Wednesday’s performance sale rounded off a very lively year at Cavan, and posted similar returns to those of 12 months ago. The session produced an increased average €3,987 (€3,812 in 2019) while the clearance dipped marginally to 62% (64% in 2019).

Sale topper

British event horse owner Johnny Hornby has long been a supporter of Sligo Candy Boy, and added to his collection when buying Christy Neary’s three-year-old gelding for €11,500. Bred by Murdy Burran and produced by the Howley family, the well related gelding is out of Millhollow Melissa by Crosstown Dancer.

Yorkshire’s Graham Sugden was active throughout, securing four of the top seven lots

Kelda Morgan’s home-bred Flyhigh Jacobean took the ridden horse top price at €9,500. Bought by Jim Derwin, the five-year-old son of Creevagh Ferro is out of a Cavalier Royale mare, and is a half-sister to the grade A jumper Flyhigh Mable.

Buying just two lots on the day, Derwin later went on to secure Paddy Joyce’s three-year-old gelding by Sligo Candy Boy for €8,600.

Yorkshire’s Graham Sugden was active throughout, securing four of the top seven lots. Among his haul at €9,000 was Aiden McGovern’s seven-year-old Carrabeg Euphoria by Flexible, a gelding with 3 Showjumping Ireland (SJI) points.

Ponies

Six ponies realised between €4,000-€5,000 and heading those was Frances Floody’s 128cm jumping pony My Hot Coco. Niall Daly was at ringside to secure this diminutive lot who is the winner of 87 SJI points.

Youngstock

Although the expectations for Thursday’s sale of youngstock were high, the figures disappointingly showed a decrease across the board from 2019. Despite a few good prices, the clearance slipped to 42% (60%), while the average also dipped to €2,394 (€2,521).

The top return of €6,100 went to Hazel Bye’s bay colt foal by Cormint out of Coevers Silver Lady by Coevers Diamond Boy. Described by his successful purchaser as likely to be either a show horse or a competition horse, he was snapped up by Co Carlow pin hooker Pat Fenlon of Brandon View Stud in Co Wexford.

There were only a handful of brood mares on offer, and topping them at €5,500 was Joanne Houston’s Designed For You

Another creditable return at €5,600 fell to John Meade’s Sea Kingfisher, a colt foal by Luidam. Tommy Curran signed for this one who, featuring in the Winter Collection of foals with special merit, is out of Castleforbes Bellina (Equest Carnute), a daughter of the Jessica Kurten ridden winning nations cup mare Quibell (1.60m).

The best price for the fillies was €4,000 and this fell to Owen Griffin’s foal Cloocauneen Sun Rise by Flexible. Ennis pin hooker and producer Niall Doherty accounted for this one, who hails from the maternal line of the international event horse Cloonacauneen Black Beauty (CIC3*).

There were only a handful of brood mares on offer, and topping them at €5,500 was Joanne Houston’s Designed For You. A six-year-old daughter Destano out of Starlight Surprise by Sandro Hit, she is in foal to Vittorio and was secured on line by Lana Cheney.

Irish Draughts

The catalogue of Irish Draughts was smaller than in recent years, and demand was a little patchy. As a result, 60% (80% in 2019) of the 30 horses offered changed hands, but encouragingly the average did increase to €2,272 (€2,039).

One of the six lots to break the €3,000 mark was Jackie Lee’s Las, a filly foal by Farmhill Highlander out of Echo Lady (Echo King). Realising the session’s highest price she was knocked down to regular Cavan visitor Alan Davies for the day’s best price of €3,500.

Top returns

Christy Neary’s three-year-old gelding by Sligo Candy Boy (dam by Crosstown Dancer) €11,500.

Kelda Morgan’s Flyhigh Jacobean, five-year-old gelding by Creevagh Ferro (dam by Cavalier Royale) €9,500.

Aiden McGovern’s Carrabeg Euphoria, seven-year-old gelding by Flexible (dam by Clover Hill) €9,000.