Latest from Horse & Hound in Brightwells-sales

Rebecca Penny: a sad loss to the equine world H&H Plus

Rebecca Penny — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 09:00:05 +0000

It’s sad that Brightwells auctioneers is closing its equine sales department. This will have a big impact on the many breeders who have used these events to showcase stock to many UK and overseas buyers for some 66 years. Where else in the UK can you see so many animals, many potentially top class, offered for sale under one roof?

The Brightwells name is synonymous with events such as the Welsh Pony and Cob Society autumn cob sales, Fayre Oaks Welsh pony sales and the sport horse auction at Addington.

These auctions have provided a brilliant shop window for many breeders and been a superb platform for buyers to find valuable additions to breeding programmes or future ridden stars, as well as being a highlight of many people’s social calendar.

Animals that started their journey to a glittering career at these sales include Crystal Vision, a 12hh show hunter pony who was Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2011 supreme pony of the year; the Welsh section A Uphill James Fox, Olympia champion 2016; and the Welsh section D Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso, 2019 HOYS winner and Olympia champion.

I would love to think that a workable solution can be found to save these events, although if someone does step up to the rostrum they will have a hard act to follow.

I can say from personal experience that the dedication and attention to detail from the equine team was second to none and it’s a very sad loss to the equine world.

Ref Horse & Hound; 19 March 2020

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End of an era as Brightwells horse sales come to an end

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 16:13:12 +0000

Brightwells Auctioneers will no longer be running horse sales with immediate effect.

The company announced this afternoon (10 March) that the decision has been made owing to market forces.

“The curtailment of this aspect of the business will mean that the Welsh Pony and Cob Society (WCPS) and standardbred (STAGBI) sales held at Builth Wells, the sport horse sales at Addington, the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society and Horse & Pony sales, held at Hereford and all other equine sales will no longer be conducted by Brightwells”, the company said in a statement.

“While making this announcement, Brightwells would like to say a huge thank you to all our loyal customers who have supported these events previously. Whilst making this announcement it is stressed that all other aspects of Brightwells business remain the same and will continue as normal.”

The WPCS said it was saddened by the news.

“The society has had a long, much-valued relationship with the auctioneers both as Brightwells and previously as Russell Baldwin and Bright. By working closely together, the society’s events calendar has been enriched annually with the staging of the Fayre Oaks Sale, the autumn cob sales and the society spring sale. For over 66 years these sales have offered breeders and enthusiasts the world over the opportunity to see and purchase Welsh ponies and cobs at their finest.”

The WCPS added that the Brightwells equine department had also been “an integral part” of auctioning lots at the society’s AGM dinner to raise funds for charity, and it was glad this would continue.

“The WPCS on behalf of its members worldwide, would like to thank the current team at Brightwells, and staff from previous years, for their professionalism, dedication and vision in promoting our great breed,” a society statement said.

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(Image credit: Alice Collins)

Records smashed as Welsh section C stallion sells at auction for £45,000

The previous world record was set in 2012 at £22,000...

(Image credit: Alice Collins)

Top lot sells for £31,000 at Brightwells Elite Dressage Auction

A quality line-up of dressage horses went under the hammer at Addington

(Image credit: Alice Collins)

WCPS council chairman Colin Thomas added: “Brightwells has consistently offered such a high quality service and the perfect stage to promote and sell our ponies and cobs to the world. So many breeders over time have established their studs based on these sales purchases and we are very grateful for their support – the closure of their equine department is a sad day for our breed.”

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Prices soar over £50,000 at Brightwells Elite Dressage Auction

Polly Bryan — Wed, 15 May 2019 06:06:47 +0000

This year’s Brightwells Elite Dressage Auction (11 May) attracted a top price of £52,000 — over 20,000 more than in 2018 and the highest top price at this sale since 2015. The sum was paid for the first horse of the evening into the ring, the Lord Leatherdale x Fiderhit son Jackson Van De Lettencouter (pictured above).

The expressive nine-year-old, who has been competing at prix st georges level in the Netherlands, was secured by Sara Lucas after a fast-paced bidding war, and will be competed by both Sara and Antonia Brown.

