BARNADOWN was the place to be earlier this week, when the who’s who of eventing from around the world gathered to view some of the best potential event horses the country has to offer.

The event was, of course, the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale, which concluded in a party atmosphere at the Amber Springs Hotel in Co Wexford on Wednesday evening, with an 86% clearance rate and close to €1 million turnover.

As Ed Donohoe says in the adjoining story, the sale is hugely influential on end of year returns for some of the leading producers and breeders in this country. The likes of husband-and-wife duos Meabh Bolger and Brian Flynn, Tomás Doyle and Marti Rudd, as well as Jason Higgins, and Trade Horses Ltd among others, will save a bunch of their stars for this select sale and it is positive to see them receive top returns.

While the sale-topping price fell short of last year’s €87,000, the 86% clearance rate (just 12 horses were not sold) demonstrates the level of trade taking place. Well done to Ed and Siobhan Donohoe on their first year at the helm of Go For Gold, and the selectors.

Passports

I was strong, and justifiably so, in condemning Horse Sport Ireland’s handling of the ongoing delay in issuing passports in my column last week. This week, it is positive to see that they have issued more foal passports in the last week (341), than they had in the previous four weeks (327). Last week, HSI said they hope to issue 915 foal passports within a two-week period so, with any luck, that will amount to another 594 being issued and sent to breeders in the next seven days.

It is understood HSI will release figures on a fortnightly basis to keep breeders informed. One breeder got in touch this week to say she had an email from HSI at 9pm at night, which reflects staff working overtime hours, while another breeder was in touch to say she was 58 minutes in the queue to speak to HSI and only moved up one place. Still plenty to be done, but some of these figures are a positive step.