COMING within a whisker of matching last year’s impressive turnover, and returning a strong trade in all quarters, business was brisk at Goresbridge last week.

The mid-summer edition attracted multiple customers from the UK, mainland Europe and America, all of whom were involved over the three-day duration. Once again, the trade sector proved to be the prominent buying force, although the private customers also contributed strongly.

Demand was particularly lively for the older horses with form, while Wednesday’s combined session with four-year-olds was the highlight of the week.

Reflecting on the trade, Ed Donohoe commented: “While the turnover was much the same as last year, it actually felt 20% better and especially as there is a feeling that there is a slight dip in the trade generally. We had a load of new customers and the four-year-old trade was phenomenal.

“The three-year-olds were a mixed bunch and therefore slower, but I do feel in this regard many vendors are keeping their better stock back until our big international sales later in the year. Overall, we were delighted to be so well supported again by both vendors and buyers and look forward to the rest of the year.”

Following the announcement of a new Connemara sale to the Goresbridge calendar on September 4th, Donohoe added: “We have been thrilled with the response to this new venture, which we feel is a much needed addition in the south of the country.”

Looking at the figures, a total of 24 lots smashed the €10,000 benchmark, with the figures (73% and €6,718) peaking in the older horse sector. Overall, the clearance closed at a steady 68% (69% in 2023), while the average of €5,768 (€6,297) was let down by a mixed three-year-old session on the final day.

Sale topper

Setting the bar for the week, Tuesday’s €18,500 sale of Claire Nulty’s six-year-old jumper Nuet (Lot 140) was never headed. The big chesnut, who was showcased by the incomparable Gemma Phelan, was typical of the type in demand and, with a career total of 63 SJI points, was ready to go out and compete.

Jointly owned by Nulty, together with his usual rider Killian Browne, the Dutch import is by Don Diablo HX and had been bought to produce and sell. His SJI form had been gained in just four months and, currently jumping at 1.25-1.30m level, he was an attractive prospect.

“We only bought him at Christmas,” commented the Watergrasshill-based Browne. “It’s always hard to know with a sale, but that was always around the price we hoped for – so happy enough.”

It was the form that really impressed successful buyer Alex Bishop who, with his partner and fellow international show jumper Ronnie Jones, produce jumpers from their home in Essex. A great supporter of the Irish horse, Bishop used to campaign the recently retired international horse, Thomascourt Emirates and, having bought into the Matthew McBreen-bred equine family, has younger progeny coming on.

“Youngsters aside, I like coming to the sales to see the ridden horses, because it’s like a show atmosphere, and I can see how they behave and react,” said Bishop.

Four-year-olds

Boasting a 71% clearance and a healthy average of €6,950, the trade for the age group was lively throughout. As usual, production and presentation were the key ingredients, and one who ticked every box in that department was Jodie and Jerry Skelton’s Borris Chacoa Time (Lot 296), a gelding by Chacoa out of First Time (Lancelot).

As last year’s September sale-topping vendors, the Borris-based brothers are well aware of what it takes to produce a youngster and, in this good moving individual, they scored on all counts. Bred by James Casey in Co Clare, and sourced through the same sale ring as a foal, the gelding was described as very straightforward and looked to have plenty of ability.

Certainly, he was the subject of a flurry of ringside bids before new and much applauded auctioneer Darren Hession, finally dropped hammer in favour of an English (cash) event customer at €18,000.

Lot 296, a four-year-old gelding by Chacoa was sold for €18,000 at the Goresbridge July Sale \ Sally Parkyn

Another stand out in the sector came from the supplementary catalogue, and was Declan McGarry’s eye-catching grey MCG Cornet (Lot 484). Returning a figure of €15,500, the home-bred gelding by Glynwood Cornet is out of Carrow Kannan and is a full-sister to the exciting young jumper Carrow Cornet, who herself was a sale topper at the venue two years ago.

Top British international event rider and regular Goresbridge customer Max Warburton accounted for this one, although having hot-footed it back to England to compete at Aston Le Walls, left the bidding in the good hands of Georgie Jones.

Kilmeaden’s Benny Crowley always has a smart dun and his latest offering to achieve was Joker (Lot 268) a 15.3hh gelding by the Connemara sire Kilberan Mike out of Ashtree Vision (Classic Vision). Owned jointly with his young daughter Molly and initially scouted by John Dooley, he was sourced as a yearling in Donegal from breeder Dominick Coyle.

Unsurprisingly, a large following of prospective buyers followed this head turner into the ring, but none were as determined as Warwickshire customer, Sarah Robinson. Having signed the docket at €14,500, she said: “I was looking for a real all-rounder and had bid on a few, but in terms of temperament, this one stood out.”

