LOOKING set to close their sale’s year on a high note, Wednesday’s opening performance sale at Cavan was a lively affair. Delivering figures that were very similar to those of 12 months ago, the first session of the three-day mixed edition produced a top price of €11,800 (€11,500 in 2022), together with almost identical clearance of 71% (70%). Only the average slipped slightly to €5,157 (from €5,478), but that aside, trade was strong, especially for those with competition form. Reflecting on the day, and the year’s trading as a whole, Stuart Clarke commented: “Delighted and I’m extremely satisfied. There has been a good bit of negativity about the economy in general recently, so it was very good for the industry to have such a positive sale and there is still a great demand for riding horses.”

Sale topper

Heading the day’s returns at €11,800, and one of five lots to reach the €10,000 bench mark, was Kenneth Graham’s experienced jumping mare Altaskin Rosie (Lot 43) by Sillan Lux (pictured below). Bred locally by Noel Tierney out of Sillan Touch by Touchdown, she had been sourced through the same sale ring three years ago, and, in the interim, had been competed by Graham’s partner Megan McGettigan. “She is a very smart and straightforward mare, and I wish the new owners the very best of luck with her,” Graham said. Now heading to the UK-based yard of successful buyer and trader Nicole Browne, Altaskin Rosie is likely to be competed further. Norman Allen’s eight-year-old KEC Lady of Diamonds (Lot 22) sold well to Donegal buyer Pamela Caldwell at €10,400. This mare was sourced from the Kennedy family as a four-year-old and, by KEC Maximum Joe out of Doonmore Diamond (Glidawn Diamond), was bred by Dan Hickey in Cork.

Helena Kelly’s home-bred Irish Draught-sired cob Decota turned heads to make €10,200. An upstanding five-year-old by Tors Gentleman Farmer, out of an Irish cob mare, Decota was described as a steady horse at all levels. Very experienced as a hack, and leading rides both in and out of the arena, he was knocked down to British buyer Amber Maherloughnan.

The four-year-old trade was steady enough and two notables realising €10,000 apiece were Kieran Kennedy’s unnamed gelding (Lot 82) by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of KEC Apple Tree (KEC Maximum Joe) and Keith Wilson’s Drumskellt (Lot 93) gelding by the Irish Draught-sire Supreme Ginger out of Annakilly Mist (Daragh Moylough Vision). The first of the duo had been home-bred by the Kennedy family and well-related, was a half-brother to the grade A jumper KBS Apple Juice. Christian Kennedy was in the saddle to showcase this gelding, who was secured by De Nico Balmer from Swittzerland. Keith Wilson’s offering meanwhile, caught the eye of Jim Derwin, and is likely to go hunting.

Youngster and ponies

Nine three-year-olds realised in excess of €5,000, the best of which at €7,900 was the Lisbeg Estate Co ULC’s My Olivia (Lot 104), a home-bred filly by Cornet Obolensky out of the Oklund -sired dam Veloma. Knocked down to Fiona Heslin, this filly is the fourth progeny of the Catriona Fallon-ridden jumping mare Veloma (1.30m) and is a sibling to an American-based event horse, as well as a promising four-year-old jumper. Also selling well at €7,500 was John Murphy’s well-related filly (Lot 143) by Winston out of Unanibeath by Courage. She is a half-sister to the highly rated British-based event horse SBH Big Wall (CCI4*) ridden by Izzy Taylor, and looked good value at €7,500.

The pony trade had less of an impact than usual, but selling notably well to top the market at €8,800 was Josephine Delahoyde’s 148cm gelding Rosnakil Patch (Lot 10). A report of the remainder of the sale will appear in next week’s edition.