THE seven-day marathon at Goresbridge closed on Wednesday night with a set of returns that illustrated the ever-growing divide between the top and the base of the sport horse market. Good in parts, but very tough in others, the final sessions opened positively when the four-year-old trade showed a marked improvement from 12 months ago.

The number of five-figure returns significantly increased to 16 (seven in 2025), while the clearance of 62% (48% in 2025) was also positive. Overall however, the quality of the age group was mixed - which resulted in the inevitable divide and an average of €6,007 (€5,897).

There was also plenty of competition and a satisfying number of high figures among the three-year-olds, but once again the weaker demand and corresponding prices paid for the lesser individuals will have left breeders well out of pocket. The demand for the ‘middling’ horse ranges from moderate to almost non-existent and, as a result, the three-year-old figures illustrated that 56% (66% in 2025) changed hands at an average of €4,113 (€4,229). Reflecting on the latter stages of the sale, the ever-pragmatic Ed Donohoe commented: “Even though there were plenty of good prices, the clearance wasn’t as strong as I would have liked. The three-year-old trade was tough enough - there is no doubt about that. Buyers tell me that the quality wasn’t spectacular and, any time the good ones came into the ring, there were plenty of people to buy them. However, they were selective and it was more difficult to sell the middling one and that is what we have to do.”

Interestingly, last week’s returns mirrored those from both 2023 and 2024, so this situation is nothing new. Looking at the decline in quality, it is easy and indeed valid to point the finger at the end-of-year select sales and it is not rocket science to realise that the better individuals have headed their way. The fodder crisis, both in this country and in the UK, is another contributory factor, but that aside, the situation appears to be ongoing and, with breeders facing increasing costs, it is difficult to see how they balance their books.

Four-year-old top returns

Sale topper

TR Sporthorses are fast joining the sale-topping regulars, and were well represented by Linda Fahey’s home-bred gelding Mandela (Lot 522), who headed the proceedings at €21,000. His sale crowned a good couple of days for Fahey, who on Thursday had sold a five-year-old half-sister (by Comthago VDL) for €18,000. Well related and well presented, it was unsurprising to see the bidding make rapid progress to €20,000 before stalling at €22,000. Ultimately led out of the ring unsold, he was later snapped up by agent Richard Trayford on behalf of the Scottish-based event rider Jodie O’Neill. “Jodie had seen all the videos and had spoken to Tom Hearne before the sale, so was happy to proceed,” commented Trayford.

Notables

Kicking off Friday’s trade in a positive style, Mary Kehoe’s Baloutaire Clover (Lot 562) sold well at €19,000. Bought through the same sale ring as a foal, he was well ridden by Ruben Foley and secured by amateur rider Vincent Kilduff. “We only broke him in June,” said Kehoe. “He has done very little, apart from a training show at Barnadown and some cross-country schooling.” Bred by Dorothy Cahill, he is the second recorded progeny out of Lady OBOS Quality, who was lightly campaigned to win 8 SJI points.

Lot 641,Oakport Cornets Balu, sold for €17,800 at the Goresbridge September Sale \ Sally Parkyn

Far more familiar in racing circles, top point-to-point handler Donnacha Doyle changed hats when selling the Molly Keane-bred sport horse Oakport Cornets Balu (Lot 641) for €17,800. Having been bought as a foal, the standout grey was beautifully ridden by Alice Martin Jones, who had produced him throughout. “The sport horses are an added interest from racing,” commented the Ballindaggin vendor. “He was one of five foals I bought that year and he’s a cool little horse.”

The successful buyer was Berkshire’s James White who, as undoubtedly the busiest buyer at the session, accounted for no less than 32 lots. This was by far the most expensive, but as White commented: “I completely fell in love with him - and also I go a lot on my trust of the vendor and, of course, Alice who rode him. We have no plans to sell him immediately and the aim is to campaign him through the age classes.”

The top prices appeared spasmodically throughout the day and continued until the final lot, when Hannah Eakin’s palomino Golden Days (Lot 741) realised €15,500. A son of Golden Que out of the Morozov-sired dam Flemingsfirth Lady, he was sourced privately last year, and secured by an online customer.

As the two-tier trade see-sawed, another to change hands respectably at €12,600 was Ralph Conroy’s Milchem Harmony (Lot 535), a four-year-old gelding by I Am W out of Milchem Dame by Contra A. Home-bred, he was produced by both David Kelly and Jason Doerflinger, and, thought to be a top junior prospect, looked well bought by Kanturk-based customer Seany Walsh. “I’ve bought him for my daughter Roisin to go eventing,” he said. “He had a little bit done, which is always an advantage.”

