An unprecedented 24 lots recorded five-figure returns at Goresbridge last week, where the three-day October fixture recorded another bumper set of returns. Demand was strong for horses of all disciplines, dipping only for the final session of three-year-olds on Friday afternoon.

Thursday’s trade for four-year-olds was probably the best ever seen at the venue, with 88% changing hands at an average of €7,299.

Despite the inclement weather, the older horses and ponies also sold well on Wednesday to deliver a 75% clearance at an average of €5,170, while the three-year-olds, who produced a glut of top prices, closed at a 64% clearance (average €5,449).

As has become the norm for the past year, online bidding was active throughout, accounting for around 50 sales overall.

Older Horses

Selling in the worst of the weather, Wednesday’s sale of older stock and ponies was busy throughout. Well produced cobs, hunters and competition stock were in great demand, and capping the figures at €14,000 was Michael Ryan’s five-year-old Drombane Classic, a home-bred son of OBOS Quality out of Drombane Dilemma by VDL Arkansas. Well related, he is a half-brother to the American-based former Go For Gold graduate Drombane Dynamite (CCI3*), while the dam is a sibling to the four-star event horse Fernhill Ambassador. Lightly competed with four SJI points, he looked well bought by regular British visitor and show horse producer Katrina Hirst. The Norfolk-based buyer disclosed that the gelding will be aimed at working hunter classes next season.

Another head turner was Conor Murphy’s Harle Du Puissance, a seven-year-old by Puissance out of Harle Trump (Harlequin du Carel). This gelding has plenty of competition mileage under his belt, and selling for €13,000, he was snapped up online by Co Cork resident Rebecca O’Sullivan.

A few lots earlier Tom Magee’s Fiorucci, by For Pleasure out of Icing (Cruising), realised €12,500. Home-bred, the well-related five-year-old was bought over the phone by Leicestershire-based show jumping producer and owner Graham Smith.

One of the stand out features was the buoyant trade for cobs, and among the most talked about was Jim Noonan’s 10-year-old by Spriggan who changed hands for €10,000 and Keith Wilson’s 11-year-old Flash at €9,500.

Ponies

Setting the ball rolling on Wednesday morning, the pony session returned a clearance of 75%. Sale-topping honours fell to Hannah Wood’s 138cm mare Rossies Delight who, selling at €7,600 was well produced and ridden by the owner’s daughter Edie.

Goresbridge sale topper, Lot 378 Katy O’Dea’s RRS Joe, three-year-old gelding by Lancelot (dam by Colin Diamond) sold for €17,000 \ Sally Parkyn

Four-year-olds

Boasting an average of €7,299, together with a clearance of 88%, the trade for four-year-olds was sizzling. Both on-site customers and online bidders entered into some lively exchanges, and none more so than for ownership of Shane Nugent’s filly by Avos Jordan Z out of Liberty Cruise (Cruising). She was secured at €16,500 by Derbyshire-based agent Lee Penny.

Just a few lots earlier Brian Flynn’s gelding MBF Broken Blue was one of a total of 23 lots knocked down to the Berkshire trading firm of Irish Horse Imports. Citing a very solid trade in England, they paid €15,500 for this smart bay who, by Bonmahon Master Blue out of Landsdown Lady by Landsdown, was only recently broken.

At €14,000 Jason Higgin’s imported Gazello by George Z (dam by Darco) also sold well, and now heads to the north of England with event rider James Adams.

Three-year-olds

Although the demand for the three-year-olds was a little more subdued – especially on Friday – trade for the top end was extremely lively. Again, production and presentation were the key to success, and one who ticked all the boxes was Katy O’Dea’s sale-topping RRS Joe, a strapping grey gelding by Lancelot out of Rhineroe Lady Elle by Colin Diamond. Bred by Aiden Maloney in Co Clare, this home produced gelding was already broken and riding, and after a prolonged head to head exchange, was knocked down for €17,000 to Lisburn buyer Sarah McClelland.

Topping Thursday’s three-year-old figures at €16,000 was Alan Wheeler’s gelding Eclips Z by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of Aragon Z (Arco 111). Sourced privately in Holland as a foal, the impressive chesnut was bought by British buyer Emma Castle.

Another to sell well in the first session was William Power’s gelding by Je T’Aime Flamenco out of Huntingdale by Cruising. Bred by Vincent Burton in Co Armagh and well produced by Johnny Widger in Co Waterford, this gelding really impressed at jumping, and after a spirited tussle was finally secured for €15,500 by show jumping owner Tim Beecher on behalf of Padraig Kelly.

One who gave a real showcase performance prior to sale was Sarah Whiteside’s Lynara Lotharion, a gelding by the Heartbreaker sire Bernhard, out of Ricardess Tabasco (Tabasco Van Erpekom). At €14,500, Paul Gill of the Derbyshire-based Barleyfield Equestrian signed the docket for this one, who was bred by Trevor McCabe in Co Down, and produced for sale by Thomas Quigley.