MAINTAINING the momentum to round off a highly successful week at Goresbridge, Friday’s session of four-year-olds did not disappoint. Demand was lively from the outset and, as a result, the clearance, which last year had closed at 75%, hiked further to reveal that 78% of those on offer changed hands. Without any obvious outlier, however, the average slipped to €5,891 (€7,174 in 2025), but compensating, seven individuals realised five figures, with two sharing the day’s sale-topping honours at €16,500. Buyers from Switzerland and America accounted for these two standouts, while the majority of the remaining notables are bound for the UK. This was undoubtedly another strong sale, and especially in terms of clearance.

“The clearance was brilliant and we’re delighted with the support from both vendors and buyers,” said Ed Donohoe. “The sales are going from strength to strength, and we will continue in our endeavours to find new markets for all those who support us.”

Dolmen dispersal

The day’s business drew to a close with a small sector of three-year-olds, before concluding with a dispersal sale from the estate of the late Dr Jack Murphy. Such was the esteem in which Dr Murphy was held, the sale ring was full to bursting, prompting his widow Karen to comment: “Today has been a very difficult day for myself and the girls. Dealing with the sudden loss of Jack and then having to sell most of the Dolmen Sport Horse herd, is devastating.

“This was Jack’s passion and his dreams. To see the mares leaving the yard was heartbreaking, knowing what they meant to him and the work he put in with them over the years. However, we had no option, we were not in a position to sustain the level of stock he had, with 17 mares to foal and a yard full of young stock. The girls have their busy lives and I mine.

“We have kept a number of mares and young stock and will continue with the Dolmen Sport Horse brand, but in a very scaled back way. Unfortunately, with the suddenness of Jack’s passing, the forced sale, the time of year and the incessant rain, some of the stock are not in the condition we would like to be going to the sale with, but our hands were tied.

“It has been tough keeping the yard going over the past six weeks and we couldn’t have done so without the fantastic help of our friends within the horse world. We will be forever indebted to Jack’s close friend Peadar Murphy for his support, work and guidance over the past number of weeks, to Andy, Aidan, Eamon and the huge number of people who have helped out in various ways.

“To Ed and the Goresbridge team for their understanding and support in facilitating the dispersal sale, all the above is hugely appreciated. And a big thank you to those who have supported the sale by buying Dolmen stock, we really hope they are lucky for them and that Jack’s memory and legacy will live on.”

https://foto.ifj.ie/fotoweb/archives/5006-Irish-Horse-World/Irish%20Horse%20World/348.jpg.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5006-Irish-Horse-World%2F%3Fq%3Dbohola

Lot 348, Bohola Knight Rider, by Sligo Candy Boy out of a Master Imp dam was sold for €16,500 \ Sally Parkyn

Four-year-old sale toppers

Sharing the day’s honours at €16,500 apiece were two smartly-produced geldings, the first of which was Gemma Murphy’s Boots (Lot 337), an Irish Draught-sired gelding by Cappa Afie out of Redhills Coevers Baby by Womanizer. Bred by Linda O’Reilly, and sourced by South Armagh-based Murphy last year, the grey had been slowly produced through training shows and cross-country schooling. Appearing very straightforward, he was unsurprisingly the subject of a spirited exchange, which concluded when the hammer fell in favour of a Swiss online buyer. “He’s always shown great potential,” said a delighted Murphy. “He has a super temperament, which makes my life very easy.”

A few lots later, the Co Wexford partnership of Higgins Sporthorses and Alice Martin Jones received the same return with their eye-catching chesnut Bohola Knight Rider (Lot 348). This very smart individual who, by Sligo Candy Boy, was the 13th and the last-recorded foal out of Dunbeggan Imps Lady by Master Imp. His sale was the subject of yet another protracted bidding war, with Maine resident and regular Goresbridge customer, Don Devine seeing off several strong contenders. “Alice and Aoife Dooley went on a road trip and sourced him from breeder Fran Kelly,” explained Higgins. “He’s a lovely horse and I was very tempted to keep him until the end of the year, but it’s only March and November is a long way ahead.” Attending the sale in person, Devine added: “He looks like a real event type. Plans are undecided, but he may well remain here in Ireland to contest the young event horse classes, with the aim of qualifying him for Dublin.”

Notables

With his eventing wife (Emma Hyslop Webb) away in Portugal and on her way to winning the CCL4*-L at Mato Do Duque, her husband Richard was busy in Goresbridge buying more young event horses to produce. Never far from ringside, Webb accounted for not only TR Sporthorse’s Silas (Lot 403) at €14,800, but also Alan Wheeler’s Syrion (Lot 406) for €12,800 and earlier in the day had paid €10,000 for Ciara Murray’s Follow The Sun. The first named, offered by Tom Aherne and Ryan O’Neill, was a well-produced KWPN-bred gelding by Furst Romancier out of Noelle by Niveau. Sourced privately at the end of last year, he was impressively showcased under O’Neill, leading successful buyer Webb to comment: “It was nice money for a nice horse and I think he will be a lovely prospect for the Burghley young event horse classes this summer.” A few lots later, Webb appeared similarly impressed by Wheeler’s offering, a gelding by Diarado out of the 1.35m jumping mare Noalieta (Tangelo Van’t Zuuthoeve). Bought as a foal in Holland, he was ridden on the day by Paul Lynch. Finally, the first of Webb’s daily purchases was Ciara Murray’s Follow The Sun (Lot 343), a junior event type by the Connemara sire Murvey Chelton out of Lady Tazma (Ghareeb).

A further two lots also realised €10,000, among which was Aaron Costello’s Darc Iliana (Lot 330), a home-bred son of Imnotafraidfortuna out of Berania (Karandasj). Finn Kent secured this one, while much later in the day, Niall Redmond’s gelding (Lot 393) by Zirocco Blue (dam by Black Ice) was knocked down to first time visitor Lucy Hastings from the Isle of Wight.

Three-year-olds

As expected, trade steadied on the appearance of the younger age group, from which six changed hands (58%). Heading these at €7,100 was Aoife Doyle’s filly Vicarstown Special Lady (Lot 448) who, having impressed to jump, was knocked down to Emily Hayes. Bred by Michael O’Neill, the daughter of Quelle Homme de Hus was the third progeny out of the Dutch-bred mare Melanie (I’m Special de Muze).

Another to catch the eye at €6,000 was James Connolly’s purchase of the well-related Baskin True Blue (Lot 450), a gelding by Chacco Blue out of the jumping mare Baskin Phinesse (Peppermill), who in turn is out of the 1.60m mare Utak Van De Bucxtaele (1.60m).

Dolmen sale

Selling in front of a full house, the Dolmen sale was a poignant affair. All 28 lots of broodmares, foals and young stock changed hands, with the top price of €9,500 going to the broodmare Dolmen Dora Q (Lot 480), an 11-year-old mare by Quantino out of An Sugan Rua (Clover Flush).

Already the dam of six foals, she was sold scanned in foal to Pegase Van’t Ruytershof and, following a lengthy exchange, was knocked down to a determined Paul Larkin.

“I liked everything about her and came especially to buy her,” said Larkin. Another in-foal mare realised €3,400, before JJ Bowe paid the same amount for an unbroken four-year-old (Lot 484) by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet.

At €3,000, the best yearling return fell to Dolmen Dasall, a colt (Lot 494) by Casallido out of Dolmen Doreen (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet).