This is a subscriber-only article
Rounding off a busy six days at Goresbridge, the final week’s action focused on the three-year-olds.
Typically, trade was more selective than it had been for the older stock, and although initially it appeared slow, it picked up to deliver averages and clearances only slightly reduced from twelve months ago.
However, demand was definitely two tier, and while buyers were prepared to pay premium prices for the horses that ticked their boxes, business was weak for those that didn’t.
Overall, the top return of €20,000 was one of twelve lots to make five figures, which contributed to a 57% clearance (59% in 2022) and a lesser average of €4,547 (€5,078 in 2022).
Sale topper
Selling late on Wednesday evening, the locally based Skelton family hit the jackpot when their home-bred Borris Cornet Coole was sold under the hammer for the sale-topping price of €20,000.
A son of Ger O’Neill’s young jumping sire Castlefield Cornet (Cornet Obolensky), he was out of the well-related dam Miss Too Cool, who has already bred a three-star event horse in MGH Jessica.
It came as no surprise to see a flurry of bids for this head turner, but none were as determined as Andrew Williams, who came out on top. For Welsh-born Williams, who moved to Carol Gee’s Kilkenny yard earlier this year, this was the stand out of the three days, both in terms of model, type and pedigree.
Notables
Each of the three days yielded five figure prices, and it was halfway through Monday afternoon when Ashling Sexton’s Corporal Tom changed hands at €16,000.
Sexton had sourced the gelding in the same ring as a foal, and bringing him back four years on, she was delighted with the outcome. “I always had the figure of €15,000 in my head for him, so I’m very pleased.”
The successful purchaser was Thurles based agent Josh Kerrigan, who disclosed he was buying him on behalf of a show jumping customer.
Among the remaining notables was Martin O’Meara’s gelding by the sadly deceased Coolkeeran out of Loon Quality Junior (Quidam Junior). Bred by Jim Crennan, he was the pick of the day, and at €15,000, looked very well bought by Shropshire based event horse producer Annie Dalton.
Busy throughout, Dalton accounted for a further two of the age group, citing a good trade in England for the right individual.
The stallion Coolkeeran has been a great sales sire, and featured again when Richie Ryan’s gelding (dam by Womaniser) was secured by Fethard trader Paul Donovan for €11,500.
The Fethard man was never far from the ringside, progressing to secure Pat McDonnell’s Ballinagore Fortune by Imnotafraid Fortuna for €11,000 and John Power’s Hero, by Udancer Hero for €10,700.
Geldings dominated the top returns, so selling well at €12,200 and emerging as the leading filly, was Alan Wheeler’s chestnut filly by Carrera VDL. Bred by Shane Carey and bought as a foal, she was the first progeny out of Elza (Excellent Van de Zuuthoeve).
Clustering well, to realise €12,000 apiece, was Donal Lynch’s well-produced Paradox KL (by Jardonnay) and MBF Sporthorse’s Billy (by Sligo Candy Boy).
Knocked down to British buyer Helen Foster, the former was an imported gelding out of Highlight JWP (Zavall VDL), while selling as one of the final lots on Thursday night, the latter was out of Fendoy (Laughtons Flight).
Well-related, he is a half-brother to the Canadian based Castlefield Confellow (1.30m) while his dam is a half-sister to the four-star event horse Traveller Royale. Essex based Karen Fiske accounted for this smart lot online.
Business was far less satisfactory at the other end of the scale, as prices hovered around the average and far too many realised upwards of just €1,000.
Jodie and Jerry Skelton’s Borris Cornet Coole, gelding by Castlefield Cornet (dam by Warrenstown You 2) €20,000.
Ashling Sexton’s Corporal Tom, gelding by Corporal VDL (dam by Lux Z) €16,000.
Martin O’Meara’s Unnamed, gelding by Coolkeeran (dam by Quidam Junior) €15,000.
Alan Wheeler’s Unnamed, gelding by Carrera VDL (dam by Excellent Van de Zuuthoeve) €12,200.
MBF Sport Horses’ Billy, gelding by Sligo Candy Boy (dam by Laughtons Flight) €12,000.
Donal Lynch’s Paradox KL, gelding by Jardonnay VDL (dam by Zavali VDL) €12,000.
SHARING OPTIONS: