THE Goresbridge Go For Gold team had huge numbers of horses to inspect for this year’s sale but, with the catalogue just ready for printing, were more than happy to accept an additional high-profile lot.
And they don’t come much higher than Rio de Janeiro Olympic participant Euro Prince who, as Lot 1A, will get the bidding underway in what will be a packed function room in the Amber Springs Hotel next Wednesday evening.
The 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse, on whom Clare Abbott also represented Ireland at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy (2014) and the European Championships in Malmo (2013), is being offered for sale by his North of Ireland owner John McKay, who campaigned the chesnut with his son Cormac.
The latter is credited with breeding Euro Prince from a family the pair know well as they also bred the gelding’s sire Lougheries Quiet Man (who has only one other recorded produce) and his grandsire High-Scope who, under Trevor Smith, competed for Ireland at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Euro Prince’s first trip abroad was in 2010 to the World Breeding Championships for Young Event Horses in Le Lion d’Angers which is where Loughnavatta Cedar (Lot 1) and Cornascriebe Glenpatrick (Lot 2A) last appeared in public.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan for Rory Costigan’s home-bred Luidam gelding Loughnavatta Cedar in the CCI2* for seven-year-olds at the French venue where he fell at the third fence on the cross-country course. However, he was fine following the tumble and was ridden back to the stableyard by Camilla Speirs.
The pair had previously won the CNC** at Kilmanahan and the bay, who has 51 Eventing Ireland points, also recorded double clear jumping rounds in the CCI** at Tattersalls and in the CIC** at Millstreet.
Cornascriebe Glenpatrick (2A), who was added to next week’s sale following publication of the catalogue, is being sold to dissolve a partnership. The Womanizer gelding was one of just three horses selected to represent Ireland in the CCI* for six-year-olds at Le Lion where he finished 11th under Harold Megahey.
From a leading performance family, the brown gelding had attained a top-10 finish in his previous three international outings, has 22 EI points and finished runner-up in the prestigious Camphire International Masterclass as a four-year-old.
The Goresbridge team have put together a top-class catalogue for next week’s sale with the section of well-performed older horses being matched by a group of three-year-olds who appear to have the combination of looks, conformation and pedigree required by ever more discerning purchasers.
As with Tuesday’s Supreme Sale of Showjumpers, all lots in the Go For Gold Sale are being sold with veterinary certificates from members of the Goresbridge Veterinary Panel and with a set of digital X-rays which will be available for potential purchasers to inspect. Videos of all lots can be viewed on the website.
Last year’s sale saw an excellent clearance rate of 85% which, hopefully, will be improved upon next Wednesday. The following is just a small selection of the horses on offer.
OLDER HORSES
Lot 2, Buccaneer, 6yo 168cms br ISH g by Clover Brigade out of Tobar Bhride (Good Thyne). David McCann’s homebred only began eventing this year and was double clear on all but two of his eight outings, which concluded with a CNC* win at Lisgarvan on his second start at this level. He is half-brother to the four-star eventers First Mate and Bosun, who are both by Cruising.
Lot 3, RCA Patron Saint, 5yo 168cms br SHBGB g by Grafenstolz out of Summers Mist. One of 11 five-year-olds in the sale and one of two coming up from Belline Equestrian (the other being Lot 13), this gelding was only twice out of the first two in nine EI starts (once finishing fourth) at EI90 and EI100 level, winning on four occasions.
Lot 4 Marco Q, 5yo 170cms ch ISH g by OBOS Quality 004 out of Roans Surprise (Robertstown Boy VII). One of three progeny by the popular Oldenburg stallion in the sale (the others being Miley Dunning’s five-year-old Night Quality (Lot 6) and William Goldie’s Doonside Jack (Lot 31), Jane O’Flynn’s chesnut has won an EI100, finished fourth at that level at the National Championships and fifth on his sole start in a CNC* class. He also has 39 SJI points.
Lot 11 Kiltealy Gharesky, 5yo 168cms ch ISH g by Ghareeb out of Kiltealy Bess (Sky Boy). This chesnut is a half-brother to, among others, the eventers Ballylynch Skyport (four-star) and Ibble Dibble (three-star), while his dam is a full-sister to the three-star performer Sky Sport.
Lot 16 My Kilcannon Annie, 4yo 168cms ch ISH m by Harlequin du Carel out of Royal Bet (Taloubet VDL). Among the many horses in the sale with whom Jason Higgins is associated is this mare who won her young event horse class at the RDS in July. She is a half-sister to the two-star show jumper Temperance (by Ars Vivendi).
Lot 21 A Sportsfield Rio, 4yo 168cms b ISH g by Chacoa out of Lorella (Ballysimon). This bay was third in his young event horse class at Dublin and in the ISH Studbook four-year-old EI90 Championship at Ballindenisk international having previously won at that level.
Lot 24 Caraghs Harley Master, 4yo 168cms ro ISH g by Harlequin du Carel out of Caragh Susy (Kings Master). Winner of the four-year-old Millstreet Discovery Championship and sixth in his young event horse class at Dublin.
Lot 37 Drombane Dynamite, 4yo 165cms ch ISH g by Harlequin du Carel out of Drombane Dilemma (VLD Arkansas). Winner of the Eventing Discovery Championship in Millstreet.
THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Lot 43 MD Sandyhill Zorro, 168cms bl ISH g by Sligo Candy Boy out of Ozopmas (Sorro). Winner of the Eventing Young Irelander at Millstreet in August, this black gelding was also youngstock champion at Galway County and Tullamore.
Lot 46 Irishman, 168cms b ISH g by Nigrasine out of Leskinfere Lady (Cavalier Royale). The all-Ireland reserve champion at two, this bay was seventh in his lightweight geldings’ class at the RDS in July.
Lot 50, 163cms ch ISH g by Soolmoy Clover Man out of Cloverballen. This unnamed gelding is a half-sister to the dual CCI*** winner and Go For Gold graduate Copper Beech.
Lot 60 CAFRE Private Eye, 168cms b ISH g by Watermill Swatch out of ISHD Black Magic (Furisto). Paul Douglas’s gelding is a half-brother to, among others, the eventers Herbst Golden Eclipse (four-star) and Private Heart (three-star) and the show jumpers ISHD Bullseye and ISHD Ebony. This is the family of the five-star jumper Dual Star.
Lot 62 Brooklodge Merryman, 168cms b ISH g by Mermus R out of Greenhall Indicator (Limmerick). A former all-Ireland foal champion, P.J. O’Mahony’s bay has won many young horse championships and was reserve all-Ireland three-year-old at Bannow & Rathangan in July.
Lot 63 Hallys Comet One, 165cms ch ISH g by Kroongraaf out of Hallo Shirley (Ghareeb). Imelda Dillon’s flashy chesnut was fifth in the potential young event horse class in Dublin. His dam is a half-sister to the three-star eventers Mocharabuiee and Castle Larchfield Purdy, who represented Puerto Rico at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Lot 69 168cms gr ISH g by Golden Master out of Marbridge Lady (Laughton’s Flight). James White’s grey is a three-parts brother to the two-star eventers Greenfort Master and Greenfort Flight Master, who are both by Master Imp.
Lot 70 Willows Empire, 173cms ch ISH g by Lancelot out of MHS Ryans Daughter (Olympic Lux). The final lot in the sale, this tall gelding comes from the family of Badgerhill Cruise, Gowran Park, Dorada, etc.