A RECORD price for the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale of event horses was achieved in the Amber Springs Hotel on Wednesday night when Glenpatrick Stables’ Cornascriebe Glenpatrick was knocked down for €160,000 to Ellie Guy Eventing.

The Womanizer gelding, who was runner-up in the four-year-old Masterclass at Camphire International in 2014, has been most consistent over the past two seasons, accruing 22 Eventing Ireland points and placing in the top 10 in all three of his home international starts this year.

Last month, Cornascriebe Glenpatrick (Lot 2A) finished 11th in the CCI* at Le Lion d’Angers where, ridden by Harold Megahey, he was one of just three six-year-olds to represent Ireland. He was bookmarked by many at the French venue including the Somerset-based team of British international rider Millie Dumas and her father Robin.

The latter was in constant contact by phone with Ellie Guy on Wednesday evening as bidding commenced at €50,000 on Cornascriebe Glenpatrick. It stopped at €130,000, when the brown gelding was put on the market, after which Robin Dumas had to go to €160,000 to secure the top lot on their first visit to the sale.

When asked what the plan was for the horse, the reply from Millie Dumas was quite simple, “Tokyo” she said in reference to the 2020 Olympic Games. “You have to aim high,” said her father. “Millie has represented Britain at European junior and young rider championships and we are extremely fortunate that, thanks to Ellie Guy, she has the opportunity to ride at the highest level.

“Ellie has 15 horses with us including Ard Cluedo who we bought here in Ireland and who she rides herself. We looked at Cornascriebe Glenpatrick first on video and then more closely at Le Lion. He is a really nice model with a good attitude and temperament.”

The sales-topper was bred in Portadown by Carol Armstrong out of the Cavalier Royale mare Cornascriebe Royale, who comes from a top-class performance family which, in recent years, has produced the likes of Cooley Cross Border who is eventing at three-star level in the United States.

Also buying on behalf of Guy, Robin Dumas went to €27,000 to secure Brian Flynn and Meabh Bolger’s Rehy MBF (Lot 19), a four-year-old Rehy High Society gelding whose dam, Kilfeara Lass (by Senang Hati) is a half-sister to the international two-star eventer Noble Imp (by Master Imp).

The Megahey family, who sold Cornascriebe Glenpatrick in partnership with Joseph Murphy, bought two horses at the sale, including the Conspiracy M2S three-year-old Ballinmurra Eclipse (Lot 41).

The attractive grey gelding, who was consigned by J.J. Bowe and Jason Higgins and achieved a price of €22,000, is out of the Good Thyne mare Moving Star, who won a handicap hurdle at Roscommon. She comes from the family of Blue Charm, who was second in the 1999 Grand National at Aintree.

Colbinstown’s Lesley Crampton signed the €30,000 chit for Belline Equestrian’s five-year-old Grafenstolz gelding RCA Patron Saint (Lot 3). The British Sport Horse was only twice out of the first two in nine EI starts (once finishing fourth) at EI90 and EI100 level, winning on four occasions.

The same vendor received a similar amount for another Grafenstolz five-year-old gelding from the doyen of the Irish sales scene, Ned Cash, who signed for three other lots in the Amber Springs Hotel.

RCA William Bishop (Lot 13) started competing in BE100 classes in Britain this year and, since transferring to Ireland, has won and been placed twice at similar level under Eventing Ireland rules. The brown gelding, who is out of the Louella Inschallah mare Temple Polly, could well end up back in England but Cash declined to say who he was buying for on Wednesday night.

There are always plenty of people from the thoroughbred world at this sale and paying a brief visit was Curragh trainer Michael Halford whose wife Louise now has three horses bought by Los Alerces Ltd at her livery yard on their Kildare farm.

Two of horses were purchased at Tuesday night’s jumping sale while the third, who cost €27,000, is the Mermus R gelding Boleybawn Magma (Lot 20) who, having done some show jumping this year, is heading down the eventing route.

The four-year-old bay gelding was bred by Ronan Rothwell out of the High Roller (ISH) mare Syriana who jumped herself and has progeny competing well over coloured poles.