A SON of the Irish Draught sire Scrapman was the stand out offering at Goresbridge last week, where he not only topped the four-year-old sector but headed the entire two-day renewal at €26,000. As prices clustered well across the age groups, a further ten lots realised in excess of €10,000 and while the trade has certainly steadied, there was no shortage of customers for the correct individual.

This was especially evident in a lively four-year-old session, which retained it’s 80% clearance from 2022, albeit with in a dip in average to €6,016 (€7,004). The closing figures also showed a clearance deficit in the older horses, but encouragingly an increased average of €6.025 (€5.547).

As expected, and following last year’s trend, the mixed selection of three-year-olds delivered somewhat predictable returns, with 57% (63%) changing hands at a slightly lessened average of €4,383 (€4,878).

Summing up this penultimate sale of the year, Mary Frances Donohoe commented. “Although there has been a slight adjustment in trade, the figures are still encouraging. There is still strong demand for quality, well produced stock which showed most notably in the very positive clearance rate and averages of the four-year-olds.”

Sale topper

An astute piece of pin hooking paid dividends for Mark English, whose four-year-old son (Lot 133) of Scrapman was the easy sale topper in a strong four-year-old session. Bred by Jim McNulty in Donegal, on predominately traditional lines, Edenagor Ned was sourced as a foal by English’s uncle Dessie Gibson, and bought from him through the same sale ring last year. “I first saw him as a yearling and always liked him”, commented English, who missed the sale as he was transporting Cian O’Connor’s horses home from Spain. “We broke him last year, and just did a few shows with him, before he was sent to Diarmuid Ryan to prepare for this week. I was always hoping he might make around the €20,000 mark, and to make this price I was delighted.”

At the time of covering Scrapman was standing at the Drumhowan Stud, and while he has since been exported to Mexico, the McArdles stand his six-year-old son Scrapboy. The dam meanwhile, was Edenagor Enya who, by Loughehoe Guy, was out of the Ekstein sired mare Shannondale Spirit.

Brisk bidding

The battle for ownership was a competitive one, and opened briskly with bids shooting up the scale to €18,000. From there it steadied and having moved in increments of €500, the hammer finally fell in favour of Scottish buyer Louise McDonald at €26,000. A native of Inverness, McDonald accounted for five lots over the two days, explaining that she and her daughter Chloe were stocking up with the view to producing under saddle next season. Talking of the sale topper, she said. “We loved his level headed attitude, and liked his jump off the floor.” A showing and eventing career now beckons.

Older stock

As prices by and large reflected the quality on offer, the trade for older stock was mixed. Those with competition form fared the best, and one to stand out was Nathan and Jason Daly’s Nibolensky (Lot 94), an imported five-year-old by Ibolensky (KWPN) out of Hayaloma (Canturano). Bought two years ago as a project to produce and sell, the gelding had clocked up 32 SJI points under Nathan Daly, and following an online bidding tussle was secured at €17,500 by Norwegian customer Kirsten Granlund.

A few lots later, two well related siblings consigned by Newport breeder Seamus Carew sold well at €12,500 and €11,800 respectively. First up was the useful event mare Ramona C (Lot 102) who under Patrick Whelan had been placed third in the Event Discovery Class at Millstreet last year. Well ridden and prepared for sale by Paul McDermott, the daughter of Clarimo was knocked down to online British customer Hannah Mustow for €12,500, while her half-sister Happy Uno (Lot 70) by Numero Uno realised €11,800 when secured by Stephen Hendry. The latter has a career total of 63 SJI points, and both are siblings to the Whelan ridden international event horse Altitu.

Amongst the others to stand out were Stacey Watling’s Myron Larus (Lot 57) a six-year-old gelding by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve out of Ckinlaris (Lupicor). Sourced abroad, and produced slowly, Watling bravely put him on the market at €5,000 before British international show jumper Holly Smith snapped him up at €11,500.

Four-year-olds

By far the strongest sector, Tuesday evening’s four-year-olds delivered not only the sale topper, but a further three, four-figure returns. Heading these at €13,000 was Sam Carey’s gelding (Lot 136) by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of an unnamed mare by Ramiro B. Ridden on the day by Noel Dunne, he was one of four lots secured by British international event rider Max Warburton. Hot footing it from Le Lion d’Angers, where he had picked up a creditable 8th placing, Warburton and his partner, Irish international Susie Berry, revealed they are stocking up with the view to producing to sell next year. Boleybawn Horses Ltd’s Fairwood Emerald (Lot 154) was another head turner, and at €11,500 was knocked down to British chiropractor Mark Windsor.

Three year-olds

With the major age group sales on the horizon, the three-year-old sector offered a mixed bag of stock. One who did appeal, however, was Alannah Morgan’s flashy gelding (Lot 265) by Womanizer out of Hermes Cavalier Diamond (by Hermes de Reve). Homebred, out of a gift horse dam, the gelding was snapped up by a determined Eddie Ahearn on behalf of his partner Holly Smith. Signing the docket at €14,000, Smith commented. “He looked like a jumper, and is a good type with a good temperament,”

Having accounted for the overall sale topper, the McDonald family added to their purchases when paying €11,500 for Richard Doyle’s Cornets Connery (Lot 279) a gelding by HHS Cornet out of the Ger O’Neill ridden jumping mare Clim Bim (Cassus).

Ponies

As one of the smaller ponies on offer, Debbie Flavin’s four-year-old dun gelding Ballerkerk Jessie headed the opening group at €9,500. Sourced directly from the Ballerk Connemara Stud and well ridden by Flavin’s eleven-year-old daughter Emily Flavin Redmond, the smart dun was secured by agent John Tuthill, on behalf of a Lambourn based client.

Top Returns

Mrs Ivy English’s Edenager Ned, four-year-old gelding by Scrapman (dam by Loughehoe Guy) €26,000.

Nathan Daly’s Nobolensky, five-year-old gelding by Ibolensky (dam by Canturano) €17,500.

Alannah Morgan’s Unnamed, three-year-old gelding by Womanizer (dam by Hermes de Reve) €14,000.

Sam Carey’s Unnamed, four-year-old gelding by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet (dam by Ramiro B) €13,000.

Seamus Carew’s Ramona C, five-year-old mare by Clarimo (dam by Aram) €12,500.