“He’s been well produced, but not over-produced, and we loved his temperament above all else — he’s very genuine,” sad Antonia.

“I trust Antonia and Tim’s judgement,” added Sara. “I liked him when I saw him outside and was so excited by him when he came into the sale arena.”

The second-highest priced horse was six-year-old Furstenball son Fürst, who was sold to Jane Gilby for £31,500.

“I’m absolutely in shock — completely over the moon,” said Jane, who found out after the auction that the phone bidder she was up against for Fürst was a friend of hers.

Closely behind Fürst was the licensed coloured stallion Monaco, who sold for £30,000 to Lucy Bridgewater.

Of the 19 horses presented, 12 did not sell in the ring. Among these was the hotly-anticipated Lucky Luke, a 10-year-old Lugato x Jazz son from the Netherlands who performed very impressively in the ring. He attracted the highest bid of the night — £58,000 — but left the ring unsold.

Three sires featured more than once in this year’s catalogue. Desperado was responsible for the wild card entry Iggy, who fetched £25,000 and Inspirado, who was knocked down for £9,500. Belissimo M was the sire of the smart five-year-old mare Bali, who sold for £13,000 to a phone bidder, and the popular Westfalian gelding Belami, who received a top bid of £21,000 but did not sell. Geniaal was responsible for two three-year-olds: Lurano, who sold for £13,000, and Lola Kadanza, who did not quite make her reserve with £11,500.

The total figure from the horse sales was £186,500 — significantly higher than last year for the same number of horses sold — with the average price also being higher at £26,642.

Continues below.

(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)

Two Big Star embryos sold to Britain for £62k

Big Star’s owner snapped up what he hopes will be future showjumping stars for Britain

(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)

Horsebox technician finds ‘minefield of disasters’ in lorries

A technician said he is 'shocked' by the potentially dangerous conditions in some horseboxes

(Image credit: www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)

Brightwells Elite Dressage Auction results and ring prices

16, Lucky Luke — 10yo WEST gelding by Lugato x Jazz — £58,000 NOT SOLD

1, Jackson Van De Lettencouter — 10yo Belgian Warmblood gelding by Lord Leatherdale x Fiderhit — £52,000

14, Fürst — 6yo OLD gelding by Furstenball x Rotspon — £31,500

11, Monaco — 3yo WEST stallion by Moses x Fidermark — £30,000

18, Iggy — 6yo KWPN gelding by Desperado x Flemmingh — £25,000

3, Fürst Roland — 5yo WEST gelding by Franziskus x Florenciano 6 — £25,000 NOT SOLD

4A, Leroy — 3yo KWPN stallion by High Five US x Tolando — £22,000

7, Belami — 5yo WEST gelding by Belissimo M x Weltmeyer — £21,000 NOT SOLD

12, September Song — 3yo WEST gelding by Sir Seinrich x Lanciano — £19,000 NOT SOLD

10, Bali — 5yo WEST mare by Belissimo M x Ragazzo — £13,000

13, Lurano — 3yo KWPN gelding by Geniaal x Tango — £13,0o0

6, Curt — 4yo German Sports Horse gelding by Curriculo x Camparino — £13,000 NOT SOLD

15, Roccalina — 4yo WEST mare by Rocco Granata x Starnberg — £12,500 NOT SOLD

8, Lola Kadanza — 3yo KWPN mare by Geniaal x Florestan I — £11,500 NOT SOLD

2, Friendship — 3yo OLD gelding by For Romance I x Sancisco — £10,000 NOT SOLD

5, Santino — 4yo WEST gelding by Sir Heinrich x Roh Magic — £10,000 NOT SOLD

4, Inspirado — 6yo KWPN gelding by Desperado x Jazz — £9,500 NOT SOLD

9, Raadler — 7yo German Sports Horse gelding by Rankrado x L’Espirit — £9,000 NOT SOLD

17, Heartbeat — 7yo KWPN mare by Jazz x Lingh — £7,500 NOT SOLD

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Exciting event prospects fetch top prices at Brightwells’ Elite sale

Polly Bryan — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 15:21:42 +0000

The Brightwells’ December Elite auction (1 December) attracted a top price of £34,000 this year, just short of the top price paid at last year’s December sale.