Five-year-olds and upwards

Having already accounted for the sale topper, show jumper Alex Bishop was back in action early the following day to secure the MBF Sporthorses and Higgins Sport Horse’s five-year-old Ballyshan MBF Louvre (Lot 179) for €16,500.

Bought from his breeder Gary Doherty two years ago, the son of Paris Blue Merelsnest has been produced by Meabh Flynn, but due to the birth of her daughter Lauren last year has only been lightly campaigned.

Ballyshan MBF Louvre (Lot 179) made €16,500 at the Goresbridge July Sale \ Sally Parkyn

Demand was very competitive for the smaller 16 hands type of performer, and one who stood out early on Wednesday morning was Ailish Osborne’s smart six-year-old Charlie (Lot 172), a gelding with only minimal form.

Very well-presented by Niall Redmond and Debbie Flavin, the gelding attracted a large of number of bidders to the ringside, where after a very lively exchange, he was eventually knocked down to Shaun Parkyn for €15,500 on behalf of English event horse owner, Sallyanne Eggington.

Sourced as a two-year-old, the Boleybawn Horses-bred gelding is by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of the good broodmare Arina (Crown Z) and, very well-related, is a sibling to five international horses, including the Lanaken representative Boleybawn Alvaro and the 1.50m performers, Boleybawn Aasha and Boleybawn Actor.

Three-year-olds

Yet to gain a consistency, the market for three-year-olds was once again extremely two-tier. The impression that breeders and producers were holding their better stock back until later in the year gathered weight as the day progressed, but there were some notable exceptions.

Standing out among these was Michael O’Sullivan’s much admired gelding (Lot 382) by Mr Quincy B out of Wineport Supreme (Courage 11). Unfurnished, but oozing athleticism and jump, he was put on the market at a modest €7,500. From there the bids escalated, until Ed Donohoe, on the telephone for Malcolm Keyes, finally made the winning bid at €14,500. Among the unsuccessful bidders was a disappointed Paul Donovan, who later disclosed he had two highly regarded siblings at home.

Lot 382 was the top priced three-year-old, knocked down for €14,500 at the Goresbridge July Sale \ Sally Parkyn

Donovan did eventually get his head in front however, when he later secured Michael Meehan’s smart Noreway Forever (Lot 410), a home-bred gelding by Lagans OBOS Quality out of Noreway Western (Lux Z) for €12,000. Meehan was in America at his niece’s wedding, but was capably represented at the sale by Alan Morgan.

Reflecting the quality on offer, the age group figures closed with a 58% clearance, which was well back on last year (75%) but up on 2022, together with a similar average of €4,214 (€4,283).

Ponies

Opening the three-day trading in style, the ponies delivered a very positive clearance of 75% (51% in 2023), accompanied by an improved average of €4,702 (€4,283).

Three made in excess of five figures, the best of which at €11,500 was Liam O’Connor’s five-year-old Rooka Fionn (Lot 458), a well-related Connemara by I Love You Melody out of Windy City (Oisin). Selling from the supplementary sheet, the grey 148cms gelding had been sourced in Clifden two years ago, and well ridden by Caoimhe Gannon, was snapped up by pony buyer Kieran Egan.

“I never expected this sort of price,” said a somewhat overwhelmed O’Connor, adding: “I’m completely delighted.” Equally so was Egan and assistant Laura Geraghty, whose sister Michelle Geraghty will aim for the Connemara performance classes later in the year.

British buyer Kim Williams was visiting Goresbridge for the first time in several years, but made up for lost time when she secured the Mannion family’s Connemara Old Meadow Easy Finish (Lot 7) for €10,500 and later Debbie Flavin’s Blonde Widow (Lot 461) for the same amount.

The former is a four-year-old Connemara by Broadriver Pearlescent (dam by Frederiksminde Hazy Match) while the latter, who was bought as a two-year-old, was by Lough Melvin Paddy (dam by Macs Lad).

Top Returns

Claire Nulty’s Nuet, six-year-old gelding by Don Diablo HX (dam by Quick Lauro Z) €18,500.

Jerry and Jodie Skelton’s four-year-old gelding by Chacoa (dam by Lancelot) €18,000.

MBF Sporthorses and Higgins Sport Horses’ Ballyshan MBF Louvre, five-year-old gelding by Paris Blue Merelsnest Z (dam by Verdi) €16,500.

Ailish Osborne’s Charlie, six-year-old gelding by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet (dam by Crown Z) €15,500.

Declan McGarry’s McG Cornet, four-year-old gelding by Glynwood Cornet (dam by Kannan) €15,500.