IT’s an ill wind that blows no good, and true to the idiom, last week’s strong three-year-old trade at Goresbridge lifted spirits and was a major boost in these difficult times. Selling over three days of almost unbroken sunshine, and notably enhanced by the online bidding facility, the demand was lively and consistent until the close of play. Interestingly, although the top prices did not quite emulate the heights of those of 12 months ago, the figures for week two illustrated an increased depth of trade, to deliver an improved clearance of 62% (56% in 2019) together with significant hike in average to €4,285 (€3,544).
Declaring himself “very satisfied” with the sale as a whole, Goresbridge auctioneer Martin Donohoe went on to comment, “In these times, it was great to see the figures up significantly, and to turn over in excess of €2,000,000 over six days, gives people confidence and augers well for the future of the whole industry.”
Another notable statistic was that 36 three-year-olds were bought online, and remote buyers were influential in countless others. “It was also very good to see so many people bidding online, and having the confidence to do so,” added Donohoe. “We will be using the same facility for our next sport horse sale in October, and of course for the Go For Gold sale in November.”
Sale-topper
Overall sale-topping honours, at €16,000, fell to the Power family’s home-bred Cillbhrid Calvin (Lot 538), an impeccably bred three-year-old by Comilfo Plus Z out of Cillbhrid April by Lux Z. He is the second foal out of the good mare Cillbhrid April, who, piloted by Paddy O’Donnell, completed in the top 10 in the Mo Chroi four-year-old championship at the RDS. She progressed to win the five-year-old Masters at the Emerald arena and, retiring to stud the following year, received the highest score at the HSI mare inspections. From a good family, the second dam was a three-parts sister to the 1.60m show jumper Baskin T Bear and a half-sister to the British-based Cillbhrid Luminous (1.45m).
A delighted Geraldine Power revealed she has two younger siblings at home (by Balou du Rouet and Clarimo), while the mare is in foal to Andiamo de Semilly. As he has done for many years, Kilmeaden-based horseman Benny Crowley produced this one beautifully for the Tramore-based breeders, who was knocked down to Co Armagh show jumping owner Fergal Rice. “I thought he was a great model, good to jump and a blood type with good breeding,” commented Rice. “The plan is for Kerry Taggart to jump him next year.”
Lot 710 Clare Collum's three-year-old gelding by Carrera VDL sold for €13,600 at Goresbridge Sales \ Sally Parkyn
Monday
It appeared as though buyers were testing the water on Monday, with the result that the day was the weakest in terms of clearance. That said, there was a trio of five-figure returns, among which at €12,000 was for Mary MacInerney’s home-bred Max The Outlaw (Lot 456) a well related gelding by Ard VDL Douglas out of Burren (Lux Z). The Kildysart-based MacInerney has already bred the former British five-year-old event champion Max McInerney out of the dam, and will be hoping that this progeny will succeed equally successfully with new owner Greg Broderick. “I came specially to try to buy him today,” revealed the Olympian. “I like the sire a lot, and think this is a good sort.”
The influential Ard VDL Douglas also featured as the damsire of John Murphy’s well sold gelding by Harlequin du Carel (Lot 496). A half-brother to the useful Shanalux K (1.30m), this smart individual was knocked down to Co Wexford show jumper Shaunagh Thomson for €11,500. Monday’s remaining five-figure return at €10,000 went to Garnett Ferry’s (Lot 517), a gelding by Beach Ball out of Glenanagh Cavalier (HHS Brother Charlton). Although he was initially led out unsold, he was later secured by trader Jonathon Reape.
Grania Gormley's three-year-old OBOS Quality gelding Lisdara Echo fetched €13,000 at Goresbridge \ Sally Parkyn
Tuesday
The liveliest of the three days, Tuesday produced a 67% clearance together with the best average of €5,020. Sale-topper aside, it also delivered a glut of good returns and featured the inaugural staging of the pre-selected Show Horse section.
Good prices came thick and fast from the get go, and among those to stand out was Frank Casey’s gelding (Lot 560) by OBOS Quality out of the grade B jumping mare Lady Clover Imp (Master Imp). Sourced from Seamus Casey last year, and well produced by his vendor, the gelding was eventually secured at €13,000 by Paul Donovan. The Fethard-based event rider and trader had to battle against several online and in-house bidders but commented pragmatically, “The online bidding doesn’t make much of a difference to me. A bid against you is a bid against you – whether it’s online or in the room.”
