COMING close to replicating last year’s extraordinary sale, but not quite achieving the same heady results, Goresbridge delivered another strong edition last week.
The fixture had offered a significantly increased catalogue, and spread over two long days it broadly followed a similar pattern to that of 12 months ago. At the close of play a total of 29 lots returned in excess of €10,000 (33 in 2022) and although once again the four-year-old sector proved the stoutest of the age groups, the averages slipped across the board.
That said, the overall clearance of 70% (79% in 2022) was very satisfactory, as was the average of €6,741 (€7,635). Both these figures were somewhat let down by the final three-year-old division, but also boosted by one of the liveliest pony sessions seen in several years.
Reflecting on the trade, Mary Frances Donohoe summed up by commenting: “It’s heartening to see trade for Irish horses remain strong and vendors being rewarded for quality stock.”
Sale-topper
In terms of production few can better the professional outfit of MBF Sporthorses and their Co Wexford counterparts Higgins Sporthorses. Their ability to assess the market, and to source and produce the most commercial of horses has garnered dividends, so it came as no surprise to see the two companies landing the top prices last week.
Both came during Thursday’s strong four-year-old sector, and first up at €24,000 was Ardfort MBF Avatar (Lot 189), a tidy gelding by Lagans OBOS Quality out of Ardfort Dream Girl (Dream Boy). The subject of a very competitive tussle for ownerships, bids bounced around the house, until the hammer finally fell in favour of Scottish customer David Andrew, accompanied by agent Brian Lusk.
“I have a very good advisor in Brian,” commented Andrew, who added that the gelding will be retained for eventing. Bred by Michael J. Kean, and sourced in Co Mayo unbroken, as one of a batch of nine, the gelding is out of Ardfort Dream Girl by the Sandro Boy-sired Dream Boy going back to Ghareeb on the maternal line.
“We really like the sire, and find that they have a great temperament,” commented Brian Flynn. “This one has an especially good attitude and we think he will have a great future.” The brown gelding certainly looked the part, and with Alice Martin-Jones in the saddle, ably deputising for Brian’s wife Meabh Flynn who has just had a baby, he was always going to be a pick.
A few lots later, Higgins Sporthorses and Thomas O’Leary’s Foody Fruit and Nut (Lot 207) caught the eye of Shropshire producer Annie Dalton.
On a day trip to the venue, Dalton was a determined buyer for this loose moving son of Sligo Candy Boy who, bred by Francis Foody, was finally secured for €20,000. In an astute piece of pinhooking, the chesnut had passed through the same sale ring in October, and looked every inch a potentially top class horse. “I saw him walk in the yard and felt he had loads of presence,” said Dalton. “He had such rhythm, and I knew I was going to have to pay that much for him or more.”
Lot 207, Foodys Fruit And Nut, made €20,000 at the Goresbridge May sale \ Sally Parkyn
Older horses
Boasting an average of just shy of €7,000, demand for the older stock was strong from the outset. Twelve lots smashed the five-figure barrier, the best of which at €18,000 was Joanne Sloan-Allen’s Sandokan Z (Lot 127).
A consistent 1.30m performer with Sameh El Dahan – and especially on the Sunshine Tour this spring, the 10-year-old was knocked down to Danish trader Jan Mortensen (JM Horses APS) for €18,000. “He’s a very easy horse and a lovely one, but we are just over stocked,” explained the vendor.
The 10-year-old gelding Sandokan Z (Lot 127) was sold for €18,000 at the Goresbridge May sale \ Sally Parkyn
A little earlier in the proceedings, Pat McDonnell’s unnamed six-year-old (Lot 83) by Cobra looked well bought by British buyer John Spall for €17,500. A likely show horse, the Jacinta O’Donoghue-bred liver chesnut was one of the last horses purchased by Pat’s father, the late Willie McDonald.
A great judge, horseman and producer, Willie sadly died last October but was well represented on the day by his wife Peggy, together with sons John and Pat. “He looks like a Rolls Royce,” said Spall, who plans to hunt him with the Devon and South Cornwall staghounds.
Having shone with their four-year-old sale-topper, MBF Sporthorses had opened well when the five-year-old MBF Lagans Lulu (Lot 86) changed hands at €16,500. A private sale, having been led out unsold, this daughter of Lagans OBOS Quality was secured by event horse owner Issy Elwes.
Realising the same figure later in the day was Julie Sinnott’s Nobody S (incorrect name in the catalogue) by Malibu TN out of Damira (Tolan R). Sourced on the continent as a three-year-old and broken and produced by Sinnott’s son Billy, he (Lot 171) was another secured by the Danish buyer Jan Mortensen (JM Horses). Sinnott who lives in nearby Kells, is now back home producing horses, having spent time in Holland with Alan Waldman.
Four-year-olds
Sporting an average of €7,595 and a clearance of 76%, the four-year-olds were a smart bunch indeed and sale-toppers aside, a further 10 realised the magic five figure number. Among these was Johnny Widger’s Mistico (Lot 271) a grey filly by Mailiki de Reve out of Agonda (Silverstone).
Bred by Richie O’Hara and sourced earlier in the year, this filly was well ridden by Jess Widger and from a good family is a half-brother to the USA-based jumper LVS Van Gogh (1.30m). Steve Barnes overcame an online bidder to secure this one at €15,500.
Co Wicklow’s Ronan Rothwell was well represented at the venue, and at €15,000 did well with Vangelis S (Lot 191) who was one of three lots secured online by Caron Nichol’s European Sport Horses Ltd. The British-based company were among a number of busy traders, including Irish Horse Imports who accounted for 12 lots during the session.
Ponies
Wednesday morning produced some of the strongest pony trade seen at the venue for many years. 73% of the 41 forward changed hands at an average of €5,872.
Several made in excess of €10,000 among which at €14,600 was Hannah Wood’s Machno High Flyer (Lot 34), a 148cms jumping pony by Machno Safir. Capably ridden by Edie Codd to win 41 SJI points, this talented individual was secured online by Yorkshire’s Johnathan Clarke.
Machno High Flyer (Lot 34) was the top priced pony when sold to the UK for €14,600 at the Goresbridge May sale \ Sally Parkyn
Also selling well at €13,200 was Claire Ryan’s Rulahisu Sparky (Lot 342) and Seamus Greene’s Coppenagh Magic (Lot 343) at €13,000. Co Sligo trader Tiernan Gray signed for both of these commenting afterwards: “I didn’t expect to be paying this sort of money, but nice ponies with experience are hard enough found.”
The final five-figure sum went to the Power family’s Cillbhrid Candy (Lot 25) a home-bred by Sligo Candy Boy who was well produced by Debbie Flavin and Niall Redmond of Den Stride Stables and knocked down to Italian online buyer Roberto Di Paolo for €10,800.
Three-year-olds
Selling late on Thursday evening, demand for the younger age group was muted (57% clearance) but with a few notable exceptions.
Bidding from her home in Austria, regular buyer Claudia Kaindl snapped up a KWPN registered gelding (Lot 322) by Classico TN (dam by Calvados) for €12,000, while David Miles (JD and JA Miles and Sons) parted with €7,600 for an unnamed filly (Lot 338) by Womanizer (dam by Dock Leaf).
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