PADRAIG Howley’s RDS-winning three-year-old Toberdane Bournville Star lived up to pre-sale expectations when he was the standout performer at Cavan Equestrian on Wednesday.
Returning the day’s best price of €16,500, the eye-catching young event horse champion was one of six five-figure returns and highlight of a very strong renewal.
As the appetite for Irish sport horses shows no signs of waning, the final figures illustrated a significant increase in average to €5,503 (€4,169 in 2020) while the clearance also improved to 70% (67%).
“Trade is holding up fantastically, and there is no sign of any dip yet,” commented an upbeat Stuart Clarke. “It was a very solid, strong day’s trading with a good clearance and average. It was also very good to see a few foreigners returning after Covid, although they will have to get used to increase in prices!”
While the demand was at its most competitive for the older stock and ponies, the trade for the younger horses produced several notable returns. In house buyers claimed most of those that changed hands, although there was plenty of action online as well as by telephone.
Sale topper
As the runaway winner of this year’s Potential Young Event Horse championship at the RDS, the appearance of Padraig Howley’s gelding (Lot 119) by Sligo Candy Boy was greeted with interest and anticipation.
He had been described by Dublin judge and Olympian Ian Stark as “outstanding” and as “an exceptional model, and the only horse to show proper canter and lift.” As a result, there was a lively exchange for ownership, which eventually developed into a two-way tussle between a telephone bidder and successful buyer Paul Donovan.
“I thought he was good value, and things went in my favour,” commented the Fethard-based event rider. “I didn’t see him in Dublin, but I thought he jumped very well today. Looking forward, it would be nice to bring him back to the RDS under saddle next year.”
The sale was another boost for Howley, whose family were hard hit by Covid-19 earlier in the summer. “We’re all in good health now,” he said. “I’m delighted to see Paul has bought him, because he’ll have every chance to go on.”
The well related brown gelding was bred by Padraig Arthur in Co Roscommon, and sourced as a foal through Gabriel Tunney. He is a full sister to Candy Rose, who won the RDS show jumping equivalent four years earlier and has since progressed to jump abroad.
Howley also disclosed that his popular resident sire Sligo Candy Boy has just received full approval status from HSI based on the performance results from his progeny.
Older horses
Much earlier in the proceedings, Gladys Frazer’s smart grey mare (Lot 52) by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of Mini Match, by OBOS Quality, realised a very healthy €13,000.
Well produced by Chloe Fleming, who works alongside the vendor in her dog grooming business, the grey had been lightly competed in training shows. She was sourced through the same sale ring as a three-year-old, and knocked down to Co Sligo customer Tiernan Grey.
“She’s a very nice mare so we were expecting a good price,” remarked Frazer. “Now we have to find another one!”
Another standout from the older sector was Sheena Meegan’s traditionally bred Second General (Lot 34) a 10-year-old by the vendor’s own late Irish Sport Horse stallion General Lee (by Dancing Boy).
Changing hands for €11,500, the home-bred gelding had competed in a range of disciplines under JP Meegan and, the winner of 27 SJI points was one of four lots secured by Gwent-based trader Rhiannon Rowlands.
“JP and Second General grew up togther and were both beginners when they set out,” said Meegan. “As they gained experince the form improved, and only last month they were successful at the big show in Mullingar.”
A cluster of older horses sold well at around lunch time, and among them was Clare Equestrian’s Chippy Porsh (Lot 51), a seven-year-old mare by Chippison. A catalogue pick on paper, this useful sort had clocked up 8 SJI points in just two months of jumping under rules, and is currently competing in classes up to and including 1.20m level.
English customer Philip McCaul paid €11,500 for this good sort, while a few lots later the British-based Newfield Horses accounted for Pat McClean’s five-year-old (Lot 64) by Numero Cruise (dam by Glidawn Diamond), by telephone, for €10,000.
Four-year-olds
Emerging from possibly the weakest of the age groups in terms of returns, the top price of €9,500 went to Darren Fahey’s 149cms Swanview Breaking Ice (Lot 10), a filly by the Connemara sire Ice and Fire d’Albran out of the sport horse mare Swanview Lance Courage (Lancelot).
A potential high-class jumping pony, this filly was snapped up by Clare Sloan.
“I had seen the pony in the catalogue and online and it all seemed very genuine,” explained Sloan, whose daughter Eva still has two years in the pony ranks. “ I had also seen videos of her jumping, which was just as well because I missed seeing her jump as I was stuck in traffic!”
Swanview Breaking Ice (Lot 10) was the highest priced four-year-old at €9,500 \ Cavan Sales
As the progeny of Sligo Candy Boy continue to impress, the big gelding Candy Trix (Lot 81) out of Treble Trix, by Mohill Treble C, was one of two individuals to sell at €8,000.
Standing at 17hh, this likely event horse or jumper was knocked down to a cash customer from the north of Ireland.
Three-year-olds
Sale-topper aside, the age sector was mixed and returns varied accordingly. The only other lot to achieve the €10,000 mark was Alan Connor’s unnamed gelding (Lot 106) by Sligo Candy Boy out of Harlequin Clover Lady (Harlequin du Carel).
Placed a creditable fourth in the loose performance jumping at the RDS earlier this year, this young horse is now USA bound, as a result of a successful telephone bid from show jumper Jordan Coyle.
Chippy Porsh (Lot 51) was sold to England-based Philip McCaul for €11,500 \ Cavan Sales
Ponies
Ponies sold very solidly, and discounting the overall four-year-old sale-topper, another good return at €9,200 fell to Joanne Morton’s nine-year-old mare Dernahatten Blossom (Lot 11) by Bois des Isles out of Moy Lady (Owens Blossom).
Probably the pick of the older ponies on paper, Blossom had clocked up 85 SJI points, was a winner at Balmoral and was one of several lots knocked down to Padraig Dolan of Munsboro Equestrian.