As the year has progressed, sale returns have followed suit, and this was certainly the case at Goresbridge last week.

At the halfway stage of the September flagship sale, the figures for older stock and four-year-olds once again show significant improvement. At the close of play, 20 lots equalled or exceeded €10,000, which in turn led to a three-day average of €6,339 (€4,630 in 2020).

Even more notable was Friday’s session of four-year-olds which produced a heady 82% clearance coupled with an average of €6,548 (€4,705 in 2020).

“The figures speak for themselves. It was very satisfying to see such a big increase in the averages, as well as the overall clearance of 77% and I’m delighted for the vendors and producers,” commented Martin Donohoe of Goresbridge.

Demand was solid across the board. As expected, it was very competitive for the older stock, but it was the four-year-old trade that really took off. Both event and show jumping buyers were out in force, and while the online sales were significant, there was plenty of competition from those on site too.

Sale Topper

Co Wexford producer Jason Higgins is a regular sale topping vendor, so it came as no surprise to see his four-year-old by Umonia M heading the prices at €18,400. Owned jointly with Mary Bolger, the gelding who was bred by Thomas Duffy in Co Meath out of the Voltaire-sired dam Kilmeague Clover, was sourced at the same venue as a foal.

He was not easily bought, and as the tussle for ownership developed into a lively two-way exchange between online buyers, the hammer finally fell in favour of British event rider Finley Atherton. “I had seen the videos online.” Atherton remarked afterwards. “Also, I knew of the yard he came from so I was pretty confident.”

Four-Year-Olds

Sale topper aside, the four-year-olds delivered an extraordinary trade, and next in line at €18,000 was Michelle Stafford’s home-bred gelding by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of Sparka Doobie (Coevers Diamond Boy). Jim Derwin signed the docket for this smart sort, while later the same day the Brian Flynn and Jason Higgins consigned filly Miss Eldorado realised €17,200. This fell once again to an online customer, as British buyer Paul Jeary made the winning bid.

Also selling well at €13,000 was Carmel Walsh’s Kingsriver Kasanova, a home-bred son of Womanizer out of the British-bred show jumping dam Caramel Van Overis (Darco). Leicestershire-based Aaron Jones of Aartom Horses Ltd picked up the tab for this one.

OLDER STOCK.

Heading Thursday trade at €15,000 was Paddy Howley’s home-bred five-year-old mare Dooneen Mermus by Mermus R. The first progeny out of the jumping dam Douglas Cruise Line (Ard VDL Douglas), she was produced by Paddy’s daughter Shannen and knocked down to Germans Pers and Pia Distel (ZTHR Distel).

Event riders had a strong influence throughout, and among them was Fiona Davidson who snapped up Michael Keane’s five-year-old gelding Oakport Cool Dude for €13,000. The son of Ars Vivendi out of Miss Too Coole (Warrenstown You 2) is from the family of Rocksy Music (1.60m) and a half-brother to UK-based event horse MGH Jessica (Padraig McCarthy).

Among the remaining stand outs was Tim Collins’ traditionally-bred six-year-old mare Hazel by Kiltealy Silver out of the thoroughbred dam Leapan (Taipan). This one is bound for Germany at €11,000, while heading to the show jumping yard of Britain’s Julian Mincher at €10,500 is Ronnie Hollinger’s Creevagh Crum, a home-bred mare by Creevagh Ferro out of Tiffcrum Ronnie (Lougherne Connaught).

PONIES

Wednesday’s small session of ponies saw two lots from the 20 that changed hands made in excess of €10,000. Heading them at €10,800 was Helen McPhillips’ Lady Raven, a six-year-old 143cm black mare with plenty of competition form. Local rider Ted Donohoe had to battle hard to secure this mare, who was bought for his sister Hannah.

Another to make five-figures at €10,400 was Natalie Kennedy’s Hillside Robin, a five-year-old grey mare by Laerkens Cascade Dawn. Sourced unbroken in Connemara last year, she is heading to the Frankfurt yard of ZTHR Distel.