A TOP price of €18,000 together with a raft of five-figure returns ensured that week one at Goresbridge kicked off in style.
Confined to ponies and older horses, the opening two days delivered some lively trade, which although did not match the 2022 record breaking figures, still closed with a satisfactory set of returns. Overall, 67% (71% in 2022) of those forward changed hands at an average of €6,510 (older horses) and €4,883 (ponies).
Interestingly, more lots realised in excess of €10,000 than 12 months ago with demand at its peak for well-produced competition/hunting horses with proven form. While during the course of the day business was fairly evenly divided between the trade and the private sector, it was the latter who scooped most of the major returns.
Proven form
Heading these at €18,000 was Sarah McClelland’s eye catching RRS Joe (Lot 856), an impressively produced five-year-old by Lancelot out of Rhineroe Lady Elle (Colin Diamond). One from the supplementary catalogue, and therefore passing through the ring as one of the last lots of the day, the grey gelding boasted a wealth of current form in young event horse classes, including a fifth spot in the performance class at Balmoral.
Ridden by Emma Jackson, he had also clocked up 63 SJI points, and bred by Aiden Moloney, was sourced through the same sale ring as three-year-old. His sale was a protracted one, as bids moved slowly from the get go. At first it looked as though French customer Guillame Geneste was likely to be successful, but eventually the hammer fell in favour of the determined British event horse rider Fiona Davidson.
“I’ve waited all day for him, and although I wasn’t going to leave without him, I didn’t anticipate having to pay so much for him!” she said afterwards. “I have just bought some land, so this is the last thing I should be doing, but he reminded me so much of my four-star event horse Galwaybay Smokey.”
The intrepid Leicestershire-based rider, who is well known for crossing country both astride and side saddle, also disclosed that she has taken on the Mastership of the Quorn Foxhounds for the coming season.
Packs in danger
While the future of the legendary Quorn hounds looks safe in present times, the same cannot be said for several other of the major British packs. Having snapped up Desmond Corr’s smart Irish Draught Dungar Close Shave (Lot 79) earlier in the day, leading hunter supplier and follower Graham Smith commented: “The Atherstone went a few years ago, and now the Meynell has folded which is worrying, but luckily there is still trade about for a good one and especially for a six-year-old, which is what everyone wants.”
Bred by John Corbett, and sourced as a three-year-old, the versatile Dungar Clove Shave had done a bit of everything. “He didn’t hunt as much as we would have liked because of Covid,” said the Tyrone based seller Nicky Corr. “But he’s completely easy and straightforward.”
Lot 79 sold for €13,500 at week one of the Goresbridge September sales \ Sally Parkyn
Impressive type
Another hunter type to impress was Thomas Widger’s Little John (Lot 155), a six-year-old by Heigh Ho Dubh out of Harley Princess (Harlequin du Carel). Bred by John Hourigan in Limerick, and sourced through the same ring as a foal, he had hunted for two seasons in Co Waterford, and was well ridden on the day by Jess Widger.
Acting on behalf of German trader and former international event rider Hans Nagel, Co Wexford agent Victoire Von Schoen had to battle hard to secure this one, who she finally secured at €12,200.
Lot 155, Thomas Widger’s Little John, sold for €12,200 at week one of the Goresbridge September sales \ Sally Parkyn
Several of the form horses just failed to reach their reserves in the ring, so led out at €11,500 and later secured in a private sale at €12,000 was Sean Mulkern’s home-bred ABS Minty (Lot 126). Eventually bought by Maurice Bingham, the Tyson-sired gelding was out of the 1.50m show jumping mare Minnie Clover (Clover Brigade) and with 45 SJI points to his name, carried a good record under Brendan Murphy.
Realising the same figure a few lots later was Ross Trearty’s Clonboo Babys Boy (Lot 158), a nine-year-old gelding by Luidam out of Cruising Baby (Cruising). A seasoned hunter with the Donegal and Tyrone Framers, and with five years under his belt, he was knocked down to the British-based New Priory Stud on behalf of Julie Wibbley.
Powerful ponies
Wednesday’s standalone pony session was busy enough and closed with a clearance of 69% and average of €4,883. Mirroring the horse trade, the best prices fell to ponies with form, and heading these at €9,600 was Denis O’Riordan’s Geraldine Beag (Lot 5) an eight-year-old mare with unrecorded breeding.
Produced and ridden by Ruben Hall to win 73 SJI points in her first season under rules, she looked well bought by Sligo trader Tiernan Gray.
Selling from the supplementary catalogue, Fionola Heslin’s five-year-old Derrygola Lad (Lot 840), by Corals Misty Bobby, also sold well at €8,500, while another from the late sheet to turn heads was Debbie Flavin’s (on behalf of Emma Holligan) home-bred 145cm mare Cute On Command (Lot 833).
At €8,000, Co Cork trader Ciaran O’Connor was ringside to account for this grey who had enjoyed a very successful showing career in hand.
TOP PRICES