AS the seemingly insatiable demand for the Irish sport horse continues, Goresbridge staged another upbeat renewal last Wednesday. Rarely has the complex seemed quite so full of customers, and despite the dismal weather, the trade was solid throughout. Older stock and ponies sold well, but the day was really crowned by an exceptional session of four-year-olds who produced a raft of five-figure returns.

At the close of play, a total of 16 lots across the age groups realised in excess of €10,000, with nine of these emerging from the younger sector.

This in turn led to an overall average of €6,664 (€8,371 for the four-year-olds) together with a notable turnover of €780,000 and a clearance of 80%. Among the successful online buyers were customers from America, Hungary, Norway and Switzerland, while those from Finland were also prominent bidders.

Sale-topper

At €19,000, the sale-topping honours fell to Meabh and Brian Flynn’s (MBF Sporthorses Ltd) Jake (Lot 142), a recently broken four-year-old by the Diamant de Semilly-sired Matisse de Mariposa out of the jumping mare Look At Her by Lucky Luke. Beautifully produced by Meabh, and sourced two years ago, the imported bay was snapped up online by American buyer Kate Dixon.

“Kate is a friend of a previous client Kim Wendel,” explained Brian. “Kim bought MBF Gambler from us at the Go For Gold sale in 2020, and recommended this one. Kate had seen the videos online, and in addition he had a good set of X-rays.”

Joanne Curtin and Henry Foley's Lot 130 (by Flexible) fetched €16,500 when secured by UK buyer Andrew Williams of GHF Sport Horses \ Sally Parkyn

Four-year-olds

As professional producers dominated the better returns, it was the turn of Co Wexford partnership of Joanne Curtin and Henry Foley to consign the next big figure at €16,500. In complete contrast to the sale-topper, their offering was a traditionally bred four-year-old (Lot 130) by Flexible out of Woodhouse Gael by Gael Force.

Another to benefit from top-notch presentation, this gelding had been well marketed prior to sale, and after a competitive exchange with an online bidder, was finally secured by Andrew Williams of GHF Sport Horses. “He’s just my sort,” joked the Monmouthshire-based buyer. “Flashy, with lots of white and blood bred as well!” A half-brother to the advanced event horse MGH Regent Street, the big chesnut was bought from breeder Michael Roche as a three-year-old and Curtin could not speak more highly of him. “He’s been super to produce and has a great temperament,” she remarked.

As both a builder and horse producer Co Clare’s Gordon Hogan is a busy man. He buys both in Ireland and on the continent, and his latest offering to score at €15,500 was an imported gelding by Baltic VDL (Lot 151). Bought unbroken in Belgium just a few months ago, the smart gelding had been riding only three weeks.

“It’s a great price, but he’s a very nice horse,” said Hogan. “However, I do think there is plenty of money left in him for the next man.” One hoping so will be successful buyer Paul Donovan, who having signed the docket commented, “He’s very blood and very commercial” said the Fethard producer. “He’s not been broken long so there should be plenty of improvement – and of course nice horses are hard to find and hard to buy.”

Good prices came thick and fast, and another eye-catcher was Tracy Ingle’s Coldplay (Lot 121) who sold for €15,000. Well showcased and presented by Claire Rickets, this son of Casallo Z (dam by Chin Chin) looked well bought by Kilmessan-based show jumper Hallie Crowe.

Tracy Ingle's Coldplay (Lot 121), a son of Casallo Z fetched €15,000 at Goresbridge when bought by Kilmessan show jumper Hallie Crowe \ Sally Parkyn

Older stock

Two mares filled the top returns in the older horse division, and first up at €16,000 was Riona Finn’s home-bred JR Tyson’s Diamond (Lot 60). The second foal out of Carrownagarry Lady, this five-year-old had been produced by Jay Naughton, and prepared for sale by the locally based siblings Christine and Grace O’Donnell. Described by Christine as ‘ultra-careful, and with a big future’, she was secured by an Irish cash customer.

Riona Finn's five-year-old mare JR Tyson's Diamond (Lot 60) at Goresbridge fetched €16,000 when sold on Wednesday \ Sally Parkyn

Co Clare trader Vincent Meaney also did well when his five-year-old mare Baskin Cristello (Lot 47) was knocked down to Felix Burke for €14,000. Bought from her Dublin-based breeder John Carey, and stored since a two-year-old, she was broken last year and produced for sale by the ever capable Olive Clarke.

Speaking afterwards, the Co Sligo buyer revealed, that the mare would now go eventing with his daughter Jennifer. “I was hoping she would have made a little less,” he commented wryly. “But prices have gone up and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Vincent Meaney's five-year-old mare Baskin Cristello (Lot 47) was bought by Felix Burke for €14,000 at Goresbridge Sales on Wednesday \ Sally Parkyn

Local man Tom Fitzgerald will have been pleased to see his five-year-old Cushlas Hecofalux (by Hector Van d’Abdjhoeve) change hands at €13,000. The grey (Lot 66) who was bred by JP Finlay and, sourced as a foal, was produced for sale by Diarmuid Ryan. The third foal out of the useful 1.30m jumping mare Cushlas Benejalux (Lux Z), he impressed when jumping and was eventually snapped up by Dublin brothers Sam and Jamie McNaughton. Making their first visit to the venue, they revealed that they intend to share the ride, and progress through the show jumping ranks.

A few lots earlier, Andrew Williams added to his collection when securing Natasha Philpott’s five-year-old mare Chica Naika (Lot 50) for €12,000. A catalogue pick on paper, this Robert Wood-bred daughter of Creevagh Ferro is out of Chica Rubia (Couleur Rubin) and sourced through the same sale ring two years ago. Under both her owner and Daryl Walker, she has since has clocked up 22 SJI points, having jumped double clear rounds at 1.15m level. Daisy Duggan was in the saddle to showcase this mare who Williams later described as ‘forward going, athletic and a beautiful type.”

A further three lots smashed the €10,000 mark, and while performance horses reaped the better rewards, there was a very stout trade for quiet riding horses and hunters.

Pony trade

Kicking off the action, 81% of the ponies offered changed hands at an average of €5,271. Heading the pack at €10,000 was the Smylie family’s six-year-old dun mare by Coolagh Courageous (Lot 15) out of Huntingfield Ruler (Windgap Sara). Carrying both competition and hunting form she was initially led out unsold but later snapped up by Tiernan Grey.

Top returns