WHILE the top price at last Sunday’s one-day Clifden Connemara Pony sale didn’t quite match the highs of the same renewal last year, trade was lively with 137 ponies passing through the ring and a clearance rate of 78%. Four of the ponies are bound for Germany and 10 for the UK.

The sale-topper was Gerard Carey’s 148cm five-year-old bay mare Ceide Classic, by Melody’s Boy out of Ceide Dottic (Ross Fear Bui), who went for €7,100 to Ronan Daly of Attyrory Sporthorses in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.

“She’s a good blood type pony that looks like she will go on to be a good jumping pony,” Daly said.

“We didn’t really look at the pedigree but she was a great model of a pony and caught our eye.”

Sligo buyer Tiernan Gray, who bought the sale-topper at the September sale last year (Knockma Polly, by Castleside Tigue) for €9,200, took home seven of the top 20 lots.

The highest he paid on the day was €6,600 for the next-best priced mare, Ben Hopkins’ five-year-old 148cm dun Boderry Moonlight, by Moonlight Silver Shadow out of Silver Lucy (Longstone Silver Shadow).

Ann de Courcey from the Clifden Pony Sales said the day went well and augers well for the upcoming October sales. “We were very happy with it, it’s a new enough sale, a bit of a spill over from the August sale. The vendors were very happy and there was no shortage of buyers,” she commented.

“One German lady was there, it was her first time ever in Ireland – and she bought four which is very encouraging.

“As always there was big demand for riding ponies, anything broken and with work done was making big money.

“We are now really looking forward to October which looks like it’s shaping up to be a five-day. We had a meeting with the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Association this week which has made us confident about getting the majority of passports issued in time for the sale.”

Stunnning stallion

The eye-catching 10-year-old dun stallion Lydican Johnny (by Rathcoona Cove out of the Atlantic Raven-sired Corbally Haven) consigned by John Fahy went to Kevin McCloskey for €6,500, and the highest priced gelding was Smokey Flyer, a bay six-year-old by Creemully Western Melody out of the Gleann Rua Maxwell sired-Hazelrock Cloud, who went to Tiernan Gray for €6,400.

Gray also topped the bidding for Mulroy Sam, a five-year-old overheight dun gelding by Marcus, at €6,000 and Saílín Boy, a 12-year-old by Coosheen Stormboy, at €5,600.

Lot 101 Drumbawn Lad was sold for €6,200 at the Clifden September sales \ Rynes Walker

Bryan Dagg purchased Drumbawn Lad, the highest-priced three-year-old, for €6,200. This gelding by Ardgaineen Rebel was brought for sale by Katie O’Dea.

Cathriona Glynn’s Castletaylor Island, a 14-year-old Killea Island mare, was bought by Padraic Quinn for €5,700 and Martan Phaidin Liath, a three-year-old gelding by Martan Phaidin Mhoir was sold to Kevin Reilly for €5,600.

Top 10

Lot 38, Adrian's Delight before going into the ring at the Clifden Pony sales last Sunday, making €5,600 \ Rynes Walker

Clifden regular Patrick O’Gorman rounded out the remainder of the top 10 lots, paying €5,600 for both Adrian’s Delight, a five-year-old grey mare by Coral Misty’s Bobby and Sliab Min, a five-year-old grey gelding by Ashbrook Thunder. He also purchased Kates Lady, a 148cm grey mare by Rathcoona Cove for €4,600.

The catalogue included a high proportion of yearling stock, with €3,400 the highest price paid for the age category. The filly in question was Monagh Dolly Varden, by Poetic Kelly out of Ballymahon Bay Queen, purchased by Gerard Glynn and brought for sale by Patrick Costigan.

Colin Joyce’s Cluain Aidhle Star, by Caoranbeg Champ out of Kinvara Grey, was the next highest netting yearling, sold for €3,100 to Geraldine McCann.

The third yearling to reach the €3,000 mark was Sandra Conlon’s Drumcong Lass by Loughill Raven out of Clongriffins Pride who was sold to David Thompson. Conlon also picked up three lots herself on the day.

The next sale at the venue takes place from Friday, October 27th to Monday, October 30th, and may extend to a five-day subject to demand.