THIS week’s three-day sale at Goresbridge delivered depth and quality across the age groups, resulting in a very strong trade in all sectors. At the close of business on Wednesday night, the overall clearance hit 76%, which, in light of the fact that the catalogue had ricocheted to well over double last year’s equivalent, was no mean achievement.
Despite the unprecedented success of the May edition, there was a natural uncertainty as to how trade would hold up with this vast increase in numbers. While the three-year-old figures did dip slightly there was a lively demand throughout, which led Goresbridge’s Martin Donohoe to comment: “The online medium has revolutionised the sport horse industry, and has opened access to the Irish sport horse to people all over the world. Even at the height of trade, to realise 69% clearance for the three-year-olds, and at this time of year, you have to be thrilled.”
Indeed, as the figures closed with a strong turnover of €1,784,300 and with a total of 22 five-figure returns, it was revealed that over a third of those sold were secured online. The online influence was far reaching, and of course boosted the returns for the remainder. At times, bids from the floor were sluggish, leaving the online bidders to fight it out amongst themselves.
Sale-topper
As one of the early lots through the ring on the final day, Mary Kehoe’s beautifully presented three-year-old gelding (405) by Cormint turned heads from the outset. Sourced as a foal from his Co Wexford breeder Patrick Crowdle, the gelding is the second progeny out of the international jumping mare Carnagh Courage Lady by the influential dam’s sire Courage. An elegant, athletic bay, he oozed both presence and ability, as Kehoe explained: “He’s just a lovely horse and takes everything in his stride.”
Unsurprisingly Kehoe was not the only one with that opinion, but at the business end of a prolonged tussle for ownership, a two-way duel developed between British-based event horse buyers, Andrew Williams and Lawrence Hunt. In end, and much to the disappointment of the former, the hammer finally fell in Hunt’s favour. “He was simply stunning,” he said afterwards. “I didn’t come to buy three-year-olds, but you don’t come across the likes of this type very often and I loved everything about him.” Hunt, who has a base in Leicestershire with owner David Miles, surprised himself by securing a further seven of the age group, as well as three from the older sectors. He plans to keep this individual to produce through the ranks, with the Nexgen young horse classes as the aim for next year.
Henry Foley's five-year-old Rainstown Lad gelding (Lot 149) shared the joint top price for older horses at €11,400 \ Sally Parkyn
Older horses
Monday’s trade for older stock was lively from the outset, and closed with a 76% clearance together with a notable average of €6,406. More significantly, this was achieved without any outliers, as the top return of €11,400 was shared between Henry Foley’s five-year-old gelding by Rainstown Lad (149), and later in the day, Trevor Patterson’s six-year-old mare (170) by Beach Ball.
The first named, a traditionally bred grey gelding out of Maye by Huntingfield Rebel, was sourced from his breeder the late Paul Walsh. It was an emotive sale, as Foley relates: “Paul Walsh gave me my first sales’ horse, and this was one of the last ones he bred.”
Indeed, the late breeder was well known in the sport horse industry, and among his many successful home-bred horses was the Beijing Olympic event medallist McKinlaigh. Agent Martin Wanless signed for this smart sort, who had been well produced by Foley’s partner Joanne Curtin.
Trevor Patterson's six-year-old Beach Ball mare (Lot 170) shared the joint top price for older horses at €11,400 \ Sally Parkyn
Later in the session, Trevor Patterson’s mare Downhill Beach (170) by Beach Ball out of Coevers Dream (Coevers Diamond Boy) also realised €11,400 when she was snapped up online by American customer Crissa Gillette. A first-time buyer at the Go For Gold sale last year, amateur event rider Gillette secured this well-campaigned six-year-old for her son to compete. Fully warranted, and the winner of eight SJI points under Hannah Patterson, the mare had been resident with the Limavady- based Patterson family for the past three years.
Another experienced lot was Ellie Moloney’s Calgary Boy (94), a five-year-old by Quidam Junior out of Calgary Girl by Lux Z. Gemma Phelan was in the saddle to showcase this one, who looked well bought at €11,000 by international event rider Nicky Hill, The British-based Hill is a staunch supporter of both the sales and Irish-bred horses, and is well known in connection with her eventing derby specialist Kilrodan Sailorette,
Trade remained solid for horses of all disciplines, and among the standout lots was Emily Pickering’s home-bred Our Joey (116). A proper old-fashioned cob, with bone and substance, he was produced by event rider Alice Copithorne, and had already enjoyed a successful showing career. Standing just 15.3hh, he was a winner at Mullingar the previous week, and was described by his rider as ‘not just a cob – he’s a weapon!’ Unsurprisingly he gained plenty of admirers on the day and, snapped up for a heady €11,000, he will remain in Ireland with new owner Gerty Tynan.
The final €11,000 return fell to Finola Heslin’s good looking five-year-old palomino gelding by Tullabeg Fusion. Nicky Cousins’ stallion has recently been in the news as the sire of the Olympics-bound event horse Tullabeg Flamenco, and sourced through the same ring two years ago, this smart prospect is now bound for the UK yard of Tom Bracegirdle.
DJ O'Sullivan's three-year-old Capri Van Overis gelding (Lot 369) topped the four-year-old trade at Goresbridge Sales this week fetching €14,200 from British online buyer Adam Smith \ Sally Parkyn
Four-year-olds
Despite getting off to a slightly sluggish start, the four-year-old sector soon gathered pace and returned the highest average of the three days (€6,472) and a clearance of 80%.
