Changing hands for a healthy €12,000, a colt foal by the enduringly commercial Emerald Van’t Ruytershof (BWP), yielded the top return at Goresbridge last week.

Good in parts, and tough in others, the sale closely mirrored the returns of 2019, delivering an identical top return and a clearance of 55%, while the average improved slightly to €2,948 (€2,716 in 2019).

A total of 15 lots realised in excess of €5,000, down one from last year, the majority of which carried European blacktype pedigrees. Overall, the more traditionally bred and thoroughbred-sired foals fared less well, but there were plenty of decent returns among them, especially for those with the first cross of continental blood.

Michael Murphy’s colt by the thoroughbred Island Commander (dam by Womanizer) sold for a credible €4,500, while a Flexible yearling looked well bought at €4,100. On completely traditional lines, a colt by Greenhall (dam by Emperor Augustus) headed the figures at €3,600 while a further four made in excess of €3,000.

Sale topper

Saturday’s session was slow to build up momentum, but eventually burst into life when Louise Dillon’s eye-catching chestnut colt changed hands for €12,000. A flashy individual, with four white stockings, the colt is by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of the jumping mare Cheetah Z (Cobra). Ridden by the vendor’s husband Paul, Cheetah Z jumped at the RDS in both the four- and five-year-old finals, before retiring to stud. It was this form, together with the individual and the pedigree that appealed to successful Italian buyer Martina Romagnoli (SCL Haras De Ligny), who intends to leave the colt in Ireland to be produced.

Strong prices

By tradition, Saturday’s session proved the strongest in terms of prices and pedigrees, revealing a clearance of 58% together with a heightened average of €3,639.

The bulk of these good returns emerged late in the day, and another to create a stir was John J Cummin’s Brockaghfield Jay, a colt by Hardrock Z. The third foal out of the well-bred CFS Olympic Dream (Flexible) who is a half-sister to Olympic Cruz (1.45m) and closely related to CFS Olympic Lady (1.50m), Point Two Elvis (1.50m) and Clarkes Ferro (1.60m). Changing hands for €9,700, this colt was knocked down to New Ross show jumper and breeder Catriona Redmond. Citing a strong liking for the sire, Redmond plans to store and produce the colt herself.

The highlight of Friday’s dispersal was Sean Stafford’s impressive colt (an embryo foal) by Tyson out of the imported mare Witty Luterra C (Lupicor). Boasting a young and contemporary pedigree, he is a half-brother to several notable horses and, at €7,800 was secured by show jumping producer Donal Hayes. Buying foals is a new venture for the Askeaton-based buyer, who said he is “trying to get to the start of the stock”.

It is rare that the Connolly family’s CSF prefixed foals do not make headlines, and leading this year’s offerings, as well as the filly returns at €7,800, was a filly by the young jumping stallion Cornerado VDL. Born in August, this quality filly is out of CSF Princess Doorn (Glocks Princes des Vaux) who is a sibling to no less than five international performers.

Kylemore Stud’s Ivor and Olive Broderick signed for this elegant foal, who they will store to produce under saddle.

“She looked to be on springs,” Broderick commented afterwards. “And I love the bit of French blood in her pedigree.”

While there was little demand for the few brood mares on offer, there was considerable interest in Eamon McCardle’s Drumhowan Bee Gee, a four-year-old filly by the thoroughbred sire Coroner out of Bee Line by Lux Z.

Selling for €7,600 to a phone bidder, and carrying a foal to McCardle’s resident stallion Corporal VDL, the well-presented mare is a granddaughter of the top nations cup mare Cruise Line (1.60m).

There were also a few yearlings on offer on Friday, the best of which at €4,100 went to Michael Colbert’s well grown filly by Flexible out of Marions Clover Chip (Chippison).

Top lots

• Louise Dillon’s colt foal by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof (dam by Cobra) €12,000.

• John J Cummins’ colt foal by Hard Rock Z (dam by Flexible) €9,700.

• Patrick Connolly’s filly foal by Cornerado VDL (dam by Glocks Prince des Vaux) €7,800.

• Sean Stafford’s colt foal by Tyson (dam by Lupicor) €7,800.

• Eamon McCardle’s four-year-old mare by Coroner (dam by Lux Z) €7,600.

• Pat Kehoe’s colt foal by HHS Cornet (dam by Cruising) €7,600.