THE three-year-old trade at Goresbridge in September is rarely predictable, but few would have anticipated that last week’s renewal would yield the best age group clearance of the entire flagship sale, as well as the highest for over a decade.
Closing on par with the older stock and one point less than the ponies, the three days of trading saw a very satisfactory 66% (57% in 2023 and 2024) of those forward changing hands while capping the division, a total of 17 lots (five lots in 2024) realised in excess of €10,000.
Despite not garnering any outlying sale toppers, the clustering of solid returns saw the average close at an improved €4,229 in comparison to €3,658 12 months ago. Reflecting on the three days, Ed Donohoe was led to comment: “We expected the three-year-olds to be in line with last year, but clearly they were so much better,” he said. “We’re especially delighted by the clearance - there was a road for every type of horse and, if you wanted to sell your three-year-old, you could. Good horses made very good prices and people still went home without managing to buy one.”
Sale toppers
Private producers and breeders enjoyed a notably bumper sale and among these was Eileen Furlong, whose family-produced and home-bred filly Thistletown Katie Taylor (Lot 1141) by Tyson shared the sale-topping honours at €16,000. Better known in thoroughbred circles as National Hunt breeders and sale consignors, the family has always had an interest in the sport horse sector. Based at Thistletown Stud near New Ross, Eileen’s son David had campaigned the dam Bonnie (by Foxglen Cruise Control) to 1.35m Grand Prix level, while as a broodmare, Bonnie bred this year’s RDS winner and All-Ireland champion filly foal. Well-related in her own right, Bonnie is a sibling to the CCI4* event horse C Why, while the second dam was the German-bred Oldenburg mare Come Dance, who hails from a solid blacktype family.
The successful buyer was local show jumper Eddie Moloney who, as a determined bidder, opened the proceedings and was never headed. “I remember the dam who was a good mare,” he said. “This filly is a nice type, full of quality and really impressed me today.” Equally pleased with the outcome was Furlong, who added: “We’re delighted that she has gone to Eddie, who will give her every chance to progress.”
Selling for the same return later in the proceedings was Frank Casey’s unnamed (Lot 1182) gelding by Mermus R out of Castlemorris Passions (Passion). The Co Clare vendor is recognised as one of the best show and sport horse pinhookers in the business and, with three former RDS show champions on his CV, he is well qualified to cite this smart bay as a possible fourth. Sourced as a foal from his breeder Theresa Walsh, the gelding is indeed destined for the show ring as signing the docket was top showman Jamie Smyth on behalf of the Northern Ireland-based McConnell Farms. “He’s a beautiful lightweight, and will be a special one,” said Smyth, while his vendor Casey added: “He’s been lovely to work with and will win plenty of red rosettes in the future.”
Monday
Opening quietly but gaining momentum as the day progressed, Monday delivered four, five-figure returns, the best of which at €14,000 fell to Jade Lawlor’s unnamed filly (Lot 918) by Lagans OBOS Quality out of Mulberry Lass by Loughehoe Guy.
A sibling to both an American-based event horse and a show horse, she was bred by Lilian Fitzgerald in Co Clare and sourced by her vendor as a yearling. “She’s an exceptional filly and went outstandingly well here today,” said Carlow-based Lawlor. “Donnacha Dermody prepped her for us - he always does a wonderful job and is lucky for us.”
Lot 918, a filly by Lagans OBOS Quality, made €14,000 at the Goresbridge September Sale \ Sally Parkyn
The filly was the subject of one of the most lengthy and entertaining exchanges of the seven days, which was finalised when Ed Donohoe made the winning bid on behalf of British Olympic event rider Oliver Townend.
Much earlier in the day, Comber-based showman David Kirkpatrick was delighted to receive €13,000 for his lovely Redwood Revival (Lot 863), a gelding by the popular Chelis HC Z out of Huntingfield Diamond (Huntingfield Heathcliffe). It was an emotional sale, as David explained: “I bought him three weeks after the passing of my wife Charlotte (who was a hugely popular presence at the shows), which is why we called him Revival,” he said.
