SALES

Sally Parkyn

A strong demand for quality swelled the returns at Goresbridge last week, where the opening three days produced some lively trade, together with a top price of €16,000.

The older stock delivered a 66% clearance (64% in 2016), together with an average of €3,585 (€3,542). The most notable turnaround, however, emerged from Friday’s sale of four-year-olds, which in direct contrast to 12 months ago saw a healthy 71% (54% in 2016) change hands, coupled with a marked increase of average to €3,588 (€3,028).

“I’m happy enough, especially to see the improvement in the trade for the four-year-olds,” reflected Martin Donohoe. “It also proves the point once again that there are plenty of buyers for those that perform. It was nice to see a few more customers from mainland Europe, and see them buying away.”

Although the British buyers were present in numbers, the adverse rate in sterling certainly gave the home team the upper hand. The majority of the top lots remained on home turf, and among them was Jim Bourke’s five-year-old son of Pacino, who topped the overall figures at €16,000.

The sale topper is the first foal out of Cappanaleigh Rose (Verdi), who is a half-sister to the British-based intermediate event horse Cooley Foundation.

The big gelding had been sent to his producer Gemma Phelan in Co Waterford just a few weeks before the sale, and while he was green for his age, his jumping performance under Phelan was the stand out performance of the day. He was put on the market at €12,000 and was eventually secured by Jason Higgins. The Clonroche rider and pin hooker, who now features prominently in both the thoroughbred and the sport horse spheres, commented: “I bought him for myself. He’s a lovely big horse. I was very impressed with him today and also thought he had a nice pedigree.”

DEMAND FOR FORM

Demand for competition horses remained consistent, and also selling well at €10,000 was Rachel Meaney’s five-year-old Valexo, a gelding by Ars Vivendi (dam by Colladao).

Homebred by Rachel’s grandfather PJ Kearns, and well ridden on the day by Martin Curran, he was knocked down to English bidder Jo Bowen, on behalf of event rider Janet Clarke. There was also a lively trade for traditionally bred hunters, and heading these figures at €9,000 was Con O’Brien’s good looking five-year-old by Berkely Cruise.

The smart grey had hunted with the South Union, but will now move to Co Galway, where he will carry east Galway master Olive Broderick.

FOUR-YEAR-OLDS

Trade for the four-year-olds illustrated a welcome upturn in fortunes. It was Sean Hayden’s gelding by Ars Vivendi who headed the figures at €9,000.

Homebred by the popular Ballymureen Stud sire, the Dennis Collins-produced gelding delivered an impressive jumping display, before he was knocked down to River Lodge Eventing. Brian O’Malley’s filly by Balou du Rouet was another eye-catcher, and although she was led out unsold, she was soon snapped up for €7,750 by British customer Richard Pointer. Thirty-five of the 87 lots sold realised in excess of €4,000, with half of these above the €5,000 mark.

Wednesday’s solid trade for ponies delivered a healthy 68% clearance, together with a top price of €4,400. Opening a good week for the Co Waterford producer, Rachel Meaney’s sale topper was the highly rated Brock Lodge Ben (34), a full Connemara with hunting and competition form.

The son of Brock Lodge Buster (dam by Arrow Javelin) was a proper event sort, and looked very well when bought by leading pony and working hunter producer Ann Lyons. CL