THE highest-priced lot among the ridden horses at this week’s Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale was Doonaveeragh Candy (Lot 10) who was consigned by Higgins Sporthorses and Alice Martin-Jones.

Bidding on the four-year-old dark bay Sligo Candy Boy gelding opened at €10,000 and, relatively quickly, reached €40,000. Following a short discussion between auctioneer and vendor, the Irish Sport Horse was put on the market and, two bids later, was knocked down to Tom Hutchinson who was acting on behalf of the USA’s Maura Tierney, for €42,000.

The latter, a very competitive amateur at a low level, has purchased in the past from Hutchinson Sport Horses who are stabling this week’s purchase for the owner before he is flown to the States. Doonaveeragh Candy, who was bred in Co Sligo by Ivan Gardiner, is a half-brother to the Chacoa gelding Monarts Matisse (CCI2*) being out of the Le One mare Tullig Diamond Clover.

Another well-represented Co Wexford consignor, Henry Foley received €41,000 for Wheelagower Shes The One (Lot 13) on whom bidding also opened at €10,000 but who took longer to sell with the involvement of potential purchasers bidding by phone.

An ISH mare by Jorado, this four-year-old bay filly, who was bred in Co Cork by Cynthia Murphy Kearney, is out of the Wang Chung M2S mare China Doll M2S who comes from the family of Ringfort Cruise and Lux But Dont Touch. Wheelagower Shes The Ones was purchased by Britain’s Helen Martin who saw off some persistent opposition from the USA.

Five-year-old trade

Disappointingly, just eight of the 17-four-year-olds offered found new homes but six of the nine five-year-olds were sold with a top price of €36,000 being given by a British ‘cash’ customer for Trade Horse Ltd’s ISH mare Red Hot Chilli Filly (Lot 3).

The only horse in the sale by Ramiro B, this home-bred bay is out of the Rhoman Rule mare Willows Music which makes her a full-sister to the Go For Gold graduate Red Hot Cooley (CCI4*S) while her dam is a half-sister to the Puissance gelding Pusiden (CIC3*). Red Hot Chilli Filly, on whom the bidding also opened at €10,000, was consigned to the sale with two EI100 wins to her credit.

USA agent

Again there was an opening bid of €10,000 on Willow Sport Horses’ MS Spirit (Lot 6), a tall grey ISH gelding by Emerald van’t Ruytershof out of the 1.30m show jumper Monastery Stud Symphony (by Corrado I). From the family of Qui Vive des Songes Z (CSI5*), MS Spirit, was finally knocked down for €35,000 to the USA’s Ruthie Meyer who, as agent, purchased five lots.

Another grey five-year-old among that quintet was Higgins Sporthorses and MBF Sport Horses’ Dutch Warmblood gelding MBF Flintstone (Lot 4), an athletic-looking grey by Grandorado TN out of a Heartbreaker mare on whom Meyer had the final bid at €30,000.

She parted with €27,000 for the Smyth family’s home-bred Sligo Candy Boy mare Prairie Falcon (Lot 9), an ISH five-year-old out of a Jacomar mare; gave €20,000 for James Nash’s home-bred ISH mare Trendy Hawk (Lot 8), a five-year-old ISH bay by Future Trend; and spent €22,000 on her sole three-year-old purchase, Thomas Widger’s home-bred ISH gelding Grantstown Magic Man (Lot 56), a palomino by Tullabeg Fusion.

While Meyer did the bidding herself by phone, the ground work at the sale was carried out by Commdt Terence White who was particularly taken by the production of Prairie Falcon, saying she was a very well-balanced mare with a very good mouth and exceptional temperament.

“We have the five here at Garrybritt at present,” White told The Irish Field on Thursday.

“The four older horses will leave for the States early next month but we’ll get the palomino going ourselves and I’ll probably produce him here for Ruthie next season.”