Riding horses with mileage were in strong demand at Cavan last week, where the one-day fixture delivered yet another good set of returns. In line with recent sales, the prices were well above the pre-COVID-19 average, with the top return of €14,600 falling to a dressage horse with stout competition form. A further seven lots broke the €10,000 mark and although the clearance dropped to 71% (83% in April), the average of €5,596 remained similar.

Sale topper

It is not often that a dressage horse tops the figures, but Dale Roberts’ well-produced Rademon Osprey bucked the trend. A nine-year-old by Osmium out of Munie Survivor by Blue Rajah, the gelding has competed to advanced/medium level, and also showed promise over fences.

A slick pre-sale video was well recived by potenial buyers, including buyer Charlotte Williams. Bidding from her home in Surry, Williams was impressed and plans to event him through the lower levels.

Older sector

While prices were solid from the outset, the next best return of €13,600 came towards the close of the older sector. This fell to Natalie O’Shea’s continentally-bred Leestone Conbreaker, a five-year-old gelding by the Holsteiner sire Connor 48 (by Casall de La Silla) out of Acajou Van Het Kloosterhof (Heartbreaker). John McKibbin bred this individual, who will remain in Ireland with new owner Liam Ruttle.

Another notable return at €13,000 was Seamus Duffy’s six-year-old Talking Heads, a well-related gelding by Indoctro out of Dreaming by Colin Diamond. A half brother to the show jumper Talks Cheap (1.45m), he has clocked up a career total of 47 SJI points, and was knocked down to British trader Rhiannon Rowlands.

One of a similar ilk was Peter Flanagan and Thomas Quigley’s seven-year-old gelding by OBOS Quality. He too has been on the jumping circuit, and at €11,600 was secured by British-based producer Amy Dunbarr.

There were two further five-figure returns, namely Edward Matthews’ homebred eight-year-old Brodies Touch by CMS Gunfire (dam by Out of Touch) and Joe Gallagher’s nine-year-old Sea Cash by Christian out of Sea Katie by Heartbreaker.

Young stock

In comparison to the older stock, the four-year-old trade was patchy. Just nine changed hands, with the top price of €11,800 going to Rachel Moore’s Drumlane Kandy Crush a filly by Hiello (Plot Blue) out of Drumlane Orchid (Cavaliere).

British event rider Lawrence Hunt, acting on behalf of David Miles, signed for this smart sort, who will be camapigned from Hunt’s Leicestershire base. Others in the age group to sell well included a four-year-old gelding by the traditionally-bred show jumping stallion HTS Blackrock (by Rhyne Clover) out of Manor Tuppins (Clonakilty Hero) at €7,200 and a gelding by Equis Powerfree at €6,300.

Three-year-olds

Selling late into the evening, the demand for three-year-olds was steady but not spectacular. Once agin, it was the Hunt/Miles duo who accounted for the top price at €7,000 for Paul Langan’s Ballinvoher Robby, a homebred gelding by Zidane out of Caprice (Cassini 11).

Boasting continental pedigree, he hails from the maternal line of High Valley (1.60m), as well as Katusha (1.45m) Amaru (1.40m).

Ponies

As expected, there was a strong trade for experienced ponies, and indeed nine of the 22 forward realised between €5,000-€12,000.

Heading the group was Peader Murphy’s Cullintra Golden Daylight a full Connemara gelding by Burning Daylight out of Jennifer Lane (Streamstown Larry). Described as a potential European chmapionship pony, the nine-year-old has successfully show jumped to 1.20m level, and evented to one-star.

Unsurprisingly, there was a lively exchange for this smart sort, who eventually fell to Laura Geraghty.

Top returns

Dale Robert’s Rademon Osprey, nine-year-old gelding by Osmium (dam by Blue Rajah) €14,600.

Nathalie O’Shea’s Leestone Conbreaker, five-year-old gelding by Connor 48 (dam by Heartbreaker) €13,600.

Seamus Duffy’s six-year-old gelding by Indoctro (dam by Colin Diamond) €13,000.

Peader Murphy’s Cullintra Golden Daylight, nine-year-old gelding by Burning Daylight (dam by Streamstown Larry) €12,000.