Week one at the Goresbridge September Sale closed strongly, with a bumper turnover and a multitude of five-figure returns.

Illustrating significant growth from 12 months ago, the three-day trade of ponies, older horses and four-year-olds delivered a healthy turnover of €1,714,900 (€1,283,950 in 2024), accompanied by a top price of €23,500 (€18,000).

Overall, 34 individuals exceeded the €10,000 benchmark figure and, while the bulk of these emerged from the older horse division, the sale-topping honours fell to Gerard and Barbara Clarke’s smart jumper Drishoge Cruz Control, a homebred four-year-old by Jorado out of Evita (Zazoo R).

A half-brother to Clarke’s useful performer Drishoge Creed, he was the subject of a competitive exchange before the hammer fell in favour of online customer Paul Keary at €23,500.

Older horses

Trade for older horses was on fire from the outset, with demand strongest for well-produced individuals with either competition or hunting mileage.

Some 21 lots smashed the five-figure barrier, with Tara Brandon’s Captain Smokey (by Castlelawn Captain Junior out of Ryans Pet, by Ricardo Z) realising the best return of €20,000.

Sourced from his Co Clare breeder Damien Mcinerney and the winner of 12 SJI points, he was finally secured by Scottish customer Russell Skelton on behalf of Louise McDonald.

Next in line at €18,000 was Lorcan Hennessy’s grade A show jumper Ballynoe Clinton Jack. A 10-year-old son of Clinton Jack out of Knights Bridge (Ars Vivendi), he was knocked down to Co Sligo trader Tiernan Gray.

Four-year-olds

While the demand was more selective on Friday, buyers were active for the correct individual. Sale topper aside, others to catch the eye were Denis Rogan’s show jumper Chucky Chacco by Chaccoon Blue (dam by Arezzo) at €19,000 and at €13,500, Johnny Widger’s gelding Grantstown Showtime, by Lagans OBOS Quality.

Ponies

Attracting buyers from all corners of the world, Wednesday’s dedicated pony day exceeded all expectations.

Overall, six ponies realised in excess of €10,000, the best of which was the €17,000 sale of Jerry Lenihan’s homebred Seafield Be Lucky, a four-year-old 148cms palomino gelding by the sport horse sire Ganesh Hero Z (dam by Moores Clover).

A real stand out, bids came from all sides, but eventually none could match successful buyer Philip Carey, signing on behalf of the Swedish-based show jumping producer Sven Ingvarsson.

Connemaras

A new venture at the venue, the sale of performance Connemara ponies proved most encouraging and closed with two lots sharing the sale-topping honours at €10,000 apiece.

First of the duo was Phillipa Baird’s Loch Luatha, a five-year-old gelding by Carrig Galen Miller out of Kilrateera Diamond (Newgrange Dancer).

Selling to trade buyers Candy and Geoff Martin, he looked well-bought, as did the Walshe family’s attractive four-year-old filly Merrylegs 1 by Banks Timber out Raford Lady Luck (Tulira Robuck).

’Supreme’ show jumping foals

Solid rather than spectacular summed up the trade at the Goresbridge Supreme Sale of show jumping foals which, as usual, was staged at Barnadown, in conjunction with the Irish Breeders Classic show jumping championships.

Although not emulating the figures of 12 months ago, the renewal closed with a still satisfactory clearance of 76%, together with an average of €10,531.

The top return of €15,000 was also healthy and fell to John McKibbin’s Leestone Cheers Patricia, a filly by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve out of Leestone Cavalenski (Cornet Obolensky).

Sporting a bang up to date pedigree, this filly’s half-brother Leestone Emeresky (Shane Kenny) was placed third in the Mo Chroi four-year-old championship at the RDS last month, as well filling third spot in the Broodmare Futurity class.

The well related dam is a sibling to Mullentine Loughgall (1.50m), and to Mullentine Crosskeys – dam of Mullentine Shalom (1.50m).

Having previously invested in the family, it came as no surprise to see this filly knocked down to Co Wexford show jumping owner Thomas Kenny.

As one of the catalogue stand-outs, Brian Connolly’s well-related colt CSF Apollo also sold well at €14,000.

Astutely bought by the locally-based Kilcannon Stud, this colt is by the Argentinus sire All Star (1.60m) out of a sister to Ireland’s Paris Olympic squad horse James Kann Cruz (1.70m) as well as to a host of top performers including CSF Vinze (1.50m) and CSF Kancruz (1.50m).

Blacktype maternal lines appeared in number, and another filly to change hands was Cookstown Pegase by Pegase Van T Ruytershof out of Cookstown Lux Good (Lux Z).

Consigned by Donal Callery, and hailing from the famous Kells line, this filly is out of a sister to Cookstown Quidam (1.45m).

Glenpatrick Stables accounted for this eyecatcher at €13,000, while selling for the same figure was Stephen Reilly’s Creevyquinn Elegant, a colt by Emerald out of Boraya VDL (Argentinus).

From an improving contemporary family, this colt is a brother to the highly rated Creevyquinn Poseur (1.45m), ridden in America by Sara Vanfleet, and to the American-based FF Uno Tinus (1.40m).