A FURTHER cluster of five-figure returns brought a busy four-day sale to a satisfactory close at Goresbridge last Friday. While it would have been quite a feat to match the heady level of trading from the first two sessions - and indeed the market definitely steadied in comparison - plenty of notable prices emerged from the final divisions.
Looking at the positives, 15 of the three and four-year-olds made in excess of €10,000 and, on scrutiny, the figures over the last two days were not significantly dissimilar to 12 months ago. At the end of a very successful four days trading, the overall turnover closed at a healthy €2,340,700, together with a clearance of 72%.
“After the highs of the first days, we came back to reality,” commented Ed Donohoe. “It was very apparent that, although there were plenty of buyers for the good ones, the more middling horses were harder to sell.
"Buyers also commented that the quality was not great, and it is hoped that the vendors are retaining their stock until the big sales later in the year.”
Confirming this and on analysing further, the demand for four-year-olds certainly proved more selective than last year, with the result that the clearance dipped to 64% (71% in 2024). The average, however, held up to close at €6,717 (€6,950), while in the final session of three-year-olds, these figures were reversed.
Conversely, the age group fared better in terms of clearance at 63% (58%), but the average slipped to €3,874 (€4,214). The impression that breeders and producers were holding their better stock back until later in the year, gathered weight as the two days progressed, but there were some notable exceptions.
Sale topper
Emerging from a bidding exchange that was conducted almost entirely online, the sale-topping honours from the final two days at €20,500 fell to the highly professional production team of Higgins and MBF Sporthorses. The Co Wexford/Waterford partnership feature regularly at the top of the tables, and this time they scored with the smart MBF Right On Time (Lot 399), a four-year-old gelding by L’Extreme BH, a KWPN-registered sire by Canturo.
The dam, meanwhile, was the well-related Wikita K, by Corland, who has already bred the 1.50m performer Ferrari K, as well as Kita K (1.45m). An attractive sort, this gelding was bought in the UK as a two-year-old and, quietly produced in the interim, was ridden on the day by Jason Higgins and sold to American buyer Danielle Huntsman from South Carolina.
Four-year-olds
Often the banker of the age groups, Thursday’s sale of four-year-olds was surprisingly sticky. Buyers were selective throughout, but there were plenty at the ringside for the correct individual.
Most of these customers were on the search for potential blood/sport horses, but in a boost for traditional breeding, it was Gemma and Michelle Murphy’s full Irish Draught gelding Cappa Templar (Lot 439) who was next in line at €17,000.
The subject of an intense exchange between two online bidders, the gelding was put on the market at €15,000 before being secured by Chesterfield customer, Alysha Hicklin. The son of Cappa Casanova had been sourced as a three-year-old and, in addition to hunter trials and training shows, had enjoyed plenty of mileage hacking, riding on the beach and sea swimming.
Cappa Templar (Lot 530) was sold for €17,000 at the Goresbridge July sale \ Sally Parkyn
“We put lots of videos up on social media and through the sale’s platform, and to be honest the phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” commented the south Armagh vendors. Bred by James Quinn in Co Galway, the gelding is the second progeny out of Dunard Polly (Cappa Cochise) and was described as a likely working hunter prospect.
Darren Walsh of the Nottinghamshire-based Emerald Irish Horses was one of the busiest buyers over the four days and, among his haul was Joan Fallon Walsh’s Upper Mace Cornet (Lot 439), a particularly attractive home-bred filly by HHS Cornet out of Upper Mace Amber, by Welcome Flagmount. Well produced by his Co Mayo breeder, she was knocked down to Walsh for €16,500.
“It’s been hard work this week, especially on the first day,” said Walsh. “Trade in the UK is very strong at the moment for young event types and this is a nice filly and probably one we might keep a while to compete ourselves.”
It was a good day for the fillies and another to achieve at €15,000 was Amy Skelton’s unnamed filly (Lot 441) by the Hanoverian stallion Finest out of Royal Magic (Royal Classic). A gift from her uncle, Skelton has owned the filly since a yearling and, having produced her for the sale, she was snapped up by successful buyer Mai Rath.
“I spotted her online and came up today to try to buy her and with the idea of sharing her with my daughter Katie,” said the Co Wexford-based Rath.
The Higgins/MBF team were busy throughout and did well again when their Riversale DI (Lot 459), by Mr Emerald EB, changed hands privately at €15,000. Well-bred out of the jumping mare Miss Lanna DL (1.40m), by Casago, she was secured by Sara Kristensen from Denmark.
There were several sales between €12,000 and €12,500, one of which was Keith Wilson’s eye-catching dun gelding Drumnatrade Comet (Lot 367) by Moonlight Silver Shadow. A full Connemara standing just 15.1hh, he was well-handled by Wilson’s young son Luke, and knocked down to a British online buyer for €12,500.
“I’ve owned him since a two-year-old and always had this sale in mind for him,” said Wilson. “There is always a good price for a nice horse, and this one is an easy type and ride.”
Lot 441 was sold for €15,000 at the Goresbridge July sale \ Sally Parkyn
Selling for the same figure later in the day was Gerard Burke’s Chiquita Van Overis Z (Lot 442), a well-related filly by Colorit Z out of Pronto Van Overis Z (Pablo Van Berkenbroek). Carrying a five-star pedigree, this filly is out of a smart 1.45m performer, and is a half-sibling to Crocky Van Overis (1.60m) and Vagabond Van Overis (1.25m).
Having been the underbidder on several high-profile horses on the second day, Caron Nicol (European Sport Horses) added this Gemma Phelan-ridden performer to her two earlier purchases.
Three-year-olds
As can be the norm for this time of year, the market for three-year-olds was decidedly two-tier. There was a solid demand for the right article however and, although none achieved the five-figure benchmark, Eileen Murphy’s unnamed son of Tyson (Lot 686) received the day’s best return of €9,700. A very athletic, tall and still unfurnished individual, the home-bred was prepared for sale by JJ Bowe, and knocked down to Jason Higgins on behalf of a client.
Lot 386 was the top priced three-year-old when sold for €9,700 at the Goresbridge July sale \ Sally Parkyn
The locally-based Skelton family crowned a good few days at the office, when their unnamed gelding by Castlefield Cornet was secured for €9,500. Bred by Simon McCarthy, and looking every inch an event horse, the gelding (Lot 619) was bought at the venue as a foal and is out of Cushinstown Cavalier Royale (Cavalier Royale) going back one generation further to Master Imp.
He was led out unsold at the first time of asking, but soon secured by event horse agent/buyer Victoire Von Schoen. “He is absolutely gorgeous,” she enthused. “He is elastic, athletic, has a nice eye - and looks like a ‘castle’ horse.”
Another two lots realised in excess of €8,000, the first being Thomas and Anne-Marie Meere’s home-bred Inspector Jess (Lot 671), a gelding by Enda Corry’s Co Clare-based stallion Chellis HC Z out of Clondrinagh Inspector (Tinaranas Inspector).
Trade Horses Ltd accounted for this good sort at €8,800, while earlier in the day, event horse owner Paula Stammschroer won a prolonged tussle to secure Darragh Killoran’s home-bred filly (Lot 584) for €8,500.
Extremely well-related, the latter is a daughter of Tyson and from the maternal line of numerous top performers, including Point Two Elvis (1.50m), Olympic Cruz (1.45m) and the event horse Cavalier Venture.
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