DELIVERING a set of figures that almost mirrored last month’s outstanding edition, and with a healthy top price of €19,000, Cavan enjoyed another highly successful renewal last Wednesday.

In keeping with recent trends, demand for experienced older horses and ponies was particularly strong, with the sector producing all 14 of the five-figure returns.

This hot trade steadied on the appearance of the three and four-year-olds, but the overall clearance of 77% (83% in 2021) was highly satisfactory, while the average price, which hiked to €6,744 (€5,898) was also impressive.

The vast majority of the day’s business was conducted by those on site, but boosting the proceedings throughout, there was also a considerable influence from online bidders. Among those who were successful were customers from Belgium, Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden, as well a large number from home turf, and the UK.

Sale-topper

The prices for the native breeds and traditionally bred stock has seen a dramatic boost over the past year, so it came as no surprise to see a Connemara cross Irish Draught gelding top the entire sale at €19,000.

Consigned by Maralees Carey from Cloney Lodge Stables, and bred by Patrick Ryan, this honour fell to the six-year-old Higgins (Lot 65), a 155cms gelding by the Connemara stallion Anbally Storm out of Hollyfort Dreamer (Heigh Ho Dubh).

Monasterevin-based Carey bought this diminutive gelding about 12 months ago and, in the interim, has educated him in several disciplines, winning in the dressage arena as well as working hunter classes. This was a great result for Carey who, formerly a popular breaker of horses, broke her shoulder last autumn and is now happy to buy and produce her own.

“I’ve given him plenty of mileage,” she commented. “He’s has especially good flat work, a real presence and could turn his hand to anything.” Bids were lively for this smart sort, who was eventually secured by an Irish cash buyer.

OLDER HORSES

The jumping mare Ahara Dott (Lot 95), by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet, had been an obvious eyecatcher in the catalogue, and fulfilling this selection, she realised the day’s next best price of €14,600.

The winner of 12 SJI points under her owner Lucy Morgan, Ahara Dott had clocked up a fault-free record in her eight shows under rules. It was this fact, along with her breeding that appealed to successful buyer Richard Hunter who commented afterwards: “I have a mare at home similarly bred.

“I liked the breeding and the temperament, and having watched both the videos and at Cavan in person, I thought she had a good technique to jump and was careful.”

The Summerhill-based buyer added that he was buying the mare for his children Shannon and Kyerin, with both jumping and eventing in mind. As a bonus, she could also have paddock potential as, bred by Ella Lazenby, she is a half-sister to the grade A jumper Ahare Olympic Flamenco (Je T’Aime Flamenco).

The vendor, Welsh-born jumping and event rider Lucy Morgan, is based at Barnadown in Co Wexford with her partner Steven Smith, and sourced the mare unbroken last year. “She has needed time, but could be a very useful mare,” commented Smith.

A few lots earlier another five-year-old realised €14,000. This figure went to Robert Harrison’s Chelsea Z (86a), an imported German-bred mare by Cardento out of Catho Z (Caretano Z). Piloted by her owner, she is the winner of 22 SJI points to date, and was knocked down to Oxfordshire producer Nicole Browne.

Keeping busy, Browne remained at ringside to account for Sam Sloan’s Ecclesville Allo Allo,(Lot 91), a five-year-old mare by Hiello out of Ecclesville Lady (Clover Echo). Looking well bought at €12,500, this mare competed in her age jumping classes last season, and has since been placed on every occasion in the performance equivalent.

Eye-catcher

Changing hands for the same return, another eye-catcher was JP Meegan’s unnamed eight-year-old (Lot 54a) by Kannan (dam by Heartbreaker) at €12,500. Now bound for America, with regular youngstock buyer Alan Griffin, this well-related gelding hails from a top class continental jumping line and is a sibling to numerous top performers, including Broadway (1.50m) and Cassini 11 (1.45m).

With contrasting breeding, John Conroy’s traditionally bred King (Lot 49) by Coolcronan Wood out of Kentucky Blaze (Creggan Emperor) also sold well. A 10-year-old full Irish Draught, bred by William Lynch in Co Cork, King had hunted with the Shillelagh hounds for four seasons and at €13,700, was snapped up by Northern Irish buyer Adrienne Stewart.

Clean show jumping records were a popular attraction, and one with a faultless one was Joanna Kunc’s Lottie van’t Zorgvliet (Lot 78), a five-year-old by Dignified van’t Zorgvliet out of Ms Bella (Grange Bouncer).

Owner ridden and competed, this mare has yet to tip a pole since her affiliated debut 12 months ago, and as a result has racked up 92 SJI points. Bidding through John Hancock, Isle Of Man buyer James Hinchcliffe accounted for this exciting prospect at €11,800.

FOUR AND THREE-YEAR-OLDS

Disappointingly, the prices dropped in the evening session, where the demand for the younger age groups was muted. Eleven of the four-year-olds changed hands, with the top return at €7,200 going to Katie Crozier’s Mountview Quality Street (Lot 109).

Standing only 155cms, this traditionally bred daughter of Casnova (by Castana) is out of an unnamed mare by Glenayre Silver Fox, and was bought by Sufflock-based trader Mark Kelly.

The returns for the three-year-olds were similarly quiet and of the five who found new homes, the best price at €4,800 went to a son (Lot 134) of O-Piloth out of Coirban Lady Lux (Lux Z).

Bred to perform, this well-related gelding counts the former Carol Gee-owned international event/jumping horse Carra Lux Quality (CSI4* and CCI4*) as a half-brother as well as Damian Griffin’s former ride Quality Street (1.35m).

PONIES

Topping a lively pony sector, in which five lots broke the €10,000 barrier, was Aine O’Neill’s experienced 148cms Cappas Class Act (Lot 22), a pure Connemara by Tulira Robuck out of Galway Cyrstal (Moy Johnny’s Pride).

A much loved member of the O’Neill family and especially his rider Ruairi, the 11-year-old gelding was successful in primary interschools competitions as well as show jumping. Only for sale, as Ruairi has two other ponies further up the grades, he was knocked down to pony trader Tiernan Gray for €14,500.

In a lively session, Grey remained at the sharp end to also account for Sarah Egan’s Shanbally Trump (Lot 14), a blue and white gelding (no recorded breeding) at €11,500.

Cappas Class Act (Lot 22) was sold to Tiernan Gray for €14,500 / Cavan EC

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