IT took the best part of three days, but the three-year-old trade at Goresbridge eventually gathered pace and peaked on Wednesday evening when George Campbell’s son of Pegase Van’t Ruytershof headed a lively final session at €26,500.
His sale was one of five returns from the age group to exceed the €10,000 mark, and was a timely and welcome conclusion to a what had undoubtedly been a tough week for breeders and producers alike.
Examining the trend over the three days, it soon became evident that the market for the average three-year-old was going to be fragile at the best. As before, there were always buyers on hand for the top ranked individuals, but it was undeniably challenging at the bottom end of the scale.
The lack of a middle market meant that many changed hands for less than their foal value, with a sizeable proportion appearing to be the result of indiscriminate breeding. Trade improved as the week progressed and peaking on Wednesday, it showed that if vendors were prepared to sell, buyers were at ringside for them.
Presentation and realistic valuations were the key ingredients to success, and illustrating this, one busy vendor with 21 well produced lots on offer, sold all but one.
Interestingly, the three-year-old clearance was brighter than probably expected, and at 57%, it was equal to that of 12 months ago and just two points down from 2022. The biggest deficit appeared in the average, which predictably slipped to a disappointing €3,658 (€4,547). In line with the increased catalogue, but encouragingly even better than anticipated, the overall turnover significantly hiked to €2,549,150.
Reflecting on the final few days, Ed Donohoe commented: “Undoubtedly trade is back across the country and we are naturally disappointed for the breeders and producers.
"That said, Wednesday finished with a flourish, and with two lots realising €14,000 and €26,500 in the last hour of the sale, it shows there are plenty of buyers for the good ones and also for the ones that were priced sensibly.”
In sharp contrast to the exceptional demand for older horses, Friday’s end of week trade for four-year-olds was very good in parts but distinctly two tier. A mixed bunch overall, the smart and correct individuals were well rewarded but in general, the figures appeared to mirror the quality of stock put forward.
The one-day session closed creditably with seven, five figure returns, and while the clearance slipped to a disappointing 60% (71% in 2023) the average figure of €6,272 held up well in comparison to €6,452 last year.
Sale topper
The top four-year-old, Lot 543 Drishoge Cruz Control, sold for €23,500 at the Goresbridge September Sales \ Sally Parkyn
George and Jordan Campbell have been long supporters of Goresbridge so it was fitting that their Carrickview Cotique (Lot 1077) should top the sale at a healthy €26,500. Passing through the ring on Wednesday evening, the son of Pegase Van’t Ruytershof was the subject of a flurry of bids, and even in the closing stages there were five still in contention.
Quick replies saw the bids bounce between two telephones bidders as well as in-house buyers, before the hammer fell in favour of Derek Reid of Electro Tech Machinery. The Co Tyrone buyer was cool throughout, and later commented: “I didn’t expect to pay that much but he’s a very good jumper, and will be campaigned under saddle by my son Fergus.”
The big bay was sourced as a foal from his breeder John Haughey in Co Armagh, and is the first progeny out of the Belgian-bred mare Larcotique Van Dael by For Passion V Ive Z (by For Pleasure). Both the dam (1.35m) and the grandam (1.40m) competed internationally, and this big jumping gelding certainly impressed when showcasing prior to sale.
“We’re delighted,” said the father and son team. “We always hoped he’d make something like this but you never know.”
Lot 779 was sold for €16,000 at the Goresbridge September Sales \ Sally Parkyn
Four-year-olds
At €23,500 the sale topping honours for the age group fell to Gerard and Barbara Clarke’s home-bred young jumper Drishoge Cruz Control (Lot 543). Having hot-footed it from competing another horse in Mullingar earlier in the day, the Co Meath couple explained that the home-produced gelding was only been sold due to a family bereavement.
“We’re very happy with our price, but whoever has bought him is very lucky because he’s a good horse who has been produced to go on.” A son of Jorado, the gelding is out of the Dutch-bred mare Evita by Zazou R and is a half-brother to three graded jumpers including the Gerard Clarke-ridden seven-year-old Drishoge Creed (1.35m).
