CLOSING the three-day renewal on high note, the final sessions at Goresbridge last Friday delivered a €29,000 sale topper together with a further raft of five figure returns.
The strong trade for four-year-olds and, to a lesser extent, three-year-olds boosted the turnover to just short of €2 million (€1,978,800), while the overall clearance closed at 75% (72% in 2024) leading to a significantly increased average of €6,685 (€5,755).
These figures were music to the ears of Ed Donohoe who summed up the edition saying: “We have had three epic days, probably our best ever for a three- day sale. The older horses and four-year-olds cleared around 80% and while the three-year-olds brought the figures down a little, it was absolutely fantastic – and big thanks are due to our vendors and our customers for supporting us.”
Sale topper
The Co Wexford/Waterford team of Higgins Sport Horses and MBF Sporthorses have found the magic formula when it comes to sale topping honours and repeated their 2024 success when landing the €29,000 top price in the four-year-old division.
This time around they were represented by Rio (Lot 393), a four-year-old gelding by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve out of K Angel, by Latour VDM. Sourced from his British breeder last year, the attractive gelding had only recently been broken and, showcasing under Higgins, looked very smart indeed.
As a result, bids for ownership were competitive from the outset with an online buyer battling determinedly with a ringside telephone bidder. Eventually, and having been put on the market at €25,000, the hammer fell in favour of Aaron Brennan on behalf of Co Wicklow producer/event rider Lauren Painter (Sleighduff Equestrian).
“I first noticed him on social media, then I saw the videos,” explained Painter. “I loved what I saw so I asked Aaron to look at him for me and we took it from there. I have bought him together with my partner Patrick Murren with the idea of producing him through the young event horse classes, and with Le Lion d’Angers as the long-term aim.”
Four-year-olds
Closing with a 78% clearance, the two sessions of four-year-olds were lively throughout. While Thursday afternoon was the busier of the two days, trade held up well on Friday and was crowned when MBF Sporthorses’ MBF Crocothago (Lot 500) topped the day at €20,000.
Irish-bred by Crocodile Dundee Z out of Candy du Rouet BTE, by Sligo Candy Boy, the filly was sourced from her breeder as a two-year-old and secured online by American customer Alicia Shen.
Earlier in the same session, Andrew Williams of Kilkenny International Sport Horses accounted for the MBF Sporthorses-consigned MBF Magic Socks (Lot 448), a gelding by Vancouver out of the thoroughbred mare Six For Gold, by Match Point. Having signed the docket at €14,500, Williams disclosed that he was acting on behalf of former British event rider and producer Antonia Brown, who is now better known in dressage circles.
“Toni always likes to have a few young event types around,” he said. “She has a good lad in the yard who rides well so he will produce him to eventually sell on.”
Never far from ringside and this time buying for himself, Williams also snapped up Dennis Collins’ home-bred gelding Lord Heffinck (Lot 365) for €13,000. The well produced son of Vivant Van de Heffinck is the second progeny out of the German-bred jumping mare First Lady (Numero Uno) who was campaigned by Emily Collins to 1.30m level. The age classes are next on the agenda for this youngster, who will be ridden by Williams’ partner John Tilley.
Good prices came thick and fast over the space of the two sessions and achieving a return of €12,500 on Friday morning was Aoife Dooley and Jason Higgins’ Chequita DVZ (Lot 449). First time Goresbridge visitor Anthony Goff was delighted to have secured this continental bred by Check In 2, and plans to show jump him from his home in France.
Local vendors Henry and Joanne Foley have been busy in recent weeks and, making their first visit to Goresbridge with their new baby James, enjoyed several good sales. Both their four-year-olds sold to expectation with the smart Kash is Class (Lot 473) by Maplevalley Master Class receiving their top return of €12,200. A further 11 of the age group made in excess of €10,000.
Three-year-olds
With a tendency to be sluggish at this time of year, the three-year-old market maintained its momentum surprisingly well. Although the clearance closed at 61% (60% in 2024), the average was notably increased to €4,433 (€3,020).
Boosted by some exceptionally well-related individuals, the top honours at €15,200 fell to Tommy Kennedy’s home-bred Goulton Singulex (Lot 568) chesnut gelding by Aganix du Seigneur out of Leestone Singulady, by Singular Ls La Silla.
The dam, who is currently jumping in 1.40m classes under British rider Laura Kennedy, is out of the Cruising mare Ballintogher Whatababe, herself the dam of numerous graded jumpers. The tussle for ownership developed into one of the most protracted and tense exchanges of the three days.
Despite bidding strongly, Co Wexford customer Veronica White finally lost out to a determined online bidder, but not deterred, she was soon back in action to secure Gerard Burke’s beautifully bred filly ABC Sweet Sixteen (Lot 577) for €14,000.
Probably the best related offering in the catalogue, this outstandingly bred filly is by Pegase Van’t Ruytershof out of the former Cavan Classic five-year-old champion Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser (Cruising). A sibling to the Nations Cup performer ABC Quantum Cruise (1.70m) as well as ABC Private Jet (1.50m), ABC Caruso (1.50m) and six-year-old world champion ABC Saving Grace (1.45m), the filly will be produced by White’s daughter Emma through the show jumping ranks.
“I thought she would make more,” she said afterwards. “I knew I wanted her when I saw her jump outside and of course her pedigree was also an influence.”
Bred by Pat Kehoe, she was sourced privately by Burke who, retaining the bloodline, is lucky enough to own a four-year-old half-sister.
Top returns