SALE REPORT

Sally Parkyn

Outstanding trade at the Goresbridge Supreme Foal Sale at Barnadown in Co Wexford last Sunday delivered an unprecedented 100% clearance together with a top price of €17,000.

Run in conjunction with the Irish Breeders Classic show jumping championships, whose prize fund benefits from 2% of the turnover, the sale of the pre-selected 15 lots returned an average of €12,320, which exceeded 2016 (€10,725) figures by a distance.

“That was a savage trade. It’s great to see it – and it’s a shot in the arm for the industry,” declared Martin Donohoe of Goresbridge. “I’ve never been involved with a sale that produced 100% clearance before, and that figure reflects the very strong book of foals that we put forward. We also have plenty of well-bred foals in our October sales, so I hope this solid trade will continue.”

SALE TOPPER

Landing the top honours was Kilmashogue Stud’s well-related Pembrook Corbetts Lane, a colt foal by Kannan out of MHS Pembrook Lady (Guidam). A catalogue pick on paper, and the pathfinder on the day, the colt is out of a three-parts sister to the Olympic show jumper MHS Going Global (1.60m). Hailing from a young dam, he is a half-brother to the highly regarded five-year-old MHS Fernhill (1.20m) by Cardento, while adding further depth to the pedigree, the dam is also a sister to Ballypatrick Flight (1.50m) and the Oliver Townend-ridden event horse MHS King Joules (CCI3*).

Despite strong opposition, it came as no surprise to see Going Global’s rider Greg Broderick signing the docket for this smart colt at €17,000. A top buyer at this sale last year, and indeed the purchaser of the full-brother, Broderick and his father accounted for thee lots in all, and was at the business end in several more.

“He was a super foal, and I rate him as probably the best we have bred,” said Co Wicklow breeder Finbarr Mulligan. “You can get the pedigree right, but it’s hard to get the correct individual as well. This one had all the blood and athleticism, and was exceptional. He’s gone to the right place, and I wish Greg the best of luck and hope he is what I think he is.”

Mulligan was also full of praise for the team at the Irish Breeders Classic, but specifically Martin Donohoe of Goresbridge, whose marketing of the sale, Mulligan said, was: “second to none. To be able to look on the worldofshowjumping.com website for the European Championship results, and to see the sale advertised, together with top-class videos of your foal, was superb. It’s always a logistical issue [as regards weaning and transport] to tempt European buyers to come here, so I think the amount of publicity these foals got was a marketing triumph. There is no better incentive for Irish breeders than a vibrant foal market, and this should be highlighted and acted on.”

OTHER NOTABLES

Prices for the remaining 14 lots ranged upwards from €7,000. All but three foals realised a five-figure return, and next in line to sell at €16,000 apiece were the Connolly Stud Farm’s colt by Tyson, and Patrick Breen’s top-priced filly by Cornet Obolensky. Both were snapped up by Broderick, this time on behalf of Jenny Graham and GBBS International.

Connolly’s colt is out of a half-sister to Two Mills Showtime (1.60m), Splendido (1.60m) and Fauran (1.50m). Carrying one of the most prolific of Irish maternal lines, the family also includes Coral Springs (1.50m), Rolo Tomasi (1.60m) and the Swedish-ridden Bob Dalton (1.50m).

The latter is the third foal out of Catherine Thornton’s good mare Carneyhaugh Allegro (1.40m). Carrying a dual-purpose pedigree on the dam’s side, the second dam Carneyhaugh Presto is a sibling to Carneyhaugh Tequila Sunrise (1.40m) and the CIC3* event horse Carneyhaugh Conquistador. Going back a generation, others to feature include Ready To Travel (CIC3*), Crusalier (1.40m) and the James Fisher-ridden Nations Cup campaigner Hasty Exit (1.60m).

Top prices

  • • Lot 1: Kilmashogue Stud’s Pembrook Corbetts Lane, colt foal by Kannan out of MHS Pembrook Lady (Guidam), €17,000.
  • • Lot 13: Connolly Stud Farm’s CSF Lewis colt foal by Tyson out of MHS Grange Lux (Lux Z), €16,000.
  • • Lot 12: Patrick Breen’s Carneyhaugh Unison, filly foal by Cornet Obolensky out of Carneyhaugh Allegro (Don Juan de la Bouverie), €16,000.
  • • Lot 14: John Mulconroy’s colt foal by Diamant de Semilly out of Diamonds For Douglas (Ard VDL Douglas), €14,700.
  • • Lot 8: Brendan McCardle’s colt foal by Elvis Ter Putte out of Royal Show (Cruising), €14,600.