Selling late on Friday evening, he was put on the market at €16,000 before the bids ricocheted up the scale. Following a lively tussle between an in-house customer and an online bidder, it was the latter who ultimately proved the most determined. This was later revealed as regular British buyer Paul Keary.
Just a few lots earlier, Sligo-based Dean Rogan also did well when his Chunky Chacco (Lot 537) changed hands at €19,000. Already the winner of 10 SJI points, the son of Chacoon Blue (dam by Arezzo) was bought in Holland as a two-year-old and, ridden on the day by Stephen Bolas, he was secured by online British bidder Gemma McAdam.
Lot 537, Chucky Chacco, sold for €19,000 at the Goresbridge September Sales \ Sally Parkyn
As the two-tier trade see-sawed throughout the session, another to change hands respectably at €13,500 was Johnny Widger’s Grantstown Showtime (Lot 497), a gelding by Lagans OBOS Quality out of Cloverquin du Caret (Harlequin du Carel). Having just walked through the gates at the venue, English producer Annie Dalton wasted no time in signing for this good sort.
“I didn’t even have time to see him jump, but he’s come off the right producer and has the right pedigree so I thought I would take a chance,” she commented.
Two further lots realised €13,000 apiece, the first of which was Ado Moran’s palomino filly (Lot 476) by the popular Tullabeg Fusion out of Tomgar Foalie (Lucky Gift). She was put on the market at €10,000 before she was finally secured by Co Wexford agent Victoire Von Schoen.
Buying on behalf of French customer Bernoet du Lac (Brevit Holdings), Von Schoen explained: “I have always known the filly, who has a fantastic temperament and jump. She will now head to Normandy where Bernoet breeds palominos for the show jumping market.”
The second of the duo at €13,000 was Jodie Creighton’s Extra VDZ (Lot 398), a gelding by Emerald out of the well-related Jackie D’Esquelmes (Peppermill), a sibling to the 1.60m performers Oxford D’Esquelmes and Conrad D’Esquelemse. Never far from the online bidding platform, Paul Keary accounted for this well-bred filly who has competed in her age classes.
Three-year-olds
Top returns aside, the three-year-old market was disappointingly slow, although for those with the correct individuals, prices came close to the norm.
One who received the definite thumbs up was the international jumping stallion Pegase Van’t Ruyershof, who not only sired the sale topper but also the Power family’s Cillbhrid Buddy (Lot 779), who was next in line at €16,000.
Carrying a smart blacktype pedigree, and a catalogue pick on paper, he is out of Cillbhrid Babe (Luidam), a half-sister to Equine America Billy McCain (1.60m), Billy McDermott (1.50m) and several other international jumpers. Bred by Marianne Power in Co Waterford and prepared for sale by Johnny Widger, the gelding was secured by KM Sport Horses (Clokemar Ltd).
Mountmellick breeder P.J. Kearns is another lucky vendor at the venue, and did well again when his Acragar Quality Star (Lot 706) changed hands for €14,500. Out of the €26,000 July 2022 sale topper Southfork Quality, and a little bigger than his dam, the Conticco-sired gelding was the subject of a competitive exchange, before the hammer finally fell in favour of Co Wexford pin hooker Henry Foley.
“Although I hoped to get him for less, I really liked him,” said Foley. “We’ve bought him to deal on so we’ll see how we go.”
At €14,000, another notable sale late on Wednesday evening was Gareth Clingham’s unnamed Emerald-sired gelding (Lot 1082) out of Miss Bettie Blue (Plot Blue). The first foal out of the dam, he looked well bought by producers John Kearney and Martin Egan, and will be produced under saddle to show jump.
The remaining five figure sum at €10,000 went to Gina Hamill’s Rubico (Lot 998), an imported gelding by Liamant W VDL out of Geralsina (Indoctro). Bought in Holland as a foal, he carries a stout damline and, although initially led out unsold, was soon snapped up by Co Wicklow show jumping owner Pat Costello. “I came with a realistic reserve and always expected to sell,” said the Co Down vendor. “He’s not overly produced and everything out of the family jumps.”
At the opposite end of the scale, it was disheartening to note that nearly half of those sold realised prices below €3,000.
Top returns