Bringing the curtain down on its sale’s year for 2023, last week’s mixed edition at Cavan delivered some varied returns. While it started promisingly with a lively performance sale, the buoyancy lessened as the week progressed. In Thursday’s sale of young sport horses, demand was somewhat inconsistent and predictably two tier, and while those with smart pedigrees held their heads above water, it was tough going for the remainder. Friday’s final session of Irish Draughts meanwhile, produced the most disappointing results of the three days, with figures down across the board.

Lot 26 at the Cavan November performance sale. \ Cavan Equestrian

Performance sale top returns

Kenneth Graham’s Altaskin Rosie, six-year-old mare by Sillan Lux (dam by Touchdown) €11,800.

Norman Allen’s KEC Lady of Diamonds, eight-year-old mare by KEC Maximum Joe (dam by Glidawn Diamond) €10,400.

Helena Kelly’s five-year-old gelding by Tors Gentleman Farmer (dam un recorded) €10,200.

Opening on a high note and bringing to a close a good year for the sector, Wednesday’s opening performance sale delivered an encouraging set of figures that came close to mirroring those from 2022. During the course of a busy day, 71% (70% in 2022) of those on offer changed hands, and while the average dipped marginally to €5,157 (€5,478), it was undoubtedly a satisfactory renewal.

Lot 43 at the Cavan November performance sale. \ Cavan Equestrian

Sale topper

Topping the figures at €11,800, was Kenneth Graham’s good competition mare Altaskin Rosie, a daughter of Sillan Lux out of Sillan Touch (Touchdown). Bred locally by Noel Tierney, she was one of five lots to match or exceed €10,000, and having been sourced through the same sale ring as a three-year-old, had since clocked up 75 SJI points. Regular British buyer and trader Nicole Browne signed for this smart sort, who was highly rated by her owner.

Notables

Another show jumper with form to catch the eye was Norman Allen’s KEC Lady of Diamonds, an eight-year-old by KEC Maximum Joe out of Doonmore Diamond (Glidawn Diamond). Bred by Dan Hickey in Cork, she had a career total of 63 SJI points and looked well bought by Pamela Caldwell for €10,400.

The common denominator throughout the day was the strong demand for straightforward riding horses, and one that ticked all the boxes was Helena Kelly’s homebred Irish Draught-sired cob Decota. With very little competition form, but a wealth of experience as a hack, the fully warranted five-year-old turned heads to make €10,200. A son of Tors Gentleman Farmer out of an Irish cob mare, he was eventually knocked down to British buyer Amber Maherloughnan.

Four-year-olds

Completing the quintet to realise five figures was Kieran Kennedy’s homebred gelding by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of KEC Apple Tree (KEC Maximum Joe) and Keith Wilson’s Drumskellt, a gelding by the Irish Draught sire Supreme Ginger out of Annakilly Mist (Daragh Moylough Vision). Realising €10,000 apiece, the former was secured by De Nico Balmer from Switzerland, while the latter was knocked down to Jim Derwin.

Three-year-olds

As expected and following trends, the three-year-old trade was more selective. None realised five figures, but heading the sector at €7,900 was the Lisbeg Estate Co ULC’s My Olivia, a homebred filly by Cornet Obolensky out of the Oklund sired dam Veloma. Fiona Heslin accounted for this attractive filly, who with paddock potential, is a sibling to an American based event horse as well as a promising four-year jumper. Another well-related lot was John Murphy’s homebred filly by Winston out of Unanibeath by Courage. Selling for €7,500, she is a half-brother to British based event horse SBH Big Wall (CCI4*).

Youngstock

Sean Healy’s colt foal by Chacco Blue (dam by Bamako de Muze) €12,000.

Jennifer Kavanagh’s Templerainey Luxzello, colt foal by Livello (dam by Lux Z) €8,800.

Patrick Connolly’s filly foal by I Am W (dam by Vittorio) €8,200.

Easily topping Thursday’s sale at €12,000 was the ‘cash’ purchase of Sean Healy’s colt foal by Chacco Blue. Sourced as an embryo in France, this beautifully bred colt counts the 1.40m jumper Quinci VD Bisschop as a half- brother, while the dam Lavina VD Bisschop (Bamako de Muze) is a half-sister to several black type jumpers.

Healy’s colt featured as one of the specially catalogued ‘winter collection’ of foals, and further two from the same sector realised €8,800 and €8,200 apiece.

Jennifer Kavanagh’s Templerainey Luxzello’s colt by Livello out of Tina Lux (Lux Z) was another to catch the eye, and changing hands for €8,800, he was knocked down to international event rider James O’Haire.

As a regular sale topper, it came as no surprise to see Tuam breeder Patrick Connolly among the better returns with his young filly by I Am W (by Luidam). Out of the well-related KWPN registered dam Cavalia (Vittorio), she looked well bought by Robert McIvor for €8,200.

While these were indeed healthy enough returns, the overall picture was not so positive and, as predicted, the trade was again decidedly divided.

At the close of play, it was good to see the clearance rise slightly to 55% (50% in 2022), but in contrast there was a marginal deficit in average at €2,871 (€3,034). Just eight foals realised €5,000 or above, while two thirds of those on offer made €3,000 or less.

On the back of some improving results from 12 months ago, Friday’s sale of Irish Draughts had to have been disappointing. Just 57% (69% in 2022) of the 63 on offer changed hands, while the average also dipped to €2,106 (€2,744).

Only three lots realised in excess of €3,000, the best at €6,000 was Whitefield Queenie’s Lass, a filly foal by Inisfree The Holy Grail out of a bronze merited daughter of Prescott Diamond. A filly foal by DS Ballghboy Bouncer was next in line at €3,100.

Irish draughts

Thomas Ormond’s Whitefield Queenie’s Lady, filly by Inisfree The Holy Grail (dam by Prescott Diamond) €6,000.

A.Moran’s Unnamed filly foal by DS Ballaghboy Bouncer (dam by Sir Rivie) €3,100.

David Hunter’s Unnamed, two-year-old gelding by Beechmore Silver Crest (dam by Manor Welcome) €3,000.