SPEARHEADED by a €14,000 sale topper, Wednesday’s one-day renewal at Cavan returned another strong and solid trade. The appetite for general riding horses was exceptionally competitive, with the result that six of these individuals made in excess of €10,000. The clearance was also positive at 72% (69% in 2023) although interestingly, the average, which closed at a healthy €6,080, was in fact marginally down from 12 months ago (€6,244).

This was nevertheless a stout edition and, while the trade buyers scooped many of the top returns, the private sector was also influential.

Temperament and slow, careful production appeared to be the key ingredients for success, and one who ticked all the boxes in that respect was Marleese Carey’s €14,000 sale topper gelding Allegre (Lot 73). Only a five-year-old, the 158cm gelding was sourced privately two years ago and, in the interim, had been quietly produced by his vendor. Speaking afterwards, a delighted Carey commented: “He needed the time to mature, so I did a bit with him, then turned him away a few times to grow.”

She added: “I enjoy doing the flat work, and never over face them. I competed him a few times, and he was placed second in his first dressage show, and this year did some working hunters. I probably didn’t anticipate him making that much, but he’s a lovely horse, a very good mover and stood out on the day.” Several shared Carey’s opinion, but after a prolonged exchange, the hammer eventually fell in favour of Louise Hollywood on behalf of absentee Canadian customer, Tamarack Ridge Farm. “I didn’t think I would have to pay that much, but the opposition was determined,” said Hollywood. “It’s not easy, but that said, he’s a lovely type of horse, who rode beautifully and the vendor seemed very genuine.”

Like many on the day, the gelding’s breeding was unfortunately unrecorded, but according to his vendor, he was out of a thoroughbred mare by the Connemara sire Cheeky Bobby Sparrow.

Lot 73, Allegre, made €14,000 at the June Performance Sales at Cavan Equestrian \ Cavan Sales

Former National Hunt jockey Robert Stronge is a regular customer at the venue and, always on the look out for a potential jumper, he snapped up Rachel Moloney’s imported Holmoak Kina (Lot 49) for €12,000. Stronge, whose daughter Poppy competes on the international circuit, was pleased with this one, who has already clocked up 37 SJI points. A catalogue pick on paper, the daughter of Van Gogh (dam by Cador) was bought in Germany and, under both the vendor and Anthony O’Regan, has since competed to 1.10m level.

Simple and straightforward

A little later in the session, David Reilly did well when his five-year-old palomino Tullycommon Ashy (no recorded breeding) changed hands for €10,800. Produced at home by Glenn Farrell Walker and well-ridden on the day by Ruby Morris, the eye-catching gelding had been sourced at Granard mart as a foal. “He’s turned out to be a very simple and straightforward horse, and I believe he is out of a OBOS Quality dam,” said Reilly. “Cavan is a good place to both show a horse and sell from, and we were very happy with both his performance and the price.” Donegal trader Ian Smith signed the docket for this individual, while remaining in the commercial sector, English-based dealer Michael Kelly accounted for both Lorraine Trenier’s Cloverhills Quality Dancer (59A) at €10,400 and Stacey Watling’s Renkum Rendition (Lot 86A) at €10,100. Looking at the former, Cloverhills Quality Dancer was a seven-year-old mare out of Bailies Rebel (Huntingfield Rebel) who, bred by Sheila McElwaine, had a career total of 28 SJI points. Renkum Rendition meanwhile, was a five-year-old gelding by Irco Balou out of Renkum Colitas by Renkum Valentino. He had competed in his age classes and, according to the vendor, also showed huge potential as an eventer.

Lot 59A, Cloverhills Quality Dancer by OBOS Quality 004 made €10,400 at the June Performance Sales at Cavan Equestrian \ Cavan Sales

The final five-figure return at €10,000 fell to Fairview Stud’s Can Do It (Lot 77) a six-year-old mare by Sligo Candy Boy out of Good Touch (by Touchdown but unrecorded). The winner of 10 SJI points under vendor James Cregan and latterly Georgina Beesley, she was secured by British customer Veronica Delicata.

The ponies sold according to ability and type, and topping the session at €9,800, was Brendan Keown’s Simply Marigold (Lot 7) a six-year-old 148cm mare by Moyan Mirah (CP) out of the thoroughbred mare Dance with Destiny (Key of Luck). Knocked down to regular pony buyer Niall Daly, this young pony had competed in training shows and had been in her present home for around a year. “I bought her for my daughter Jenna, but unfortunately she did not have as long with her as we had hoped,” stated the Belleek-based vendor. “She’s a lovely model, and has done a bit of everything.”

Lot 7, Simply Marigold, a Connemara by Moyan Mirah made €9,800 at the June Performance Sales at Cavan Equestrian \ Cavan Sales

Trade continued solidly throughout the day, but did taper off a little with the onset of the younger stock. That said, there were plenty of respectable prices in the four-year-old division, with the top return at €7,800 going to Sean Kearney’s Carrow Star (Lot 96), a diminutive 154cm Connemara gelding by Tullymore Dew out of Carnaree Lass by Blackwoodland Basil. Described as an easy individual, he had hunted with the Newry Harriers and was secured by the Irish-based Alliance Bloodstock.

In the three-year-old ranks, Vincent Meaney’s Glenfiddich Rebel (Lot 121), by Gleneven Rebel (dam by Figaro Z Van Paenal), held the top billing, when at €4,500, he was knocked down to Adam Ferris.