There were numerous further exchanges between €7,500 and €9,100 including Jonathan Reape’s purchase of a smart filly by Indoctro (Lot 628) at €9,100 and Pat McDonnell’s gelding by Maximum Joe (Lot 626) for €8,500. The latter was secured by a delighted Mary Mangan, wife of former Grand National-winning trainer Jimmy, and mother of television racing pundit Jane. “I sold my last event horse Galwaybay Blake to Caroline Martin in America, so have bought this one to replace him,” she explained.
The good trade carried right through until the evening, with Donna Smith parting with €8,400 for Aiden Dolan’s son of Bonmahon Master Blue (Lot 672), while Co Cork-based Darren O’Connor added to his string when buying Brian Daly’s home-bred (Lot 675) by Newmarket Venture for €8,200. Interestingly bred, the latter is a full-brother to the 2019 All Ireland three-year-old champion Kilmastulla Newmarket Knight.
Lot 560 Frank Casey's OBOS Quality gelding out of Lady Clover Imp was sold at €13,000 to Paul Donovan \ Sally Parkyn
Show horse sector
This new initiative was generously supported by HSI, who presented a €500 award to the breeder of the highest priced three and two-year-old, as well as a €200 prize to the breeders of the second and third. The selection of 16 horses had been undertaken by the experienced panel of Jane Bradbury, George Chapman and Kieran Ryan and while there was indeed interest in the concept – overall, it just missed the mark. Possibly, in this disrupted season it is hard to make a call as to its future, but ultimately, just six changed hands.
Standing out, both on paper and in the flesh was Patrick Wafer’s gelding Parkmore Quiz (Lot 589) by OBOS Quality out of the 2019 Irish Field RDS Breeders’ champion broodmare Parkmore Evita (Ghareeb). Realising €9,000, the gelding was another knocked down to Co Cork event rider Darren O’Connor, leading Wafer to comment, “It’s early days, but I think it could be great for the show horses and anyone producing them. The RDS doesn’t work out for everyone.”
Lot 589, Patrick Wafer's gelding Parkmore Quiz by OBOS Quality out of The Irish Field Breeders' Champion broodmare Parkmore Evita, fetched €9,000 \ Sally Parkyn
Wednesday
The final day was busy until the end, with eight horses smashing the-five figure mark. The first of these went to Clare Collum and Neil Gilchrist’s gelding (Lot 710) by Carrera VDL out of Florence (For Pleasure). One of a number of foal stores bought by the couple and produced to this stage by Co Limerick man DJ O’Sullivan, this gelding was knocked down to McCavana Developments for €13,600. Speaking on their behalf, Gillian Creighton disclosed that the gelding will be produced next year by her show jumping daughter Jodie.
Local owner James Ryan of Borris also did well when his gelding (Lot 719) by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet realised €10,000 to Co Durham show jumper Billy Davidson, while later in the afternoon Piltown-based event horse owner Richard Ames snapped up a son of Newmarket Venture (Lot 768) for €11,000 in a private sale.
As the evening wore on, prices showed little sign of slowing, Shropshire event horse producer Annie Dalton bid through Niamh Rothwell to secure Helen Sheridan’s Harlequin du Carel-sired gelding (Lot 786) at €10,200 and Ollie Hutchinson accounted for Grania Gormley’s home-bred Lisdara Echo (Lot 804), a gelding by OBOS Quality out of Castle Kaniba (Cavalier Royale) for €13,000. The breeder/vendor of the latter was especially delighted to comment, “It’s not too often you get to breed a good one.”
Finally, Co Clare man Vincent Meaney capped a good few days’ work when selling his gelding (Lot 806) by Koro D’or (dam by Tannenhofs Carmelito) to Tralee show jumper Michael Daly for €10,000. This individual looked to be a good horse to jump, as did John Ryan’s Sligo Candy Boy-sired gelding (Lot 892), who three lots from the end and on the supplementary catalogue, was secured by Co Wexford show jumper William Hickey for €12,500.