FOR the second consecutive year, an offering by the Co Waterford Toomey/Power equine breeding families headed the three-year-old figures at Goresbridge Sales last week. Selling for a healthy €25,000 on the final day, the big chesnut gelding by Conthargos was one of 13 lots to smash the five-figure barrier and contributed to yet another hike in the returns. Of course, and as always, there was a disparity in the quality on offer, but the busy few days produced an annual improvement in every numerical sector. This led to a clearance of 65% (62% in 2020) together with an average of €5,265 (€4,770) and a three-day turnover of €1,210, 900 (€1,025,550).

Looking back over the week, the team at Goresbridge were upbeat, and especially Mary Frances Donohoe, who has worked hard to set up the online platform. “It has been encouraging to see the number of vendors that have taken on board the importance of producing quality online videos,” she said. “The videos are now showing a vast improvement both in terms of turnout and presentation, whereas those who haven’t done so have reaped the lesser rewards. It has been a massive amount of work for everyone – and particularly for the vendors, but it’s now proven that it’s so worthwhile.”

Sale-topper

Bettering his in-laws Geraldine and Marianne Power, who topped last year’s equivalent at €16,000, Co Waterford breeder Bill Toomey hit the jackpot when his son of Conthargos landed an even healthier €25,000. The chesnut (Lot 719) set the sale ring alight on Wednesday afternoon, when in the latter stages two bidders went head-to-head for ownership. From €15,000, bids bounced rapidly between Vincent Meaney on the telephone and Jim Derwin, but in the end it was the latter who stood his ground. “I didn’t actually see him jump, but the feedback was very good,” said Derwin. “I will keep him for the boys (son James and nephew Francis Jnr) to jump – these horses are hard found.”

Toomey, who is the father of equine veterinary surgeon Bill, sourced the dam (by Golden Master) as a foal, and covered her with Conthargos as a three-year-old. This is the first progeny, although Toomey has a two-year-old full brother waiting in the wings, as well as a foal at foot by OBOS Quality. “My daughter-in-law Marianne has been my advisor and mentor the whole way,” he revealed. “I have also been lucky to have used the services of Benny Crowley who did the initial preparation, and Johnny Widger who prepared him for the sale – both of whom are real horsemen.”

Lee O'Brien's three-year-old Coolkeeran gelding (Lot 420) sold for €14,000 to Paul Donovan at Goresbridge \ Sally Parkyn

Monday session

Monday was a little mixed in terms of quality, but boosting spirits early during the afternoon, Lee O’Brien’s gelding (Lot 420) by Coolkeeran realised a solid €14,000. This eye-catcher was sourced as a yearling and, bred by Tom Hutchinson, is by the little used but highly rated Holstein sire Coolkeeran by Corrado I. Event producer Paul Donovan opened his account for this gelding, commenting, “He’s looks to be good value. He is a lovely type, light on his feet and with a very good canter.”

Donovan aside, the show jumping buyers were generally a stronger force than the eventers, and another heading down that route is Alison Crozier’s gelding (Lot 511) by Quintero. Bred by George McCullough out of the lightly jumped Lakota Star (Luidam), this athletic gelding came on the market at €9,400 and was eventually secured by McCavana Developments for €13,500. The Co Antrim-based buyers plan to send this gelding to Jodie Creighton to produce.

There were several high-profile lots, but one real headturner was Mary Kehoe’s Nightinthecosmos (Lot 474) a 15.2hh gelding by the Connemara sire Abbeyfield Comet out of the part Connemara dam Nightinmay (Slaney Silver TB). A very dark dun, and a super jumper, this lot created a lot of interest online where he was snapped up at €11,600 by British buyer H. Taylor. Already broken and riding, he was sourced as foal from former event rider and dressage judge Jill Spring.

Two lots realised €11,500 apiece, and first up was Sean Noone’s Guy Gano (Lot 453), a gelding by Gemini out of Solitaire Lady (Cruising). Combing two great bloodlines, the sire is a clone of the great Olympian Gem Twist, while the maternal family is one of the best in the book. His dam is a full sister to Golden Exchange (1.60m), Atomic Mouse (1.50m) and Cruise On Clover (1.60m) etc, so this home-bred gelding has big boots to fill. He will have every chance however, as signing the docket was National Hunt jockey Jody McGarvey, in partnership with fellow jockey turned show jumper Paul Carberry. “We liked both the horse and the breeding as well as his jump,” commented McGarvey. “So, for us he ticked a lot of boxes.”