Already successful earlier this season, the gelding had headed his class at Ballivor and was placed at the Royal Highland Show, Royal Ulster and the RDS. A ridden career now beckons, as fellow showman Jamie Smyth signed on behalf of Yorkshire owner Debbie Harrod.
Tuesday
Smyth and Harrod were active throughout and, on Tuesday, the pair accounted for PJ Kearns’ Noelles Prince (Lot 1023) at €14,500. Standing just 15.2hh the gelding is by Connemara sire Brock Lodge Buster out of Noelles Lady (OBOS Quality), who is a sibling to a former Goresbridge €26,000 sale topper. Home-bred by Kearns and produced for sale by his granddaughter Rachel Meaney, he was a rare individual. “I think he’s a real top-class small hunter,” said Smyth. “He has the bone, which so few have these days.”
Overall, Tuesday was probably the strongest day in terms of trade and clearance (69%), and this was highlighted by nine, five-figure returns. Among these was the sale of Dessie Gibson’s unnamed gelding (Lot 1007) by ESI Indigo out of Cruise Cavalier (Cavalier Royale). Sourced through the same ring as a foal, and looking every inch an event horse, he was snapped up by event horse owner and producer Maurice Coleman at €13,000.
“It’s good to have bought a nice horse from a nice man,” said Coleman. “He’s expensive, but a good one is never dear, and hopefully he will be produced through the young horse classes next year.”
As one of the early lots through the ring, and re-presented later due to a mix up in the lot numbers, Jo Breheny’s LEB Apollo 11 (Lot 971) realised a healthy €12,500. The Lagans OBOS Quality-sired gelding was one of two full-brother embryos in the sale and, very well-related is out of LEB Liath (Colin Diamond), who is a half-sister to the Olympic and championship event horse Imperial Cavalier (CCI5*) and has bred LEB Lias Jewel (CCI5*), as well as the Le Lion d’Angers participant LEB Empress.
During a buoyant afternoon session, PJ Kearns scored again when his Noelles Rocket (Lot 1000) changed hands for €12,200.
Another home-bred and a real eye-catcher, this son of Rock n Roll Ter Putte is out of Southfork Star (KEC Maximum Joe), a sibling to the Olympic event horse Woodcourt Garrison and also to Major Furisto (CCI4*).
Wednesday
A slightly shorter day, but with a strong enough trade, Wednesday delivered both sale toppers as well as several healthy returns. Standing out among these at €13,000 was Hannah Doyle’s athletic My Blessington Cornet Luxi (Lot 1233) a gelding by Castlefield Cornet out of Blessington Lass (Lux Z). Bought at the same venue as a foal and quietly produced in the interim, he looked well bought by Henry and Joanne Foley (H and J Sport Horses).
“I thought he was a nice type, with plenty of blood and movement,” said Henry. “He was expensive, but I knew with the trade that’s here today, he would have to make around that figure.”
Maintaining the momentum when passing through the ring a few lots later, Frank Casey’s unnamed gelding (Lot 1244) also realised €13,000. A smart son of Coolkeeran, he was out of Ballykealy Cruise by Querlybet Hero. Another to be sourced from his breeder, in this case James Bergin in Co Laois, he was secured by event rider and producer Paul Donovan.
Top three-year-olds
QUITE often the banker of the age groups, week one’s sale of four-year-olds saw a reverse in trends and a trade that struggled to gain consistency. The UK-based drought-induced shortage of fodder, as well as its increasing expense, was certainly cited as an influence in the patchy demand, but in general the stock on offer was a mixed bunch and this was undoubtedly reflected in the figures.
There were of course plenty of exceptions and, with the best of the age group customers looking for competition horses, numerous vendors were well rewarded for their well-produced, correct and athletic individuals.
