Sally Parkyn
CALMING many post Brexit fears, the opening trade at Goresbridge last week positively delivered some of the most solid returns of the year. The fallout certainly did not appear to deter the numerous British buyers, who contributed to a healthy average of €3,416 together with a lively clearance rate of 77% (70% in 2015). Demand was solid throughout, leading Martin Donohoe to comment, “It was a fantastic sale, and as busy a one as we have had for a while. It’s very encouraging for everyone in the industry, and bodes well for our flagship sale in September.”
Once again, production and performance were the key to success, and one to shine in both quarters was Gabriel Slattery’s five-year-old Castletown Don (240). A son of Peter Pan, he showcased most impressively under Shane Dalton, before heading the figures at €10,500. Sourced from the breeder, the gelding had been lightly competed in training events as well as hunted with the North Galway hounds. As a result of his obvious ability, buyers clustered at the ringside where bids bounced rapidly in the early stages. At the business end, however, a two-way duel finally developed between Cheshire buyer Alex Wilcox and Fethard’s Paul Donovan, with the latter making the winning bid. “I think he’s a real event horse and I hope he’s a good one!” jested Donovan, who now plans to produce the horse further through the eventing ranks.
Traditional breeding was prominent throughout, and among those to make an impact was Susan O’Connor’s upstanding grey by Heigh Ho Dubh (167). Bred by Larry Carey, and sourced privately last autumn, the six-year-old had been hunted with the Dulhallow Foxhounds. In addition, he had evented and show jumped, but it was his form in the hunting field that really appealed to eventual buyer Andrew Callwood. Having had to battle hard to secure him at €8,000, Cheshire-based Callwood commented: “Things are busy at home. We have customers on the phone and the orders are coming in. I see this horse as a very nice straightforward hunter.”
Another similarly bred eye-catcher was Conor Dreelan’s chesnut gelding (55) by Loughehoe Guy out of Maghera Rose by Coevers Diamond Boy. The John Joe O’Halloran-bred five-year-old had been well-hunted by his owner, and produced for sale by Henry Foley. One of the early lots in the horse sector, he was initially led out unsold at €5,000 but quickly snapped up by the Co Meath-based Trade Horse Ltd for €7,000. A career on the event track now seems likely for this smart performer, who showed ability both on the flat and over a fence.
The second of the trio to realise €7,000 was Robert Widger’s Jack (202), a well-related five-year-old with hunting and show jumping form. A catalogue pick on paper, the gelding counts the British-based intermediate event horse Right Rebel as a half-brother, as well as the smart three-star campaigner Mister Brightside. Bred by Gordon Goulding, and sourced at the same venue two years ago, Jack had been well-hunted with the Woodstown Harriers, and show jumped by his sale producer Barbara Allen. This was another lot knocked down to Trade Horse Ltd, while first time British buyer Caroline Johns-Powell accounted for David Moran’s son of Kroongraaf (210) at the same figure. The Cardiff buyer took a shine to the big jumping five-year-old, who is out of Village Hope by Diamond Serpent.
STRONG DEMAND
Moving through the returns, a further four horses realised between €6,000 and €7,000.
Demand remained strong for hunters and competition stock, and one to make an impact was Julie Roche’s eight-year-old, Dreamtime Eclipse (151). Bred by Mary McGrath, the upstanding Irish Draught gelding was sourced from Glen Knipe three years ago and, in the interim, had hunted and competed in riding club events. Described by his vendor as “a mannerly, easy horse”, the son of Comet (dam by Crosstown Dancer) was knocked down to Athlone’s Jim Derwin for €6,600. “I think he’s a particularly nice one,” he remarked. “There’s been a good trade today and it’s not been easy to buy one.”
Pat Browne’s six-year-old gelding (158) changed hands for the same figure a few lots later. Purchased by his Co Waterford vendor three years ago and well-hunted since, the skewbald (no recorded breeding) impressed under Rachel Meaney before catching the eye of Liverpool customer Sue McDonald. “He’s going to be a very busy boy,” she commented. “We intend to do a little bit of everything with him, including working hunters, dressage and eventing. We had been unsuccessfully looking in England, but as soon as we saw this one, we fell for him. We loved his movement, jump and attitude.
Mirroring the stock on offer, the second day’s trading was far stronger than the first. Horses were noticeably better produced and therefore more commercial, and another to stand out was David Williams’s Wellview Charisma (197), a seven-year-old by Hermes de Reve. In the same ownership since a foal, the gelding had clocked up 93 SJI points in classes up to 1.20m level, and was knocked down to Co Offaly’s Grania Moyles for €6,000. One of many buyers to trial horses before purchase, Moyles intends to continue his show jumping career. Realising the same price later in the day was Brian Flynn’s grey mare (251) by Polanski. A recent purchase, she was one of several lots secured by British trader Graham Sugden.
Overall 46 lots realised in excess of €4,000 and among these were two from the opening pony sector. Kicking off the proceedings on Wednesday morning, there was a lively trade for the smaller performers, especially those with competition form. Several stood out, but none more so than Erin Reville’s Brave Randal (51), a Connemara pony by the former RDS winner Josie Jump (dam by Robe Earl). Produced and ridden on the day by Joanne Curtin, the fully warranted gelding was the subject of some very competitive bidding, before he was secured by JJ Bowe at €6,500. It was later disclosed that Bowe was buying on behalf of Scotland’s Katie Brown, who now owns and competes the sire. “She wanted a young pony to bring on and run alongside Josie Jump,” explained Bowe.
Also selling well and contributing to the 63% (50% in 2015) clearance (average €2,588) among the ponies, was Ann Power’s Kilcloghee Fionn (29) by Kilmullen Fionn. Illustrating the popularity of the native breed, this smart four-year-old had hunted with the Kill Harriers and was knocked down to Reading event pony buyer Jane Stancombe.
SALE TOPPERS