ALTHOUGH trade on the final day at Goresbridge was not as lively as the opening two days, there was a solid demand for the three and four-year-old stock.
As always, the figures reflected the varied quality on offer, but it was good to see the day deliver a top price of €8,700 (€7,100 in 2016) together with an overall clearance rate of 68%.
Adding welcome depth to the proceedings, some 20 horses made in excess of €4,000, six of these coming from the younger sector. While the four-year-old trade stood up satisfactorily against last year’s returns, the most notable improvement hailed from the final session.
As some buyers made their way home, new faces filled the complex and it was standing room only for the three-year-old showcase. Making up notable ground on 2016 and with buyers showing little bias for either fillies or geldings, the younger age group not only delivered the day’s sale topper but also an improved clearance rate of 64% (50%).
Looking back over Friday’s trade, Martin Donohoe commented: “There has been a great air of positivity around the yard this week and great interest in the three-year-olds, which is especially encouraging with our forthcoming September sale and bodes well for breeders and producers overall.”
One of the heartening aspects of the day was the readiness of buyers to purchase fillies. Bidding was strong for a number of smart performers, and especially for an athletic Pointilliste filly (395) who topped the sale at €8,700. Well handled by Brian Flynn, Sharon Mulcahy’s home-bred had wowed the crowds with an impeccable jumping display and, once in the sale ring, impressed again.
English event rider Richard Jones was the determined front-runner from the outset, but in the end he surrendered to an equally resolute Holly Geraghty. A sister of the former Irish Horse World editor in The Irish Field Sascha, Geraghty had been on the hunt for a horse since the start of the year and was delighted to have ended her quest.
“I had no plan to buy a filly but I think she’s a smasher,” she remarked. “The aim is to take her slowly, and probably compete in some of the young event horse classes next year.”
One of the second crop of the Slyguff-based thoroughbred sire Pointilliste, this filly is certainly bred for the job. She is half-sister to the British-based three-star event horse Highland Cavalier, as well as the 2015 RDS winning young rider show jumper Just Jump.
The next notable return at €6,800 was for Denise Kelly’s four-year-old Moorhill Soco (319) by Hoeks Ludo W. The big gelding was initially led out of the ring unsold, but soon snapped-up by local show jumping rider Pat Byrne. Looking for a suitable horse to contest the Irish Sport Horse Studbook classes next summer, Byrne had already done his homework.
“I had viewed videos of him before the sale, and had been in touch with the vendor,” he said. “so I liked the way he was produced, his size and also his foreign breeding.”
Although he carries a full continental pedigree, the gelding was bred in Ireland and sourced by his Co Down-based vendor two years ago.
Although Richard Jones was pipped for the top lot, he had earlier secured Michael Murphy’s bay gelding (317) by Ars Vivendi. The four-year-old put up a smart display of jumping under Henry Foley, but after signing the docket at €6,600 Jones admitted he had not seen him jump.
“I had been looking at horses in the country and walked through the gate just as he was going into the ring,” said the Nottinghamshire based event rider. “However, I was told he jumped ok and he’s certainly a good type.”
An athletic sort out of John’s Lady, by Sirsan, the gelding was sourced through the same sale ring as a foal.
From the supplementary list, Jim Byrne’s four-year-old (469) by Olympic Lux jumped well on a line and, although too green to ride over a pole, was knocked down to Cheshire’s Alex Wilcox for €5,100.
Another to impress prior to sale was Sean Healey’s three-year-old filly (421) by Pacino. Home-bred out of a German mare, the filly was well showcased by Damien Griffin, a performance that attracted successful buyer Debbie Johnston. Paying her market price of €5,000, Johnston’s connections disclosed that they had always wanted a Pacino and thought this one was especially scopey.
The remaining trade was steady enough, with horses regularly selling around the €4,000-€5,000 mark.
The majority hailed from the older age group and one traditionally-bred lot to catch the eye was Jenny Roche’s attractive brown gelding by Killinick Bouncer (364) and out of Princess Royal (Cult Hero).
Swopping saddles, this one was ably ridden by point-to-point jockey Benny Walsh and at €4,700 looked well bought by Staffordshire visitor Rachel Dobson of Fox Meadow Equestrian. Although he appeared to have the makings of a top hunter, a possible career in dressage is on the cards.
Among the other eye-catchers in the older division was Jessica Burke’s gelding (374) who changed hands at €4,600. English producer Bernie Wharfe accounted for this classy jumper, who is by an unregistered stallion and out of the grade A mare Amanda 202. Burke herself partnered the dam, who had a good career in classes up to 1.40m level.
As the three-year-old season progresses and the major sales are within sight, these results are encouraging. Both breeding practices and production levels have improved, and as a result, wise breeders are slowly beginning to reap the rewards.
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