TUESDAY’S one-day fixture at Goresbridge was, in the true sense of the word, quite extraordinary. On a day that saw 93% of the horses on offer change hands at an average of €7,004, trade was sizzling from start to finish.

“In the 52-year history of sales at Goresbridge, we have never seen anything like it,” said an ebullient Martin and Mary-Frances Donohoe. “The figures smashed the previous records to smithereens, and while the indications were there for a strong trade, nobody could have anticipated this outcome, which surpassed even our wildest dreams.”

As expected, the online influence was massive, and was boosted by the increased confidence in the medium.

“The key for all of us at Goresbridge is the transparency of the online video footage and images, together with the performance live streaming,” added Donohoe.

“We have been canvassing our vendors to make an extra effort in this regard, and it paid dividends.

“Covid or no Covid, a lot of our buyers probably wouldn’t have travelled to Goresbridge anyway, but they bought because it was so comprehensive to do so online.”

While in fact just 42% of those sold were knocked down to online bidders, their influence was far greater. There were online bids for each one of the 127 lots sold and as a result, a healthy total of 21 horses from every age bracket, broke the €10,000 barrier.

Among the successful bidders were buyers from Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, the UK and Ireland, all of whom contributed to a day’s impressive turnover of €899,550.

Top price

Although he is no stranger to sale topping honours, Co Monaghan’s Keith Wilson never quite expected to land €23,000 for his Coille Mor Buachaill, a five-year-old gelding by Tolan R (Lot 22).

The first of the ridden horses, he looked impressive when showcasing, with the result that two potential buyers tried him under saddle. One of these was a strong contender, but in the end, the gelding was knocked down to German show jumping customer Reinhold Distel.

Accompanied by his daughter Pia, Distel has a big yard near Frankfurt, and intends to retain the gelding as a jumper. Bred by Eamon McGuirk out of Dunmor Lass (Coille Mor Hill), and sourced directly from him, Coille Mor Buachaill is a half-brother to three low graded horses.

“Sadly, I don’t have time to compete him myself,” said Wilson.” He’s a lovely horse, and if he’s not a jumper he’ll make an event horse.”

Older horses

Much to the delight of the vendors, good prices came thick and fast, and among them was the €16,900 paid for Seamus Beisty’s (Coisnahabhinn Stables) Sunshine Dream (Lot 95), an eye-catching palomino gelding by the similarly coloured Coolfin Dynamite out of April Sunshine, by the Connemara sire New Captain Courageous.

Mark Delaney bred this five-year-old, who was ridden on the day by Gerry Gormley and secured online by Oxfordshire buyer and event horse owner Hannah Wells.

The English women had to battle hard with a ringside bidder, and was thrilled to have come out on top. “I have recently had a baby, and was wanting something to get started again,” she told The Irish Field. “He caught my eye in the catalogue, and having watched him on the live stream, I decided to give it a go. I was about at my limit, but so pleased I persevered.”

Wells, who has event horses with Harry Meade, is a great lover of the Irish bred, and later in the day paid €10,100 for Fourfields High Seas (Lot 178), a three-year-old gelding by Loch Cruise.

Lot 95, Sunshine Dream, was sold for €16,900 at Goresbridge \ Sally Parkyn

Demand was very lively for the quiet hunter types, and heading these at €14,600 was Martin Egan’s Rosconnell Rocco (Lot 73), a traditionally-bred gelding by Remington Clover out of All Diamond (Townrath Pride).

A pre-sale catalogue selection, where he was singled out as “probably the pick of the hunters”, this experienced gelding had followed the Wexford hounds, competed in all disciplines and attended pony club camp.

A horse with many jobs, he will now travel to Hampshire with new owner Caroline Leyton.

The local Mount Juliet Equestrian were among the multiple buyers, and included in their purchases was Cian Goggins’ smart eight-year-old GCS Paris (Lot 85) for €12,400.

In the same ownership since a five-year-old and the winner of 50 SJI points in classes up to 1.30m, this well-related mare is a sibling to six international horses, including Ballypatrick Mystique.

“She’s a very good mare I look forward to seeing her progress, said Goggins.

Four-year-olds

The four-year-old sector, which closed with an impressive 97% clearance and an average of €7,829, was the strongest of the day. Five figure returns abounded, and heading them at €16,000 was Creevagh Stables’ gelding (Lot 110) by Maximum Joe out of Eltina Lux (Lux Z).

Bred by PJ and Adrian Williams, he is a half-brother to Cassino Royale who jumped up to 1.30m with Peter Smyth.

Event horse producer Andrew Williams (GHF Equestrian) signed for this smart sort, who with vendor Tommy Considine in the saddle, recently competed in an event at Flowerhill.

“He’s green, but a real eyecatcher,” said Williams.

Others of note included a well-related gelding by Aganix du Seigneur (Lot 119) at €14,200, and GBBS Ltd’s gelding by Emerald Van’t Ruysterhof (Lot 147) at €13,200. The latter, whose dam Lexi Lady (Flex A Bill) is a sibling to eight internaTtional show jumpers was knocked down to Dublin-based Christina Gates.

The highest-priced horse by a thoroughbred fell to Ger Burke’s gelding (Lot 120) by Pointilliste (dam by Master Imp). This big chesnut had competed in one leg of the Stepping Stones series, and was secured by the northern England-based JTW Horse Sales at €12,500.

Three-year-olds

Despite selling at the end of a long day, demand for the younger age group held up well. Returning an average of €6,479, three lots realised in excess of €10,000 the best of which was JJ O’Connor’s gelding (Lot 167) by OBOS Quality (dam by Cruising) who, at €12,000 was secured by Mount Juliet Equestrian.

Ponies

Although reducing the overall average, the ponies set the ball rolling in good style. Some 94% of the 16 forward changed hands with the top return of €9,100 going to Mai Rath’s home-bred Blossom Hill Bun (Lot 11), a four-year-old, half-bred Connemara pony by Bunowen Darragh.

Well-presented and produced for sale by Joanne Curtin and Henry Foley, the gelding was snapped up by Maria Kitt.

Lot 11, Blossom Hill Bun, was the top priced pony at Goresbridge when sold for €9,100 \ Sally Parkyn

Most likely, the youngest vendor of the day was eight-year-old Timmy Considine, who’s pint-sized chesnut pony realised €5,700. Well ridden and presented by his Co Meath owner, the pony was knocked down to Co Wexford’s Tom Devereaux.

Accompanied by his wife Mairead, Devereaux explained he was buying him as a second pony for his grandson who lives in Wales.