GORESBRIDGE was lucky to have escaped the rages of Ophelia last week, but there was no shortage of drama ringside as Wednesday’s trade delivered some of the best returns in recent years. Bettering last year’s strong renewal by a distance, two horses realised €31,000, while others came close at €29,000 and €25,000.

Equally encouraging, these figures hailed from a buoyant demand for three and four-year-olds, while unusually, the older horses struggled to make an impact. The divided returns illustrated that overall, a total of 59% of all horses (65% in 2016) changed hands, with the four-year-olds clearly leading the way at 75%.

At €3,811 (€3,046) this year’s average was much improved, leading Goresbridge auctioneer Martin Donohoe to comment: “It’s been a fantastic trade, especially on Wednesday.

“It’s great for everybody, and a shot in the arm for the industry. It just proves once again, that we can get serious prices for the right horses.”

SALE-TOPPERS

In the direct aftermath of the storm, Thursday’s attendance was surprisingly good, but it was Wednesday’s catalogue of three and four-year-olds that attracted one of the biggest crowds of the year. Some had come to view the nine, pre-selected three-year-olds, but earlier in the session, all eyes were focussed on a four-year-old gelding owned by Kathleen Ryan and ridden by the incomparable Gemma Phelan.

The Co Waterford rider is no stranger to sale-topping honours, but her showcase performance on the son of Diamant de Semilly was rated by the pundits as an exhibition, and one of the best they had ever seen at a sale.

Unsurprisingly, bids rocketed up the scale for this smart individual (224), before he was finally knocked down at €31,000 to a telephone bid on behalf of agent Ken Parkhill.

“It was a last minute decision to bring him, as we really rate him,” reflected the Nenagh-based vendor. “The sale has been very lucky for us, so we thought we would chance him and if we didn’t sell at the price we had in mind, we would take him home. It was very nice to see people here prepared to pay for him.”

Bred by TJM Equestrian in Co Wicklow, and sourced by Ryan last year, the well related gelding is out of the useful Grade B show jumping mare Sumas Sound of Music (1.40m) by Indoctro.

The gelding is expected to embark on a show jumping career on home soil.

SELECT THREE-YEAR-OLDS

Boosting Wednesday’s appeal, the catalogue included a group of nine three-year-olds which had originally been selected for the subsequently cancelled Supreme Sale of Show Jumpers.

Six of those on offer changed hands, the best of which at a heady €31,000 was Ashleigh Rea’s outstanding MT Valentino (270) a gelding by OBOS Quality out of the well related Shannonview Cassie by Lux Z.

Professionally prepared by JJ Bowe, the gelding put up an outstanding performance, where he looked both consistent and light on his feet.

Another to be the subject of a lively exchange, the bidding developed into a duel between Barnadown’s Maurice Cousins and successful purchaser Chris Makin from Yorkshire. Makin, whose family is steeped in show jumping history, had piloted his plane into the nearby Kilkenny airfield, and only had one intention.

“It was the video that sold him to me,” he remarked. “I had looked at all the videos from the various sales in Europe – and from over 150 horses that I viewed I knew this was the one I wanted to buy.”

Surprisingly, Makin also revealed that his new purchase will be sent down the eventing route as he already has horses with international Ros Canter and Lauren Shannon.

His sale was an early and welcome wedding present for vendor Ashleigh Rea, who had sourced her sale-topper as a foal from Co Kildare breeder Nikki Collins.

She explained: “I had never bought a youngster in my life, and when I realised he might be good, I thought I had better try to get the money!” On recommendation, Rea then sent her youngster to Kiltealy’s JJ Bowe to be produced, and went on to add: “I owe all this to JJ.”

Another gelding to receive a round of applause and a good return was Gina Prescott’s impressive Jacky Boy (267), a big, impressive gelding by Toulon out of Calita (Cardino).

One of the pre-sales catalogue picks, this smart sort was also beautifully prepared by JJ Bowe, and after a spirited tussle was secured by Tipperary’s Cheryl Cleary.

The bay was sourced at the Limberg auction in Holland as a foal, and is a half-brother to the useful 1.40m mare Catani Z ridden by Clem McMahon, and two registered stallions. “He’s bred to jump, and how he jumps, represents every penny he made,” commented Prescott afterwards.

Just a few lots later, DJ O’Sullivan also did well when his well-bred gelding by Emilion (dam by Pacino) was knocked down to Elisha Edgar for €25,000.

Bidding via the telephone, the Canadian buyer had already secured a foal (at €17,000) at the same venue the previous week, and this one is likely to follow a show jumping career.

A half-brother to the American-based four-star event horse King Pin, and from a dual-purpose family, he was bought from Ballypatrick Stables earlier in the year.

“I’m delighted,” remarked the vendor. “I bought him to jump, but when this sale came up, we thought we would try him.”

Having created no small amount of interest along with a number of notable returns, Martin Donohoe of Goresbridge will look at a renewal next year. “Having got these serious prices, it is definitely something we will look at in depth for next year,” he said.

FOUR-YEAR-OLDS

Filling the bulk of Wednesday’s action, the age group produced a healthy clearance of 75% and the joint sale-topping return of €31,000.

That aside, prices were a little two tier, but also selling well at €11,200 was Jason Higgins’ attractive gelding (245) by Harlequin du Carel out of the show jumping mare Beautiful Captain (Captain Clover).

The subject of another lively and competitive exchange, the Pamela O’Rourke-bred gelding was finally secured by British event rider Nick Lucey.

The son of the well-known event veterinary surgeon Mark Lucey, the Gloucestershire rider was making his first visit to the venue, and said afterwards: “I loved the jump, he had lots of blood, and ticked all the boxes for me – although I would sooner have spent less!”

REMAINING THREE-YEAR-OLDS

Delivering a clearance of 57% together with an average of €4,315, the younger selection sold in front of a large but selective crowd.

Quality was mixed, and perhaps carried away by some of the better returns, some vendors posted unrealistic reserves.

That said, good prices appeared with regularity among the two sessions, and special selection aside, a further 16 lots made in excess of €5,000.

Heading these, show jumping owner Rupert Nuttall paid €7,800 for Vincent Meaney’s gelding (330) by UFO out of Wineport Dis N Dat (Lux Z). Selling as the first lot on the final day, it was a good return, and led Nuttall to comment: “I don’t know much about the sire, but he’s a son of Darco, this horse is a good model and jumping-bred.”

OLDER HORSES AND PONIES

Unusually at the venue, and possibly due to last minute travel cancellations for some of the regular buyers, Tuesday’s older horses were the poor relations in the returns.

The standard on offer was mixed, but opening what proved to be a highly successful three days for his vendor, Noel Ryan’s seven-year-old (104) received the best price at €8,000.

Again partnered by Gemma Phelan, the son of OBOS Quality impressed several would be purchasers, before he was knocked down to show jumping owner Tom Browning.

The winner of 4 SJI points, he was bred by Tim Gleeson and had only embarked on his affiliated show jumping career earlier this month. Browning owns a number of show jumpers at his base in Wales, and this one will join rider Adrian Whiteway in Somerset.

Topping a group of just 15 ponies at €3,100 was Poppadom GC (15), a smart Connemara pony by the European show jumping gold medallist Dexter Leam Pondi (dam by Prince of Thieves). The sector returned a clearance of 67% together with an average of €1,835.