Sally Parkyn

AN impressive son of Lancelot headed the three-year-old tables at Goresbridge last week, bringing the renewal to a positive close.

For the third year in succession, the figures illustrated a modest but steady improvement to give the age group a clearance rate of 50% (44% in 2013) and importantly a notable increase in the top end returns.

The sale-topping price of €9,500 was more than twice that of last year’s equivalent sale, while a further ten lots exceeded the €4,000 mark (five in 2013).

“It all bodes positively both for the future and the sport horse industry,” reflected Martin Donohoe. “There were plenty of people present to buy, although once again there was not enough of the right sort to fill the demand. There was however, a good feel about the place and I would hope that this would lead to a strong set of Go For Gold returns in 10 days’ time.”

Tom Casey’s sale topper featured in the Thursday afternoon session. By Lancelot, out of an unnamed dam by VDL Arkansas, the gelding (495) had been purchased as a foal by the shrewd pin hooker and sent to J.J. Bowe to produce. Under Bowe’s quiet handling, the youngster impressed on the lunge, before selling to Leicestershire-based show jumping owner Graham Smith for €9,500.

“I just liked him,” commented Smith afterwards. “He jumped, and looked athletic.” The venue has been a lucky one for Smith, who back in 2011 acquired his Nations Cup and Grand Prix performer Dougie Douglas for just €5,800 at the Kilkenny venue. “We are never going to find another like Dougie unless we keep buying,” he added. “Although I will have to sell a few hunters to pay for this one!”

The better prices were spread evenly across the two sessions, with Friday evening producing the sale of Anne Coyne’s Briarhill Marco (681) for €7,000. The homebred son of Mermus R is the first foal out of Striker Rua (by Maltstriker) who is a full-sister to Michael Ryan’s three-star ride Dunlough Striker. Event rider Daisy Duggan added this one to her tally of four and the gelding will probably contest next year’s young horse series.

Another adding four lots to his account was Banbridge show jumping enthusiast Woods Rosbotham. Well known as the owner of Dermott Lennon’s international partner Hallmark Elite, Rosbotham snapped up several promising sorts including John Nicholas’s Lissavoora Russel (608) for €6,750.

This filly, by Russel out of Lissavoora Triple (by Coevers Diamond Boy) placed seventh in the potential young event horse class at the RDS and is now destined for a show jumping career. Rosbotham went on to secure Michael Murphy’s gelding (668) by the thoroughbred Royal Storm for €5,400. Bred by Bobby Goff out of Orange Delight (by Orange Dream) this is another aimed for show jumping.

Donal Barnwell bought steadily over the four days but looked especially pleased to make the winning bid (€5,600) on Tom Merrigan’s traditionally-bred gelding (611) by Kings Master out of Killagha Cruise Back (by Cruising).

Staying on traditional lines, Frank Casey’s gelding (585) by Chinook Eclipse looked well bought by event rider Ian Hannon at €5,000. Hannon was back at Goresbridge to find a successor to She’s My Master, winner of the Michael Leonard young horse championship under Michael Ryan last month. In a deal brokered by Paul Donovan, the Master Imp mare has been sold to Kate Jarvey and will be campaigned by Austin O’Connor next season.

“I sourced She’s My Master here as a three-year-old, so I’ve bought this one to replace her and hope that he will be as lucky,” said Hannon. “He caught my eye outside, and I felt that he was a lovely mover and jumper.”

Vendor Casey is no stranger to producing good ones, his former charge Cambalda recently winning the CCI*** event at Fair Hill in America.

Also sold for €5,000 on Thursday afternoon was Claire Gilna’s homebred gelding (502) by Flexible’s half-brother Samgemjee. Hailing from the late Iris Kellett’s dam line, this gelding is out of Lady Faye (by Cougar), a half-sister to Gilna’s own good event horse Beam Light. Co Durham visitor Billy Davidson signed for this one as a potential show jumper.

Al Barac (518) a gelding by Arkan out of Annia Faustina (Docksider) looked well bought by Julia Mills at €4,400, as did Caroline Lynch’s €4,100 purchase of Andrew and Ivan Gardiner’s Lisheenabrone Smoothstepper (654) by the thoroughbred Akbar. Sam Lett’s athletic gelding (490) by Boherdeal Clover out of Glidawn Arctic Diamond (Glidawn Diamond) is destined for the event track with rider Alan Briscoe (€4,000), while Lisa Cawley’s well-related Mervs Clover Rose (593) by Flexible, also at €4,000, is heading for the Woods Rosbotham jumping team in Banbridge.

The pedigrees of these sale toppers proved interesting, with the top three lots by continental sires, a further three individuals by traditional Irish Sport Horse sires and another three by thoroughbreds. The common denominator was that all were full of quality – and there was little demand for anything else.