With the introduction of online selling, the live performance footage is now of paramount importance, and as a consequence the overall production and presentation has notably improved. There were numerous eyecatchers, among the 90 lots that changed hands, and none more so than DJ O’Sullivan’s (N.Kelleher) gelding (369) by Capri Van Overis.
Bred by Brendan Doyle out of the imported Angelina Baby (Quidamo), and sourced from him as a three-year-old, the grey was snapped up online by British buyer Adam Smith. Having made his final click at €14,200, Smith spoke to The Irish Field from his home in Herefordshire. “I have been looking in the UK for quite some time,” he said. “I’m an amateur event rider, with a bit of a thing about greys! I know it’s a bit of a punt, but he had his X-rays and I’m looking forward to seeing him in person.” Young Holly Duggan was in the saddle to showcase this gelding, ably deputising for O’Sullivan who is currently on the sidelines with a broken collarbone.
Brian Flynn and Meabh Bolger's MBF Total Eclipse (Lot 266) (4yo) was sold for €13,000 at Goresbridge to Darren and Becky Walsh \ Sally Parkyn
The Co Waterford-based MBF team of Brian Flynn and Meabh Bolger rarely leave a sale without at least one notable sale, and did well when their well-produced MBF Total Eclipse (266) realised €13,000. Bred by Marie Smiddy in Co Cork, and bought as a two-year-old, the grey caught the eye of Darren and Becky Walsh (Emerald Irish Horses). “We really liked his traditional breeding,” commented the couple, who plan to produce him.
John Glynn's Shanaclough Phantom (Lot 277) sold online for €12,2000 at Goresbridge to British young horse producer Paul Jeary \ Sally Parkyn
Co Limerick vendor John Glynn has enjoyed many a good day campaigning his international event mare Shanaclough Clovertone, so it was rewarding for him to see her third foal, Shanaclough Phantom (277) by Simba sell well at €12,200. A half-brother to Shanaclough Quality Clover (CCI2*) he was well ridden by Jess O’Driscoll, and secured online by British young horse producer Paul Jeary. “I have regularly bought online from here, and have been pleased with all of the horses when they arrived,” remarked Jeary. “I liked the fact that this one had competed in the Stepping Stones series, and is ready to produce on.”
At €11,500 and bidding from his Oxfordshire home, Jeary also accounted for John McDonald’s homebred gelding (326) by Capri Van Overis. Shane Dalton was in the saddle to jump this smart sort who is out of the good jumping mare Chatsworth Top Quality, a sibling to Chatsworth Dan (1.60m). Among the remaining lots to achieve a five-figure price, was a flashy imported filly (367) by Whitesnake who was secured by show jumper Jessie Drea for €11,800 and Tom O’Riordan’s gelding (263) by the jumping pony sire Moyralla Mint who was knocked down for €11,400. Co Wexford event rider and judge, Jill Spring signed for the latter who is now bound for the Swiss yard of hunting enthusiast Barbara Spycher.
PJ Watson's four-year-old Mac Grey Shadow (Lot 59) was the top priced pony at Goresbridge selling online for €8,800 to the UK's Stephanie Wells
\ Sally Parkyn
Ponies
Monday’s opening session of ponies unusually produced the week’s biggest clearance at 88% together with a good average of €4,926. As online buyers battled with those on site, the top return of €8,800 fell to PJ Watson’s four-year-old Mac Grey Shadow (59). Spotted by PJ Watson senior at Clifden sales, and indeed the only one in the catalogue he marked at the time, the four-year-old is a full Connemara by Silver Shadow and was secured by UK online customer Stephanie Wells.
From the smaller ponies, Hannah Woods’ 138cms Davy Boy (29) sold well at €7,600, while Jane Kinsella’s Shannon Junior (41), who was initially led out unsold, was later secured by Patricia King for €7,500. There were several multiple buyers for the ponies, but carrying the most influence was Reinhold Diestel from Germany who accounted for 10 lots, ranging from €2,600 to €7,000.
Three-year-olds
While prices levelled, the age group delivered a positive return. Overall, 68% of those on offer changed hands, to illustrate an average of €5,341. Buyers were discerning however, and while there were plenty of nice types on offer, customers were looking for value.
Sale-topper aside, only two more broke the €10,000 mark, the first of which was Jock Lynch’s attractive gelding (509) by OBOS Quality. A recent qualifier for the forthcoming performance class at the RDS, he was bred by Jim Seymour out of Currabawn Carla (Harlequin du Carel). From a good maternal line, his dam is a half-sister to the British-based event horse Jack Cruise (CCI3*) and from the family of KEC Georgia (1.40m).
Interestingly, it was Finola Heslin who signed the docket at €10,800, as it was Finola’s husband Ian, who bred the dam.
“We have had the whole family,” said Heslin. “I knew this one had qualified for the RDS, so having seen the videos, I said I’d go and have a look. My daughter Shauna will produce him for the age classes next season.”
Having commented that he wasn’t planning to buy three-year-olds, Lawrence Hunt accounted for a further six. Among them at €10,000 was Brian Flynn’s rangy gelding (447) by the thoroughbred Primary out of Rinnwood Ramiro’s Touch (Ramiro B). Bred by Deanna McGuinness, he was light on his feet, and looked well bought. At the opposite end of the height scale, Hunt also paid €9,500 for Emmet Carter’s Jimbo Boy, a palomino with no recorded breeding.