FIVE-star American event rider Allie Knowles paid €82,000 for Brian Flynn and Meabh Bolger's three-year-old aptly named filly MBF Starburst (Lot 25) who created fireworks of her own at this evening's flagship Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale.

By Padraig Howley's Sligo Candy Boy (ISH), the brown filly is out of Monalease (GB) (TB) by Terimon (TB) and from the start, there was razor sharp competition among bidders with an opening online bid of €24,000 starting the ball rolling.

Described as a home-bred filly with 'a real wow factor,' she's a half-sister to Chincalease Cowboy (CCI3*-L), ridden by Britain's Laura Meadows, and also to last year's Go For Gold graduate MBF Gambler. MBF Starburst was knocked down in double quick time to Kentucky-based Knowles to get the three-year-old division of the top sale off to a glittering start.

Lot 15 MBF Major Lazer K, a four-year-old Emir R gelding, fetched €79,000 when sold at the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale for vendors Brian Flynn and Meabh Bolger \ Tadhg Ryan

Prior to her sale, the sale-topping honours was temporarily held by Flynn and Bolger's Lot 15, MBF Major Lazer K. Described from the rostrum as 'a star of the future', the four-year-old bay gelding by Emir R (KWPN) out of L (Old) by Landsieger I (Old) opened at €20,000 and shot up to be on the market at €60,000. He was snapped up in the room by Andrew Williams of GHF Equestrian at €79,000 and topped the four-year-old division returns.

RDS four-year-old champion winner this year, Lot 19, MBF Celtic Claddagh, a four-year-old Celtic Hero B Z gelding, fetched €49,000 for vendors Brian Flynn and Meabh Bolger at the Go for Gold sale this evening \ Tadhg Ryan Bit Media

Four lots later, the same vendors sold their RDS 2021 four-year-old champion, MBF Celtic Claddagh for €49,000. The chesnut gelding is by Celtic Hero B Z (ZANG) out of Janis B (ISH).

Other top highlights

Jason Higgins's Lot 30, Flirtation, a three-year-old Je T'Aime Flamenco (BWP) out of Kilglass Arkansas (ISH) was sold online for €48,000 at the Go For Gold Sale \ Tadhg Ryan Bit Media

Securing a new home on a final online bid of €48,000 was Jason Higgins's Lot 30 Flirtation, a three-year-old Je T'Aime Flamenco (BWP) bay smart filly out of Kilglass Arkansas (ISH).

Lot 11, Elizabeth Ahern and Felicity Ward's EPA Elegance, a four-year-old filly by Wido (BWP) out of Miss Courcel (ISH) was secured for €40,000 by a telephone bidder at Goresbridge

Fetching €40,000 from a telephone bidder was Elizabeth Ahern and Felicity Ward's EPA Elegance (Lot 11), a four-year-old filly by Wido (BWP) out of Miss Courcel (ISH).

DJ O'Sullivan's Lot 62, NPS Lanzarote, a three-year-old gelding by Campagne II Z (ZANG) out of Fatima F (KWPN) was sold for €40,000 to Andrew Williams at the 2021 Go For Gold Sale \ Tadhg Ryan Bit Media

Williams struck again for DJ O'Sullivan's Lot 62, NPS Lanzarote, for €40,000. The three-year-old Campagne II Z (ZANG) bay gelding out of Fatima F (KWPN) by Diabeau (BWP) was described as 'an elegant modern event type with a great potential over a fence'.

Don't miss Margie McLoone's 2021 Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale exclusive report in this Saturday's November 20th issue of The Irish Field.