The sales season opened in good style at Cavan last week where an imported son of Ephebe For Ever headed the one-day returns at €10,900. Topping a busy session, he was one of several notable prices and contributed to a very satisfactory clearance rate of 75% (76% in 2019) together with increased average of €3,314 (€2,990 in 2019).

Demand was solid throughout the day. A sizeable contingent of buyers from Scandinavia and the UK focused mainly on the riding horses and ponies to suit both the competition and the leisure sector.

Sale topper

Although his full pedigree was not printed in the catalogue, it was later revealed that Niall Doherty’s five-year-old sale topper was particularly well related. Not only was he by the show jumping sire Ephebe For Ever (1.60m) out of Cartina (Calvinos), but, more significantly, he is a half-brother to the mare VDL Jillz, who was the runner up in the consolation class at Lanaken last year. Doherty sourced the gelding in Galway just a few months ago, before passing production to his cousin Gordon Hogan.

Though he impressed under saddle, the gelding failed to make his reserve in the ring (led out at €10,000) and was eventually secured privately by Norwegian racehorse trainer and first time Cavan visitor Rune Haugan.

Notables

Later in the session, Keith Wilson’s five-year-old by Askoll Peter Pan out of Nomina Z (Numero Uno) caught the eye of Leicestershire trader Graham Smith, husband of British show jumper Holly. Bought as a likely event horse, Smith paid €7,400, while Linda Fahey’s seven-year-old mare Bonjour Mademoiselle changed hands for €6,700. The latter, by Touchdown, out of the six-times winning chase mare Ratoath Gale (Strong Gale) was bred by Trevor Horgan, and secured by Co Monahan-based rider Theresa Duffy.

Having snapped up the sale topper, Haugen also paid €6,000 for the 10-year-old jumping pony Brickey Echo. Consigned by Darrach Dobson, this class one Connemara mare by Ashfield Echo I Love You had clocked up a total of 180 SJI points.

There was an especially competitive demand for quiet cobs, leading to some stronger than usual prices.

Good as they were, prices for these types have a ceiling. Patrick Murphy’s potential competition prospect by the proven event sire Tullabeg Fusion (dam by Uibh Fhaili) realised the day’s next best return at €5,400. Jim Derwin was the successful buyer for this one who was well showcased by Lisa Murphy.

Fifteen lots (from a total of 72) realised in excess of €4,000, with two of these achieving €5,000. The first of the duo was the British purchase of Darren Ryan’s eight-year-old Fiona, a mare with seven SJI points. She realised €5,100, while a few lots later Peter McEneaney’s gelding by Polanski was secured by Swedish buyer Charlotte Lingren for €5,000.

Ponies

While the aforementioned Brickey Echo realised the top pony return of €6,000, the remaining lots sold satisfactorily. A total of five changed hands between €3,000 and €3,900 among which was Michael Murphy’s four-year-old Ramolin Rua who realised the next best price at €3,900.

Young stock

It is early in the year for the younger stock to impress, and the trade largely reflected that.

Nine lots changed hands, with the highest return of €4,800 falling to Norman Watt’s four-year-old son of Black Jack (dam by Veneer Du Marais).

Top lots

• Niall Doherty’s Kwickly For Ever, five-year-old gelding by Ephebe For Ever (dam by Cavinos) €10,900.

• Wilson Equestrian’s five-year-old mare by Askoll Peter Pan (dam by Numero Uno) €7,400.

• Linda Fahey’s Bonjour Mademoiselle seven-year-old mare by Touchdown (dam by Strong Gale) €6,700.

• Darrach Dobson’s Brickey Echo, 10-year-old mare 146cms by Ashfield Echo I Love You (dam by Ferdia) €6,000.

• Patrick Murphy’s Muttley, five-year-old gelding by Tullabeg Fusion (dam by Uibh Fhaili) €5,400.