.60m) and Rincoola Rua (1.50m) as siblings. The second dam, meanwhile, is the Nations Cup mare Rincoola Abu (1.60m).

Lot 11 Coolnorran Livant, reg 3 yo b g by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Coolnorran Libert (Waldo Van Dungen). Sporting a dual-purpose pedigree, this gelding is a sibling to the American-based Nolo Contender (1.30m), but more significantly is also a brother to the event horse Coolnorran Cooley (CC12*). The latter was one of the leading young horses in Ireland in 2023 and, in the same year, represented New Zealand at the world young horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers. The second dam was a thoroughbred by Kings Ride.

Lot 21, Peggy, reg b f 167cm by Sligo Candy Boy out of Killossery Kardento (Cardento). One of four catalogued lots by Sligo Candy Boy, this filly is from a prolific winning family. The dam is a sibling to FTS Killossery Konfusion (1.60m), to the Lanaken world champion Killossery Kaiden (1.60m) and to Killossery Kuidam (1.50m). The second dam Killossery Kruisette (1.60m) was a major winner and Nations Cup performer under Capt David O’Brien.

Lot 31 Call Me Snoop Dog, reg 3 yo b g 169cm by Tyson out of Oldstone Countess Farra (by Orestus). Dam lightly competed and is a sister to Shane Breen’s Derby and Grand Prix specialist Acoustik Solo du Baloubet (1.60m). Also, to Baccus (1.50m), who under Rowan Williams, was a prominent performer in the USA. The second dam is a sibling to the multiple Grand Prix-winning Riesling du Monselet (1.60m).

Lot 33 After Saarm reg 3 yo ch f 160cm by Harley VDL out of Rosalinda FS (Ahorn). A beautifully bred filly, who counts both the Danish-ridden Valerie (1.60m) and the German-based Why Not FS (1.40m) as siblings. Adding further depth, the dam is a sister to Onassis (1.60m), ridden by Ben Maher and Celentano (1.50m), partnered by Claudia Pedersen.

Lot 37 Hervant, reg 3 yo b g 167cm by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Hermes Clover (by Hermes de Reve). From a home-grown family, Hervant is a half-brother to Cornet Clover Girl (1.50m), ridden by Sean Monaghan, and to Rhondda (1.40m). Dam was also a good mare under John Floody and, as a six and seven-year-old, was a prolific presence in the ISH young horse series.

Lot 38 Rebellian O, reg 3 yo ro g 167cm by Chacco Bay out of Ariane (Larino). The Dutch-based dam competed to 1.30m level and has already produced two 1.40m jumpers. She is bred in the purple and, from an extensive blacktype pedigree, is a sibling to Dollar Boy O (1.50m), Littoriane O (1.40m) and several other international horses.

Lot 48 Newmarket Legacy, reg 3 yo b g 168cm by Newmarket Venture out of Newmarket Dato Two (Aldato). From a top-class eventing family, this gelding is a full-brother to Newmarket Prospect (CCI4*), to the Le Lion d’Angers medallist SRS Adventure (CCIO4*), ridden by Sophie Richards and to Newmarket Glider (CCI4*). Adding further depth, the dam is a sister to Newmarket Vasco One, who competed to CCI5* level under British rider, Willa Newton.

Lot 50 Unnamed, reg ch g 164cm by Aganix Du Seigneur out of Glimmering (Loughehoe Guy). Under Ethen Ahearne, the dam competed in 1.40m classes, and is a sister to Kevin Gallagher’s 1.60m horse and former Breeders’ Cup winner, Ballypatrick Flamenco. Also to Chacco Bay (1.45) and BP Casablanca (1.40m).

Lot 53 Coverfield Pedro, reg 3 yo ch g 168cm by Zidane out of Saigon (Navarone). A smartly-bred sibling to the Canadian-based Fanta M (1.55m) and to MSH Lui Vuitton, dam of Flinton M (1.50m) and Egona (1.40m).

Lot 57 Unnamed, reg ch g 165cm by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve out of La Mona (Locarno). Dam (1.40m) competed with Joe Whitaker, who also rode the second dam Desdemona (1.50m) to CSI5* level. Also, from the direct family of Undicci (1.60m), ridden by Shane Breen.

Lot 59 Unnamed, reg 3 yo gr g 167cm by Timone out of Cartown Madonna (Guidam). A familiar pedigree, which comes in the form of this gelding, who is out of the 1.30m mare Cartown Madonna, ridden by Paul Kennedy. She, in turn, is a sister to Macushla (1.60m), who under Eddie Moloney was a prolific winner up on the Premier Grand Prix circuit. Also, to Lux Excel (1.40m), ridden by Clem McMahon and the CCI4*event horse, HHS Foracruise (Julie Tew).

