Shattering previous records by some distance, last week’s renewal at Goresbridge was an unprecedented success.

Much to the delight of connections and indeed the vendors, the one-day fixture delivered a remarkable clearance of 93%, together with an average of €7,004. A total of 21 lots broke the €10,000 barrier which, with the input from buyers from Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, UK, USA and Ireland, boosted the day’s turnover to a notable €899,550.

“The indications were there for a strong trade,” commented Goresbridges Martin Donohoe.

“But nobody could have anticipated this outcome, which surpassed even our wildest dreams – in the 52-year history of sales at Goresbridge, we have never seen anything like it.”

The sales company had pulled out all the stops to facilitate online buyers, so in addition to the usual video gallery, they introduced live streaming of all the performance action on the day.

This appeared to give those watching from afar increased confidence, and while just 42% were sold through the online medium, there were online bids for each of the 127 lots that changed hands.

Top price

The pattern for the day was set early in the proceedings when, selling as the first of the older horses, Keith Wilson’s five-year-old Coille Mor Buachaill by Tolan R realised €23,000.

Sourced from his breeder Eamon McGuirk, the gelding is the fifth recorded progeny of Dunmor Lass (by Coille Mor Hill). The Co Monaghan vendor put up a good showcase display prior to sale, and it was this that clearly appealed to successful buyer Reinhold Distel.

A former international show jumper from Frankfurt, Distel plans to keep the gelding for his daughter Pia to compete.

Staunch supporter

The first of the big online purchases went to Seamus Beisty’s (Coisnahabhinn Stables). Sunshine Dream, a palomino gelding by Coolfin Dynamite out of April Sunshine by the Connemara sire New Captain Courageous went for €16,900.

There was plenty of competition for this flashy individual who, bred by Mark Delaney, was finally secured by Oxfordshire buyer and event horse owner Hannah Wells.

A staunch supporter of the Irish horse, Wells later paid €10,100 for Fourfields High Seas a three-year-old gelding by Loch Cruise.

It was not only the competition horses that were selling well, as demand was also strong for quiet riding and hunter types.

Heading these at €14,600, and indeed the traditionally bred lots, was Martin Egan’s Rosconnell Rocco, a gelding by Remington Clover out of All Diamond (Townrath Pride). Described as suitable to carry either a 12-year-old child or a hunt Master, this steady sort was knocked down to Hampshire buyer Caroline Leyton.

Others of note included Cian Goggins’ smart eight-year-old GCS Paris (1.30m), a show jumper with a career total of 50 SJI points. MJ Equestrian signed for this attractive mare who, with paddock potential, is a sibling to six international horses.

While the trade in each age group was extremely strong, it reached its peak with the four-year-olds. Illustrated by an extraordinary 97% clearance and an average of €7,829, the top return at €16,000 fell to Creevagh Stables’ gelding by KEC Maximum Joe out of Eltina Lux (Lux Z).

The Monmouth-based event horse producer Andrew Williams snapped up this good looking individual. Bred by PJ and Adrian Williams, this gelding is a half-brother to Cassino Royale (1.30m) ridden by Peter Smyth.

A few lots later, a gelding by Aganix du Seigneur changed hands at €14,200, while GBBS Ltd’s well-related gelding by Emerald Van’t Ruysterhof (dam by Flex A Bill) sold to Dublin resident Christina Gates at €13,200.

By some margin, the highest priced horse by a thoroughbred sire went to Ger Burke’s gelding by Pointilliste (dam by Master Imp) who changed hands for €12,500.

Bringing the day to a close, the three-year-olds delivered an average of €6,479, together with a clearance of 86%. Three lots realised in excess of €10,000 the best of which was JJ O’Connor’s gelding by OBOS Quality (dam by Cruising) who, at €12,000, was secured by Mount Juliet Equestrian.

Ponies

The standard of the 16 ponies put forward was high, and indeed 15 found new homes. Heading the sector at €9,100 was Mai Rath’s homebred Blossom Hill Bun, a four-year-old, half-bred Connemara pony by Bunowen Darragh out of Blossom Hill Donnand. Maria Kitt signed for this smart individual who was just broken and riding.

Top lots

• Keith Wilson’s Coille Mor Buachaill, five-year-old gelding by Tolan R (dam by Coille Mor Hill) €23,000.

• Seamus Biesty’s Sunshine Dream, five-year-old gelding by Coolfin Dynamite (dam by New Captain Courageous) €16,900.

• Creevagh Stables’ four-year-old gelding by Maximum Joe (dam by Lux Z) €16,000.

• Martin Egan’s Rosconnell Rocco, seven-year-old gelding by Remington Clover (dam by Townrath Pride) €14,600.