Sally Parkyn

THE Irish sales season got underway at a rather wet and chilly Goresbridge last week, where a well-produced gelding by Lux Z headed the opener. Taking centre stage in a rather low key catalogue, Lux Irish (68) was the sole individual to realise in excess of €5,000 and his selling price of €5,500 was the easily the best of the day.

The modest returns may largely have been due to the quality of the lots on offer however, as delivering a clearance rate of 57% (72% in 2015), the figures indicated that many of a sizeable number of buyers returned home empty-handed. Customers from Germany and France joined those from Ireland and Britain, who despite the continued strength of the sterling, were surprisingly slow to commit.

Throughout the proceedings, trade customers regularly outbid those from private sector and among them was sale-topping purchaser Jim Derwin. Quiet by his own standards, the Athlone man nevertheless accounted for three lots on the day among which was Paul Cleary’s five-year-old gelding Lux Irish. Heading the overall figures at €5,500, the well-presented son of Lux Z was bred by Patrick Kelly out of the dam Patricks Girl (Ricardo Z). A catalogue pick on paper, the gelding had been lightly produced to win 3 SJI points and considered to be a bright competition prospect. Bids were sluggish throughout and once on the market, Derwin secured the gelding with a single bid.

In comparison, Colin Finn’s attractive skewbald mare April (66) attracted a number of would be purchasers to the ringside. Not over big, but well produced by Henry Foley, the five-year-old April had been hunted with the Co Wexford Foxhounds and was fully warranted in all respects. As a result there was a lively exchange of bids, before the hammer eventually fell in favour of British event horse owner Liz Mitchell at €4,400. Now resident in nearby Callan, Mitchell divides her her equestrian interests between Ireland and her homeland, and revealed that this smart prospect will travel to event rider Aaron Miller in Somerset. “I’m a sucker for coloured horses, and thought she had a lovely temperament,” she said afterwards.

The first of the remaining two lots to impress was Conor Sheridan’s five-year-old gelding (84) by OBOS Quality out of KEC GTI Hati (Senang Hati). Benefiting from the professional production of Jason Higgins, the eye-catcher was knocked down to Co Meath trade buyer Michael Kelly for €4,100. The second of the duo, and selling for €4,000 earlier in the day, was Damian Griffin and Pat Duffy’s Gortlettra Damo (14). The five-year-old son of Shannondale Sarco out of Breanross Misty (Glidawn Diamond) had been bought by his Ballinasloe-based owners to produce and sell on, and had taken part in training shows. Another to carry the increasingly favoured “quiet to ride” warranty, he looked well bought by British trade buyer J. Norman.

Dealers from both sides of the Irish Sea remained active throughout the day and accounted for most of the better priced lots. During the session, a further six horses realised between €3,000 - €4,000, and among these was the Harris family’s seven-year-old mare (90) by Classic Vision (dam by Hazelbrook). Jim Derwin added this useful sort to his collection at €3,700, while Kelly eventually accounted for an upstanding gelding (11) by French Buffet (dam by Porsch) for €3,600. Both horses had racked up plenty of mileage in the hunting field, with the former following the Co Meath foxhounds and the latter, the Kildare and Carlow Farmers.

The day opened with a small selection of ponies. While bidding was sporadic, six of the 10 on offer changed hands, with James Murphy’s 138cms mare Clohogue River Mist (6) heading the group at a healthy price of €3,100. The home-bred eight-year-old had plenty of competitive mileage under her belt and, after showcasing well under Saoirse Hayes, she was one of two lots knocked down to British dealer John Whinnett.