Records were broken at Cavan last week when a 10-year-old grade A jumping pony changed hands for an impressive €20,000. An entry in the new premier pony selection, Buttons Two is a pocket-sized 138cm performer with some strong competition form. Placed sixth at the RDS last year, she drew several bidders to the ringside, where after a spirited duel she was knocked down to Co Mayo dealer Bob Sweeney.

Sweeney went on to add several other high-profile ponies to his collection, and explained that he was sourcing them on behalf of fellow dealer Francis Derwin.

“They are for Francis, and most likely will be campaigned by his son Frano,” he said.

Derwin’s top purchase was consigned by Greg Yorke, whose daughter Rebecca had ridden her throughout her career.

“We originally found her from an advert,” remarked the County Longford man. “She’s given us a lot of fun along the way, but Rebecca will now move up and ride a few horses.”

Later in the session, the Sweeney-Derwin pairing added another of the Yorke ponies to their haul when they secured the eight-year-old grade A performer Letteragh Prancer for €10,000.

When a further three ponies realised in excess of €5,000, it was clear that Stuart Clarke of Cavan had hit on a winning formula.

“The premier pony entries certainly created interest,” he said. “I feel that this is a concept we can build on, and we will consider staging one in spring as well.”

The remaining returns from the two-day dispersal paled in comparison. The quality on offer was extremely varied, but on the plus side the increase in entries contributed to the much improved turnover of €418,585 (€294,475). The average price of €2,300 (€2,158) was also marginally improved, while the clearance dipped slightly to 63% (65%).

“Across the board, the horses were a little disappointing,” summed up Clarke. “Having said that, we got a good enough clearance rate, together with a good buzz and a great crowd.”

High prices were few and far between. Tom Casey’s impressive three-year-old filly by Lux Z (dam by Lucky Gift) stood out to head the remaining figures at €8,800. Well-related, she was out of the grade B mare Miss Cocaine (Lucky Gift), who represented Britain in the junior ranks.

Topping the ridden horse sector at €8,200 was Elizabeth Cash’s show jumper Saunders Vivendi by Ars Vivendi (dam by Furisto). Ridden by Eddie Moloney, the six-year-old had jumped at the RDS for the past three years and was a finalist in the Breeders Classic last year. He was secured by Kent Horses Ltd and will continue his show jumping career in England.

The next best prices hailed from the four-year-old division. Jim Derwin moved into action to buy Leslie Conboy’s gelding by Varo (dam by Atlantic Cruise) for €5,600 as well as a private purchase of Larry Healy’s Lavills Karrajoe by Womanizer at €5,000.

Young stock

Thursday’s sessions were devoted to a collection of young sport horse stock and a small division of Irish Draughts. Both produced much improved returns with the former gaining a satisfactory clearance of 52% (35% in 2013) together with an average of €1,445 (€1,058).

Again the quality and presentation was mixed, but standing out to head the foals at €4,300 was Donal Cadden’s well-related Kilbracken Cavalier, a colt by Cavalier Royale out of Instinct (Quiletto).

A half-brother to the Mullingar loose jumping winner Kilbracken Claddagh Royale, he was, according to his owner and breeder: “The best foal that I’ve had this year.”

Co Meath’s Tommy Duffy signed for this well-bred individual, while local man Brendan McChesney accounted for Mark Hester’s colt foal by Lancelot (dam by Cruising) for €3,600. Among the remainder to sell well was Sean Jones’s colt by OBOS Quality out of Cruise Grove (Cruising), and Enda Mulcaire’s well-related colt by Kannen out of Ballymurphy Veronica (Master Imp) – both at €3,000.

Irish Draughts

The large crowd that gathered to watch the Irish Draught trade will have been encouraged to see a lift in the market.

The small catalogue (32 lots) produced a sale-topping figure of €5,000 together with a clearance of 53% (37% in 2013). Also on the upturn was the average at €1,385 (€664) and the turnover of €23,550 (€12,625).

Contributing to these figures was Martin Bohane’s sale-topper Drishane Diamond, a class 1 RID (NA1) stallion with show jumping form. Led out unsold at €4,300, he was later secured at €5,000 by telephone.

Mares sold well enough, with the in-foal broodmare Kiltowra Bluehill (by Agherlow) realising €3,100 and the three-year-old Gortfadda Diamond Cross (by Wecome Diamond) making €2,500.

The appetite for foals, however, was less buoyant. A chesnut colt by Clonakilty Hero headed the figures at €1,000, while a filly by Darragh Moylough Vision sold for €800.