Another early lot to sell satisfactorily at €12,500 was Hugh Douglas’s flashy palomino filly Jumpingdale Aurora (Lot 583) by the Irish Draught stallion Lislap Benedict. “We bought her last summer as just broken and riding,” said Ellen Douglas. “We didn’t jump her at the time, so when we got her home and realised how talented she was, we decided to keep her a bit and always felt that this sale was perfect for her.”

Prices clustered solidly between €10,000 and €12,000, with both event types and hunters selling well. Among the latter was TJ Foley’s Joe (Lot 635), a gelding by the Connemara pony sire Joe Belmont out of Brackloon Breda (The Loughforts Blackjack). Joe had been hunting with the Ballinagore and the Carlow Farmers and, changing hands for €11,000, he was knocked down to Richard Trayford for his wife Daisy to hunt.

Three-year-old top prices

Sale topper

Donnacha Doyle is very at home topping the rankings at the store and point-to-point sales, and showed he is equally adept at picking sport horse youngsters when landing the top three-year-old return at €18,000. He was certainly well represented by the smart grey filly Boleybawn Ruby (Lot 979) by Castlefield Kingston, whom he had sourced from the Boleybawn auction as a foal. Produced in the interim by Thomas O’Leary, the grey was snapped up by event horse owner and agent Victoire Von Schoen. “We were looking at another horse, and suddenly this filly walked by - and she had so much presence and was such a head turner,” she said. “I have bought her with Andrew Williams, with the plan of producing her through the young event horse classes next year.”

Lot 979, Boleybawn Ruby, sold for €18,000 to Kilkenny International at the Goresbridge September Sale \ Sally Parkyn

Notables

The next really significant return at €17,000 came towards the end of the proceedings on the final day. This fell to Cavan-based breeder Fergal O’Reilly, whose very attractive home-bred DBC Candy Boy (Lot 1140) was by the popular Candy de Nantuel out of Gloutane Blue Pearl by Hiello. The first foal out of the dam, he had put up a very smart display of jumping prior to sale and, after a lengthy tussle, was eventually secured by Co Wexford producers, Ally and Ciaran Moran. “It’s probably a little more than we wanted to spend, but he really stood out,” Moran said. He will either go jumping or eventing - he will tell us!”

The showing fraternity were out in force and, buying on behalf of Amanda Torrens, Jamie Smyth looked to have scouted well when securing Richard Blanc’s Culray Star (Lot 1006) by Cariati d’Elesendam for €13,500. Bred by PJ Kearns, he was out of Southfork by KEC Maximum Joe, and had been bought by Blanc as a foal together with his dam. Out of a sibling to the Olympic event horse, Woodcourt Garrison, he will follow either the show or eventing route. On considering the stock on offer, Antrim-based Smyth commented: “Everyone is trying to buy a star. That aside, the running costs of these horses means that I am very fussy and there are too many with poor conformation. Previously, I would have bought more commercial horses, but because of the costs involved, we have to be more selective.”

It was very apt and somewhat emotional to see the late Dessie Gibson’s Ravensdale Comfilo (Lot 816) taking Monday’s top honours at €12,500. Always represented by a show stopper, the Cliodhna Breen-bred gelding was by Comfilo Plus Z out of Alezie Z by Accardi. Having spent the summer with Pat Fenlon, the elegant gelding was prepped for sale by Ado Moran and, having been secured by the Von Schoen/ Kilkenny International partnership, will either head for the show ring or the young event horse series.

At the end of another competitive duel, Johnny Widger and Ciara Power did well to buy Hans Kuehnle’s athletic Tullibards What About Yeh (Lot 812) for €12,200. A well-related filly, with soft movement and jump, she was by Bennys Legacy out of Tullibards Nightstar Cara (Carambole) and is a sibling to a litany of notable performers. “I love the sire and any of his progeny I have seen, I’ve liked,” said the Waterford-based Power. “Some friends wanted to be involved with a nice horse, so we will produce this one slowly through the ranks.”

Although not topping the sale this year, vendor PJ Kearns did well when his home-bred Pats Day (Lot 943) by Gilton de Islots changed hands for €11,500. A half-brother to a filly that realised €14,500 last year, he was out of Noelles Lady by OBOS Quality. Signing on behalf of a client, top show producers Shirley and Rachel Moore accounted for this smart sort, who will be aimed at the age classes next year. “I’m very excited about him,” said Shirley. “Its hard to find the model and he had great presence.”