Ponies

Lot 8 FLS Chester, reg 13 yo b g 128cm (breeding unrecorded). A very experienced grade A pony with 639 SJI points, Chester is a careful, scopey jumper, with many wins in U10, 90cm and 1m classes. He is described as a lovely pony for a rider to progress with.

Lot 11 Vermount Teresa, reg 9 yo gr m 148cm by Gloves Bobby out of Ballygill Kiss (Sweetwall Captain Courageous). The winner of 61 SJI points in classes up to 1.10m level, this mare has the potential to move further up the ranks. Well-related from Ashfield Bobby Sparrow lines, her full-sister is currently competing internationallly for France.

Competition horses

Lot 41 Innisfree Bubacruise, reg 6yo ch g 168cm by Bubalu VDL out of Done Cruising (Cruising). Out of a grade A jumping mare, and a half-brother to the Lanaken representative Kancruise, this well-bred individual has clocked up 45 SJI points in classes up to 1.20m. A versatile sort, he has also carried a Master for half a season with the Sligo Harriers.

Lot 53 Sweet Irish Cailin, reg 5 yo b m 165cm by Sligo Candy Boy out of Its I’m Irish (Kings Master). A well-produced young mare with 19 SJI points to date, she has experience up to 1.20m level and has the ability to go further.

Four-Year-Olds

Lot 82 Kiltubrid Flying Colours, reg 4 yo b g 168cm by Sligo Candy Boy out of Kiltubrid Heather (Lombardo). One of the stand outs of the age group in terms of pedigree, this dual-purpose prospect gelding is a half-brother to the Mark Todd-ridden five-star event campaigner Kiltubrid Rhapsody, and also to Harriet Penfold’s smart five-year-old jumper Kiltubrid Freya (1.25m).

Lot 90 Unnamed, reg 4 yo b g 168cm by Cornet Son out of Erne Clover Z (Aldatus Z). Out of a highly regarded Master’s hunter, this gelding is a half-brother to the puissance specialist Erne River Run (Brendan Murphy). A top-class performer, he was runner-up in the RDS puissance 2023 and was placed at the Horse Of The Year show in London.

Three-year-olds

Lot 121 Unnamed, reg 3 yo ch g 163cm by Sligo Candy Boy out of Malt Patrol (Maltstriker). Suitable to either event or show jump, this gelding is a half-brother to Cappulcorragh Quality Control, winner of the Arezzo CCI3* earlier this year and who competed at Le Lion d’Angers in 2023. Adding strength to the pedigree, his seven-year-old full-sibling has a career total of 34 SJI points to date.

Lot 129 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b f 165cm by Vivant Van De Heffinck out of Night Fly (Maltstriker). Another featuring Maltstriker as the dam’s sire, this exceptionally well-related filly is a half-sister to the grade A performers June Johnson (1.40m) and Queensway Royal (1.60m), as well as to the four-star event horses Night Traveller and Night Quality.

Lot 152 Unnamed, reg 3 yo gr g 165cm by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Tisara Cruise (Cruising). Featuring the legendary Cruising as the dam’s sire, this gelding is a well-related half-brother to the Dermot Lennon/Robert Splaine-partnered Ballygarvan (1.40m) and to Tisara Quality Cruise (1.30m). Also to Class Booze Cruise (CCI3*) and from the immediate family of Croisere (CCI4*).

Lot 158 Unnamed, reg 3 yo ch g 174cm by Sligo Candy Boy out of Sammy Jee (Samgemjee). From a proven performance pedigree, this home-bred gelding hails from a dam’s line of international show jumpers and eventers, including the former Le Lion d’Angers champion, Cast Away. More recently, the smart seven-year-old jumper Loughnatousa Buachaill (Tadgh Beecher) features as a full-brother.

•Sales report and results will be published in next week’s edition.

Cavan Horse Marketing Centre

Address: Cavan, Co Cavan.

Telephone: 049-4332017

Fax: 049-4331400

Email: info@cavanequestrian.com

Web: www.cavanequestrian.com

Date: August 20th-21st 2024

Time: Premier Three-year-old Sale: Tuesday: 4pm; Viewing from 9.30am.

Performance Sale: Wednesday 10am.

Total lots: Premier Selection 59 lots. Performance sale 161 lots approx.

Last year’s top lots:

Premier three-year-olds: Ralph Morgan’s Unnamed, three-year-old gelding by Vivant Van de Heffinck (dam by Luidam) €34,000.

Performance Sale: Tony Carrabine’s Unnamed, three-year-old gelding by Tyson (dam by Balou du Rouet) €16,500.