€14,000 sale-topper for Lancelot daughter

Demand for competition horses was as strong as ever at Cavan last week, where a top price of €14,000 was solidly supported by a string of good returns.

This buoyancy led to a clearance rate of 73% (no corresponding sale in 2022) while the clustering of notable prices led to an average of €6,057.

Sale topper

While a further two lots realised in excess of five figures, none came close to matching Jack Geaney’s sale-topping jumping mare Roanwood Hurry Up Sunrise.

Only a six-year-old, the daughter of Lancelot was sourced from her breeder John O’Sullivan three years ago, and in the interim had clocked up 17 SJI points, together with a good record in the age classes.

Highly rated by her Co Kerry owner, she was out of Roanwood Nadia by Castlecomer Q and is now bound for Denmark with new owner Jan Mortensen.

Older horses

Age proved no barrier for quiet riding horses with form, and one who filled the criteria in spades was the Kieran Morrin-owned and produced Dante.

A 13-year-old gelding with no recorded breeding, Dante boasted a successful career in a range of riding club activities, and indeed was a runner up in the dressage championships.

Described by his owner as a true all-rounder, he looked well bought by Scottish based agent Arthur McNabney for €12,000.

Another lot set to travel to Scotland was Bernard Reynolds’ Grovehill Candy Cavalier, a home-bred gelding by Sligo Candy Boy out of Grovehill Lady (Mohill Cavalier Clover).

The winner of 31 SJI points under Jennifer Torrens, he was knocked down to first time Cavan buyer Frazer Perratt for €11,350.

There were plenty of buyers on hand for jumping horses with form, and another to sell well was John Higgins’ seven-year-old Leeroy SW, a Dutch-bred gelding by Dallas VDL (dam by Stalypso).

The winner of 88 SJI points under Maura Counihan, he was snapped up by Caron Nichol (European Sports Horses) for €9,500.

Later in the day, the five-year-old jumping mare Ballykealy Stella by Big Dan Rouet (dam by Russel) looked well bought by Newbury trader James White for €9,100, while heading to the same part of England, Casey O’Connor’s well-related six-year-old KWPN registered mare, My Lady RV by Glasgow Van’t Merelsnest (dam by Wolfgang), was knocked down to Robert Stronge for €9,000.

As trade buyers proved a strong presence throughout, Tiernan Grey (TGS) added to his account when purchasing Michael Reilly’s Bens Louie for €9,000.

Four-year-olds

The demand lessened slightly on the appearance of the four-year-olds, but that said, there were plenty of buyers on hand for Lisa Murphy and Thomas O’Leary’s Tourmakeady Champ, an over-height registered Connemara gelding by Melody’s Boy out of Derryveeney Lady (Ard Ri Cunga).

Sourced from Clifden last year, the gelding was well-produced by Eimear Murphy and, having caught the eye of Northern Irish buyer Terry Rice, he was knocked down for €9,600.

Traditionally-bred lots more than held their own, and another to achieve was Michael Reilly’s Fintan gelding by Fintan Himself out of Newtown (Easy Lift). Bred by Tom Fitzsimons, this grey was knocked down to English buyer Rose Nesbitt for €9,000.

Ponies

The day kicked off in good style when a group of ponies sold solidly, and once again it was the Connemara ponies that proved to be the most popular.

First up, and heading the division at €8,700 was Daphne Scholts’ six-year-old gelding Cree A Tuatha by An Claomh Solais out of Cloud Walker (Ashfield Storm Cloud), while Longford man Michael Reilly managed to add to his take home pay when his Cavan Blazer was secured by Sussex buyer Amelia Ayling for €8,600. CL