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PJ Kearns’ Southfork Quality, six-year-old mare by OBOS Quality (dam by Abke) €26,000.
Jason Higgins’ Unnamed, four-year-old gelding by Bon Coeur (dam by At Moritz Junior) €25,000.
Dean Rogan’s Silvermines Gwood Lady, five-year-old mare by Glynnwood Cornet (dam by Quel Hero de Muze) €16,500.
Keith Wilson’s Major, four-year-old gelding by Tullabeg Fusion (dam by Garrison Royale) €15,000.
MBF Sport Horses’ MBF In The Making, four-year-old gelding by Presidential Ball (Beach Ball) €13,500.
Catriona Redmond and Boleybawn Sport Horses’ Boleybawn Kartini, four-year-old by Cartani (dam by Ars Vivendi) €13,000.
High demand
Last week’s three-day renewal at Goresbridge was a sale of two halves, and one that was highlighted by a glut of five-figure returns.
Despite fears that the trade might be dipping, demand for the older horses continued strongly, while the four-year-olds also ignited a healthy set of bids.
Confirming this, the final figures for the first two days revealed that twenty-eight individuals made in excess of €10,000, contributing to a two-day clearance of 73% together with an average of €6,497.
“Trade is very buoyant still, even though the signs had indicated it might have fallen,” remarked Martin Donohoe. “With such a big catalogue, we didn’t anticipate such a good outcome, but it’s all about the horses at the end of the day and Mary Frances and I are both grateful and delighted that the vendors are putting their trust in us.”
Against this buoyancy, the figures for the final day of three-year-olds proved disappointing in comparison. Here buyers were at their most selective, and with a rather mixed selection on offer, just 51% changed hands at a more modest average of €4,616.
These returns were down on last year’s equivalent, leading Donohoe to add: “The three-year-old figures are obviously not fantastic, but its early in the year, the stock was mixed and importantly we did have plenty of buyers.”
The online influence over the three days was significant, both in terms of successful buys and boosting the returns for the remainder. The quality of the pre-sales video footage has raised the bar as regards bidding unseen, with many overseas customers now finding increased confidence in the medium.
SALE TOPPER
Selling as one of the last lots through the ring on Wednesday evening, PJ Kearns’ much admired homebred mare Southfork Quality recorded the overall top price of €26,000.
A six-year-old daughter of OBOS Quality out of the German bred mare Erina by Abke, the bay had bred two foals, and was not broken in until just before Christmas last year.
She was produced in Co Waterford by Kearns’ granddaughter Rachel together with her partner Martin Curran, with the result that she had attended a few training shows where she showed enormous promise.
She had also been well marketed prior to sale, and while bidding was competitive from the start, no one was more determined to buy her than Nottinghamshire based trader Darren Walsh (Emerald Irish Horses UK).
OLDER HORSES
As competition horses with mileage continued to reap the rewards, another jumping mare to sell well was Dean Rogan’s Silvermines GWood Lady by Glynnwood Cornet out of Hortensia de Litrange (Quel Hero de Muze). A five-year-old, she changed hands for €16,500 when secured by private British buyer Mark Windsor.
Co Wexford consigner Jason Higgins was well represented over the three days, and in this sector his smart Chicago, a six-year-old by Cinsey out of Cascarin by Cascari was knocked down online by eventing customer Fiona Davidson for €12,500.
FOUR-YEAR-OLDS
A strong market for four-year-olds was headed at €25,000 by Jason Higgins’ eye catching gelding by Bon Coeur. Imported from Belgium, the well-produced gelding was eventually secured by prominent Goresbridge event customer GHF Equestrian from Monmouth in Wales.
Among the remainder to shine was Keith Wilson’s big dun gelding by Tullabeg Fusion at €15,000, and also MBF Sport Horses beautifully produced MBF In The Making, a chestnut by Presidential Ball (dam by Beach Ball) at €13,500.
Both of these lots were snapped up remotely, with prominent British show jumping produced Caron Nicols accounting for the former, and Lauren Maguire, wife of jockey Jason, the latter.
THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Just two of the age group realised five figure returns, the first of which was John Kearney’s filly by Cantosano (dam by Acobat).
Sourced in utero, and registered with the Anglo European Stud Book, the filly was snapped up by Monaghan trader Keith Wilson for €10,200.
Much later in the day and selling for €10,000 was Frank Casey’s upstanding gelding by Pointilliste (dam by Kings Master). A real eyeful, with a jump to match he looked well bought by Somerset event horse producer Denise Crossman.
PONIES
The opening pony sector also delivered two returns in excess of €10,000, but demand was patchy leading to a disappointing clearance of 48% together with an acceptable average of €4,804.
In many cases, sellers appeared to have unrealistic reserves, but the two who stood out were Janet Burke’s five-year-old The Rebel Son, who was knocked down to Laura Geraghty for €12,200, while a few lots earlier, the Kenny family’s Glencroft Limited Edition changed hands privately to Tiernan Gray for €10,000.
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