Online trading proved highly influential at Mullingar last week, accounting for the bulk of the sales at a very successful renewal. While pre-registered buyers were allowed on site, the majority of the day’s busines hailed from home-based online bidders leaving over one-third (40%) to customers from overseas.

The strong returns illustrated the growing confidence in this escalating trend, as 75% of those on offer changed hands, and 13 individuals realised in excess of €5,000.

Reflecting overall, Mullingar’s Carole Fagan commented: “The online bidding was very well received from buyers and sellers alike.”

Declan Fagan added: “It was a super big challenge to get all the bidding online, and it’s thanks to all our support team who made the auction such a big success.”

The catalogue of around 120 lots was extremely varied, and ranged from an opening collection of Connemara youngstock to sport ponies, sport horse young stock and ridden horses.

Sale topper

Selling as a supplementary entry, the sale-topping honours at €8,000 went to Gabriel Slattery’s colt foal by the traditionally-bred show jumping stallion CC Captain Cruise out of a Taloubet Z sired Jockeyhall Tallybet.

Carrying performance breeding on both sides of his pedigree, the June born colt was bred by Sean Lenehan in Co Mayo, and sourced by Slattery earlier this year. Well marketed with videos on social media, and at the sale’s venue, this eye catcher was knocked down to French customer Arnaud Bernolin.

Sport horses

The remaining notable returns fell to the sport horse sector, and heading these at €7,500 was James Brown’s Currahane Ryan, a four-year-old gelding with no recorded breeding. Described as a “sensible Irish Draught cross type” he has been introduced to the hunting field and is thought to have the makings of a master’s horse. Athlone’s Michael Murphy signed for this performer, while Leicestershire native Fiona Davidson paid €7,100 for Keith Wilson’s Clover Lux, a similarly aged gelding by Sillan Lux out of Cavalier Clover (Captain Clover). Davidson, who hunts with the Quorn both side saddle and astride, snapped up two lots on the day.

Another to head across the water to England was Gemma Phelan’s Supersonic, a four-year-old gelding by the Selle Francais stallion Quickly de Kreisker.

The latter, who had competed at training shows was secured by Oxfordshire buyer Adam Harvey for €7,000.

Jumping ponies also sold well, most notably Aoife Bolton’s Kilcreene Quartz, a 13.2hh performer with 70 SJI points. Well-related, and a good mover this seven-year-old Welsh bred was bought by Ted Fagan.

One of the busiest customers of the day was British buyer Hannah Taylor.

Based in Somerset in the west of the country, Taylor accounted for 12 lots, including the 14.2hh jumping pony Lisduff Maisy (by Seafield Silver Dun) at €6,900.

A catalogue pick on paper, this nine-year-old mare had competed successfully at 1m and 1.10m level to win 45 SJI points, and had been selected for the Connaught team to compete at the Interprovincial Finals.

A few lots later, Taylor paid the same amount for Zohra Smyth’s 15hh gelding Ballygarris Bay Shadow, a well campaigned five-year-old by the Connemara sire Black Shadow.

Connemara ponies

While proven Connemara ponies sold strongly, the trade for the younger of native breed was mixed.

Only one-third of the 15 lots that changed hands, made in excess of €1,000, while emerging as the clear sale topper at €3,200 was Deirdre Keegan’s well-grown dun yearling colt by Banagher De Bregeon out of 3DR Hazel by Lightening Star, Performance bred, and described as having stallion potential, he was secured by Co Galway customer Suzanne Quinn.

Top returns

•Gabriel Slattery’s colt foal by CC Captain Cruise (dam by Taloubet) €8,000.

•James Brown’s Currahane Ryan, four-year-old gelding (no recorded breeding) €7,500.

•Keith Wilson’s Clover Lux, four-year-old gelding by Sillan Lux (Captain Clover) €7,100.

•Gemma Phelan’s Supersonic, four-year-old gelding by Quickly de Kreisker (Lux Z) €7,000.

•Aoife Bolton’s Kilcreene Quartz, seven-year-old 13.2hh gelding by Moelview Cherokee (Ninsfield Minks Supreme) €7,000.

•Keith Wilson’s Jungleland, six-year-old gelding by Mermus R (Calvados) €7,000.