In contrast, demand was muted for the majority that fell short and, as a result, the clearance slipped for the third year in succession. Although the number of five-figure returns remained the same as 12 months ago, just 48% changed hands in comparison to 60% (in 2024) and 71% (2023). The average, meanwhile, held up adequately to close at €5,897 (€6,272).
While the outcome was an obvious disappointment to Goresbridge boss Ed Donohoe, his pragmatic comment was: “I’m obviously very disappointed with the clearance, but from the comments I received, the quality wasn’t spectacular and the clearance reflected that. Clearly the demand for the age group is not the same as for the older riding horses - except for the more exceptional ones. It was also evident that UK buyers are holding back because of the fodder crisis.”
Sale topper
Passing through the ring early on Friday morning and kicking off the session in a positive fashion, the sale-topping honours of €14,200 fell to Mary Kehoe’s distinctively-marked grey Sri Ores Sun Shine (Lot 596) by WRS Sunshine. Sourced through the same ring as a foal, his production has been a real team affair, as Kehoe explained. “We broke him in here at home, have taken him to a few shows, as well as cross-country schooling,” she said. “Young Stephen Murphy has done a super job of riding him and helping with the videos, while Aoife Dooley showcased him at the sale today.”
Unsurprisingly, there were plenty of potential buyers on hand for this eye-catcher, who was eventually secured by Ed Donohoe, bidding on behalf of British buyer Nick Bray. Traditionally bred, he was out of Dromore South Star (by Diamond Discovery) and bred by Maurice O’Connor in Co Cork.
The top priced four-year-old at the Goresbridge September Sales was Lot 596, Sri Ores Sun Shine, sold for €14,200 \ Sally Parkyn
Notables
Another notable from the opening session was Keith Wilson’s Ballintubber Dexter (Lot 589), who changed hands for €11,500. An attractive dun gelding by the KWPN stallion Dexter R (Namelus R) out of the Connemara mare Easter Annabel by Moonlight Silver Shadow, he was bred by Shaun McManus and sourced last year. Standing full up 16 hands, the gelding had benefited from some slick pre-sales videos, as well as a super exhibition of jumping on the day.
This had been the attraction for successful Polish buyer Natalia Jablonska, who was bidding through Ed Donohoe on the telephone.
The better prices emerged spasmodically throughout the day, and heading the filly returns at €10,800 was Conor McGovern’s Candy (Lot 676) a filly with no recorded breeding. Standing just 15.2hh and well hunted with the Westmeath hounds, she was, according to her vendor, ‘a machine to hunt’. He went on to add that it will be hard to find another like her, but that he was delighted with his price and that she will be heading to a hunting home. Aubrey Chapman signed the docket for this useful performer, on behalf of his client Aine Shearson.
Local vendor Caoimhe Foley did not have far to travel to the sales and was rewarded when her Dancy Z (Lot 624) was knocked down to Caroline Clarke for €10,200. Foley, who works for the busy Kilkenny International event yard, sourced her Dutch-bred son of Douglas earlier in the year and, in the meantime, had produced him slowly herself. As the buyer, Yorkshire-based Clarke is a full-time dentist and, having just had her first baby Charlotte, decided to make the most of her maternity leave. “I have the time at the moment, so I’m looking forward to producing this one further to go eventing,” she said.
Lot 589, Ballintubber Dexter, was the second highest priced four-year-old when sold for €11,500 at the Goresbridge September Sale \ Sally Parkyn
The Castleblayney partnership of Ryan O’Neill and Tom Hearne have enjoyed a highly successful few days at Goresbridge and, having featured among the sale toppers earlier in week one, they scored again when their well-related filly Lui Lina (Lot 651) returned a figure of €10,000. The recently-broken third foal out of the Suzanne Posnett-partnered 1.50m mare Wolina Roundthorn (Numero Uno), the filly was by Luidam and secured by multiple British buyer John Whale.