The RDS form held strong at Cavan last week, where the loose jumping-winning filly Candy Rose proved her supremacy to top the Premier three-year-old figures at €20,000. Her sale not only capped a great week for connections, but boosted the figures at a lively if inconsistent renewal.

As always the showcase attracted a bumper crowd from Ireland and mainland Europe, and while the clearance of 60% illustrated an increase from the 2016 equivalent (52%) the average dropped slightly to €6,544 (€7,372 in 2017). In total, 27 horses from the 45 (55 catalogued) on offer changed hands, eight of these in private transactions.

Clark’s Comment

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According to Cavan’s Stuart Clark, both these figures could have been bettered, as he explained. “Overall, I’m happy enough. There were plenty of customers for the better priced lots, and my only disappointment was that were a considerable number of vendors who were getting bid very well, but we just failed to get across the line.”

Sale topper

Padraig Arthur sourced his sale topper, together with her dam from breeder Liam Cawley. He had been closely watching the young sire Sligo Candy Boy, and when the opportunity arose to buy one of his offspring, Arthur jumped at the chance.

“It was soon after the stallion had passed his preliminary three-year-old inspection here at Cavan, and I really liked him.” He remarked. “That fact that the dam was by Lux Z was also a bonus, so I bought the pair when the filly was just five weeks old.”

This year, Arthur’s son Ronan produced the filly to win her RDS qualifier, and delivered the family not only their first RDS entrant but also a winning one. The dam Lux A Gonner has recently produced a full sister, while another full sibling was sourced by Gabriel Tunney at the Cavan Elite foal sale two years ago.

While there was considerable interest in the filly, the final bid at €20,000 fell to Slovenian show jumper Zina Sefman.

Other notables

Another RDS campaigner CAFRE Quality Clover also impressed to realise a figure of €15,000.

The Atlantic Stud consigned gelding gained his RDS potential event horse ticket at Newcastle West, and while there were plenty of buyers around the ringside, none were as determined as successful bidders Paul and Beverly Caves.

Interestingly, the horse was one of several on offer accompanied by a full set of x-rays, an extra that was cited as invaluable to his buyers. “The fact he has a good set of x-rays, that were available to us to view is everything to us.” Said Caves.

The Kennedy Brother’s stallion OBOS Quality, together with Sligo Candy Boy proved to be the sires of the night, and another to please the pundits was Niall O’Doherty’s homebred filly (by OBOS Quality) who was knocked down at €11,500. Event horse producer John Bannon signed the docket for this one, who will be produced in the young horse series next year.

Performance sale

While the trade at the following two-day performance sale did not produce any major returns, it delivered a strong clearance of 77% (66% in 2016) and a marginally increased average of €2,619 (€2,435). Demand for general riding horses was solid, and the commercial buyers agreed that the prices were healthy enough for the quality on offer.

While trade customers dominated the proceedings, one heading for the private sector was Anthony King’s traditionally bred sale topper LT Rossi by the Irish Draught sire Lisatara Tom. In common with a number of the better priced lots, this homebred gelding was led out unsold (€6,000), before changing hands for €6,650.

Remaining trade

Just one other lot realised in excess of €6,000 and at €6,300 that fell to Nuala Gallagher’s Rock Playlist, a four-year-old by Gallant Cavalier (dam by Colourfield). Hampshire trader James Brizzell signed for him, while heading the three-year-olds at €5,250 was Tara Dunne’s well related Gortemone Douglas by Ard VDL Douglas.

Another secured privately, this gelding is a half-brother to the 1.40m Grand Prix show jumper Condi, and from the direct maternal line of the Hickstead speed derby runner up Highland Cruiser. Sourced at the Cavan’s Elite Foal sale three years ago, he was one of many sold to Jim Derwin.