Top Returns

Carol Lambe’s Slieveroe Aphrodite, 5 year-old mare by Carrick Diamond Lad (dam by Hermes de Reve) €10,000.

Melissa Gallentine’s Captain Star Clover, 5 year-old gelding by Quite Capitol (dam by Star Cruise) €10,000.

Elena Pothmann’s Knockma Skye, 5 year-old 148cm mare by Frederiksminde Hazy Merlin (dam by Kippure Columbus) €8,000.

JP Meegan’s Dorcets Last Lady, 7 year-old mare by Retirement Plan (dam by Little Big Horn) €8,000.

Robbie Carragher’s Carl, 5 year-old gelding by Carlo Bank (dam by Coolcronan Wood) €7,700.

The sale’s year opened at Cavan last week, where some lively action delivered two, five figure returns. An overall strong demand contributed to a healthy clearance of 77% (77% in 2023), but delivered mixed messages. The averages slipped to €4,955 (€5,690 in 2023). Although around half of the 53 horses on offer equalled or made in excess of €5,000, the smaller and very varied catalogue resulted in a dip in turnover to €262,600 (€369,850).

Sale toppers

One of the most delighted vendors on site was Co Monaghan breeder Carol Lambe, whose five-year-old home bred mare Slieverue Aphrodite by Carrick Diamond Lad, shared the day’s top ranking at €10,000. A highly successful product of Horse Sport Ireland’s innovative breaking and schooling scheme, she had been produced throughout her career by Co Meath professional Jill Revill.

Describing herself as a hobby breeder, Lambe remarked that the mare was the second foal out of Tyche by Hermes de Reve, and stated that the grant awardedby HSI had allowed her to give the mare time, and that this this success would not have been possible without it. Signing the docket, was Leicestershire hunting trader Graham Smith, who described the mare as a real old fashioned Irish type, and one not easy to find.

Equalling the top return, was Melissa Gallentine’s similarly well-prepared Captain Star Clover, a five-year-old gelding by the Holstein jumping stallion Quite Capitol 11 (Quidam de Revel) out of Ruskeys Silver Lady (Star Cruise). American owned, but produced in Multyfarnhan by Maxwell Sport Horses, this well-related individual was the first foal out of a sister to several good performers including the four-star event horse Amiro Sky ridden by New Zealander Bruce Haskell, as well as the useful jumpers Rose of Lennon, Alfadaeo and DHI Bounce. Knocked down to top pony rider Carl Dore, he had competed in training shows and hunted with the South Westmeath Hounds.

Notables

Ponies often feature among the notables at Cavan, and at €8,000, the next best return fell to Elena Porthmann’s five-year-old 148cmns Connemara mare, Knockma Skye. A daughter of the Danish-bred class 1 performance sire Frederiksminde Hazy Merlin (not as catalogued) out of Sukeen Jill by Kippure Columbus, she was marketed as an ideal candidate for the age jumping classes next season. Only sold due to lack of a rider, she was one of three bought by regular pony customer Niall Daly.

Lot 47, the sale topper at the Cavan February Performance Horse sale was Slieveroe Aphrodite (Carrick Diamond Lad) who went for €10,000. \ Sally Parkyn

As older horses continued to reap the better returns, JP Meegan’s seven-year-old thoroughbred mare Dorcets Last Lady sold well at €8,000. A former point to pointer, she was by Retirement Plan out of Dorcet’s Last Stand (Little Big Horn) and, standing just 158cm, was secured by the UK based Swedish trade customer Kikka Suomio.

The thoroughbred stallion Carlo Bank also made his mark when his five-year-old son Carl, realised €7,700. Consigned by Robbie Carragher and ridden on the day by Gemma Murphy, this individual had competed in training shows and working hunters. Traditionally bred, he was out of Ballingeary Silver Moon by Coolcronan Wood and was secured by a British-based trade customer.

A further five lots sold in excess of €7,000 among which at €7,400 was Tara Patton’s homebred five-year-old mare Our Creewood Star by the KWPN sire J Reach For The Stars (aka J Dsean de Landetta). Another boasting a strong pedigree, she was out of Patton’s 1.20m jumping mare Dakoda (Nad Elshiba) and was knocked down to a Scottish customer.

Younger stock

Sixteen four-year-olds changed hands (including ponies), the best of which at €5,900 was Michael McDermott’s homebred gelding by Sligo Candy Boy out of Ballyrath Girl by Crosstown Dancer. Related to several graded jumpers, this Barry McCormick ridden gelding was snapped up by UK trader Gemma Coburn.