The second of the duo was Vincent Meaney’s GSA James (Lot 531), a gelding by Goodluck VDL out of GSA Dancing Lily by Crosstown Dancer. Sourced as a foal through the same sale ring, where he was bought from his breeder Alan Connaughton, he was knocked down to John Kearney.

Spread throughout the day, which produced the best results, a further two horses realised €11,000. Paul Donovan accounted for the first, which was gelding (Lot 475) by Rossdarragh Hip Hop (by Tullibards Bennys Legacy) of a mare by OBOS Quality. He looked a good sort, as did Norman Watt’s home-bred gelding (Lot 495) by Presidential Ball who realised the same amount later in the day.

Interestingly bred, and already a half-brother to the five-star event horse Kananaskis (Richard Coney), he is by a son of Clinton, who is out of a full sister to Echo Beach. The second dam, meanwhile, is a half-sister to the sires Kings Master and Highland King. Gareth Swaile prepped this individual who was secured online.

Tuesday session

Tuesday kicked off in good style when Alan Wheeler’s TWS Quality (Lot 543) changed hands for €10,000 and a little later when Gerry Ryan’s stunning son (Lot 568) of Coolkeeran was knocked down for €12,000. The latter, who was bought as a yearling from breeder and stallion owner Tom Hutchinson is now bound for the Shropshire yard of rider and producer Annie Dalton. “The production yard of Martin O’Meara has always been lucky for me,” she remarked. “And while I haven’t got much immediate three-year-old trade, this is a lovely athletic horse to store for next year.” As mentioned earlier, the little-known sire is very highly regarded, and is full brother to the dam of the Dutch Olympic horse Oakgroves Carlyle (1.60m).

While it was a good day in terms of clearance, there was only one remaining five-figure price. This fell to Jack Warner’s home-bred gelding (Lot 629) by Quantum out of Carrigshawn Polly (Bolivar). This was secured by a cash customer, and by a son of Quantino is out of the dam of the British-based event horse Cavalier Candyfloss.

Clive Cathers' three-year-old Beach Ball filly (Lot 828) sold for €20,000 at Goresbridge September Sales to Tyrone's Derek Reid \ Sally Parkyn

Wednesday session

The best of the days in terms of top prices, but marginally the weakest as regards clearance, Wednesday not only delivered the sale-topper but a further two in excess of €15,000. Selling later in the evening, Clive Cather’s chesnut filly (Lot 829) by Beach Ball also made an impact when she went under the hammer at €20,000. Home bred, and the first foal out of Roadside Clover by Pacino, she created a lot of interest when jumping prior to sale, and indeed it was the jumping men that were in hot pursuit.

Several bidders were in at the business end, and although Goresbridge auctioneer Martin Donohoe battled hard on behalf of a telephone bidder, the final nod went to Derek Reid of Co Tyrone. Reid’s son Fergus will get the ride on this smart filly, who will remain in the same county as she was bred. She was highly rated by her breeder Cathers who disclosed afterwards that he had no intention of selling her lightly. “I’m very pleased with the price, but she was going to have to make near to that as I think a lot of her,” he said.

A few lots earlier was Dessie Gibson’s Moveen Star (Lot 811), a good-looking son of Rehy High Society out of the traditionally bred Moveen Akbar (Akbar). Well presented by Pat Fenlon, the gelding was sourced as a foal and from the same venue at the December sales.

A really good sort, and with a jump to match, he was much in demand and eventually snapped up by Dungannon man Tom Spence for €16,000. His future plans are, at the moment fluid, but Lynn Spence will do the early production and eventing is likely to be his game. “We usually have show horses, and like a nice type,” said Spence, who also has an event horse with Colin Halliday. “Dessie has a very good eye, and this horse could do either job.”

Overall, the sale was good, but for those who didn’t prosper it is back to the drawing board. As a benchmark for the up and coming foal sales it’s a tough one to call, but buyers may be more cautious as a result.

Dessie Gibson's three-year-old Rehy High Society gelding (Lot 811) fetched €16,000 from Dungannon's Tom Spence \ Sally Parkyn