A MUCH-admired grade A pony with smart competition form was the star performer at Cavan’s seasonal opener last week. Realising a very healthy €20,000, Gerry Dillon’s The Little Farrier headed a solid one-day edition by a country mile.
Just two further lots exceeded the five-figure mark, on a day of steady business, driven largely by the trade sector. At the close of play, a satisfactory 73% (77% in 2024) of the 90 lots forward changed hands at an increased average of €5,342 (€4,955).
Quiet riding horses, competition stock and ponies with mileage were at the top of the order lists, with traditional breeding featuring prominently among the better returns.
Top return
Sporting an interesting and multi-discipline pedigree, Gerry Dillon’s home-bred The Little Farrier (Lot 31) was an obvious catalogue pick. Standing 148cm, the 12-year-old mare had accumulated over 300 SJI points in classes up to 1.20m level and had also evented.
By the renowned Connemara stallion Josie Jump, she was out of the lightly raced thoroughbred dam Farriersfriend by Tidaro, dam of the hurdle and chase winning Lanaken. In a change of direction, Farriersfriend had also bred the international jumping pony My Little Farrier, so Dillon’s pony was always destined for the jumping arena.
“We’ve had great fun with her over the years and, as a six-year-old, I refused a lot of money for her,” said the Headford-based retired farrier. “I always said I would keep her for my nephews, so Oisin (Dillon) competed her up ‘til she was six, and then Tadgh took over. Following Covid, she bred a foal last year (by Ross Fear Bui) and, if she hadn’t made her price today, it was always my intention to bring her home.”
Eleven-year-old Archie Rabette was charged with showcasing the mare at Cavan and, having done so capably, it was unsurprising to see a competitive battle for ownership. There was a constant flurry of bids from the floor, before the hammer finally fell in favour of British online buyer, Jenna Romani.
Round-up
Co Monaghan trader Keith Wilson enjoyed an exceptional day at the office and, filling three of the top six returns, was represented by a variety of stock. A master of pre-sales videos, Wilson’s best return of €10,300 came with the four-year-old pony Queeny (Lot 15), a 148cm mare by the Heartbreaker sire Amigo B out of the Connemara dam Leticina of Rosscon by Manor Glen (Templebready Fear Bui).
Described by Wilson as ‘an absolutely gorgeous pony’ and one that was sourced a few months earlier, the attractively-bred Queeny was knocked down to the telephone bid of Italian customer, Roberto di Paola.
Heading the older horse sector with the final five-figure return was Johanna Gattermann’s Assagart Hopes Are High (Lot 53), an eight-year-old gelding by Castleforbes Lord Lancer out of The Irish Field 2017 Breeders’ Championship winner My Only Hope (Big Sink Hope). Bred by the Roche family, the chesnut had clocked up 38 SJI points under Derek McConnell, and looked well-bought by Scottish visitor Sally McCarthy, on behalf of client Alex Brice, at €10,200.
“Alex is looking to do a bit of everything, including some low level eventing,” remarked Aberdeen-based McCarthy. “We liked his temperament; he was well put together and I think will be ideal.”
Assagart Hopes are High made €10,200 at the one-day Cavan Sale in February \ Cavan Sales
The thoroughbred Clerkenwell was the sire of Keith Wilson’s next offering Eric (Lot 45), who, selling at €9,400, was a 10-year-old gelding out of Bellville Diamond by Flagmount Diamond. Bred by Nuala O’Hare, this was a traditionally-bred full-brother to the American-based CCI2* event horse, Ballylough Diamwell.
Quiet and well-used, he was one of several secured by the Hampshire-based establishment of Wellington Riding. Staying loyal to Wilson, the same outfit also signed for an unnamed Irish Draught gelding (Lot 102) by Mountain Triumph out of Lisnasaran Meshell by Franks Fancy. Slickly marketed in the pre-sale video, in which he was ridden by Wilson’s seven-year-old son Luke, the Thomas Lynch-bred five-year-old changed hands for €9,200.
Wellington RC signed for Keith Wilson's 10-year-old gelding Eric at €9,400 at the one-day Cavan Sale in February \ Cavan Sales
Traditional
Wellington Riding were also at ringside to account for Jennifer Torren’s home-bred mare Rosie (Lot 93) at €9,000. In another boost for the traditionalists, the five-year-old Rosie was by CC Captain Cruise out of Lowhill Golden Carrick by Carrick Diamond Lad, and had been lightly produced through the training ranks.
Remaining with the commercial buyers, Leicestershire’s Graham Smith will have been pleased to have secured Paula Stammschroer’s event horse Brownstown Hendricks (Lot 55a) for €8,800. The seven-year-old grey by Dinan Danny had been lightly evented in EI 100 classes and, bred by Andrew Waldron, was out of Seabanks Heather (Orbis).
Keith Wilson’s final notable return at €8,800 fell to a five-year-old mare (Lot 87) by The Son Of A Builder out of Lady Dolly. Three-parts Connemara, the mare stood just 153cm and, typical of the sort in demand, was knocked down to a British buyer.
Trade continued in a similar fashion throughout the day. Accounting for 13 lots, Felix Burke of Burke Bloodstock was rarely away from ringside, while Jim Derwin was quieter than usual, signing for three lots.
Younger stock
Demand for the four-year-olds was patchy and, ponies aside, the top returns at €7,200 and €7,000 fell to Keith Wilson’s unnamed filly (Lot 113) by Corintini (dam by Lancelot) and Marion Tighe’s Kiltubrid Legacy (Lot 109).
The first-named was described as being a likely eventer or show jumper, while the second, Kiltubrid Legacy was a well-related filly by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Kiltubrid Mia (Hannibal Van Overis). Carrying the old Irish bloodlines of Diamond Lad, Leabeg and Clover Hill, she hails from a prolific winning family, the second dam being a sibling to Shannondale Trueman (1.60m), as well as from the family of the event horses, Dream On Doni (CCI3*) and Barnaboy Freeman (CICO3*).
SNS Melody, a seven-year-old 12.2hh pony, was sold for €8,200 at the one-day Cavan Sale in February \ Cavan Sales
Top returns