The top lot was De Pleasure (pictured), a smart three-year-old gelding by Diacontinus, an international showjumper by Diarado, an out of a For Pleasure mare. He will join young international eventer Eliza Stoddart at her Leicestershire base.

A second lot also exceeded the £30,000 mark, with the three-year-old Cornet Obolensky x Calvaro mare Princescornet VH Bildeken selling to the Stall Stenhaga in Sweden for £32,000. Stall Stenhaga also purchased the Dantos HBC mare Karlos for £14,000.

Third highest lot was Rubin Moon, a three-year-old gelding by Rocco Granata x Lancier, who was bought for £21,000 for another young international event rider, this time Harry Horgan.

The total figure from sales was £301,450. Twenty-two of the 43 horses offered were sold, with the average sale price of £13,711.

Continued below…

(Image credit: Sophie Harris, SEH Photography)

British rider spends €59,000 on top lot at Goresbridge Go for Gold sale

A host of top riders gathered for this year’s Go for Gold select event horse sale at Goresbridge

(Image credit: Sophie Harris, SEH Photography)

Top lot at Monart Sale fetches €45,000 as world’s top event riders seek future stars

Big name buyers at the Irish elite young event horse sale included Caroline Powell, Oliver Townend and Michael Jung

(Image credit: Sophie Harris, SEH Photography)

Brightwells’ December Elite Sale results

23, De Pleasure — 3yo gelding by Diacontinus x For Pleasure — £34,000

43, Princescornet VH Bildeken — 3yo mare by Cornet Obolensky x Calvaro — £32,000

1, Rubin Moon — 3yo gelding by Rocco Granata x Lancier — £21,000

50, Vitus — 3yo gelding by Viscount x Landrover — £17,500

29, Some Day DK Z — 3yo mare by Sisley De La Tour Vidal x Eldorado VD Zeshoek — £15,500

13, Daugaard’s Zee Merci — 3yo gelding by Blue Hors Zee Me Blue x Michellino — £15,000

37, Karla — 3yo mare by Dantos HBC x Veneur — £14,000

39, Karreralavsca Fortuna — 3yo mare by Carrera VDL x Kreator xx — £14,000

16, Pepito Z — 4yo gelding by Porter Junior Z x Julio Mariner xx — £12,500

46, Pele DH — 3yo gelding by Krezip DH x Caretino — £12,500

8, Kraziano — 3yo gelding by Graziano x Kojak — £12,000

25, Kamira FMA — 3yo mare by Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve x Solitair — £12,000

42, Hero — 2yo stallion by Harley x Canaletto — £11,500

51, Bella Vista — 4yo mare by Belconi x Fidermark — £11,500

38, Carrera Z — 3yo mare by Cicero Z Van Paemel x Diarado — £11,000

49, Piccanti VD Nethe — 3yo mare by Governor x His Highness — £10,650

10, Vedet DK Z — 3yo gelding by Vagabond De La Pomme x Carthago Z — £9,500

11, Quicky — 3yo mare by Quick Star x For Fashion — £8,000

20, Kyra B — 3yo mare by Cidane x Damiro — £8,000

17, Vision DK Z — 3yo mare by Vagabond De La Pomme x Quinten Van’t Merelsnest — £7,500

30, Don Carlos — 2yo stallion by De Flor 111 Z x Untouched — £6,000

48, Konnex LV — 3yo gelding by Connect x Painter’s Row — £6,000

Full report from the Brightwells’ December Elite auction will be published in 13 December issue of Horse & Hound magazine

£15,000 embryo out of Valegro’s full sister tops foal sale

Lucy Elder — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 21:36:06 +0000

An embryo out of Valegro’s full sister was the top lot at the AES & Brightwells Elite Foal Auction selling for a five-figure sum.

Held at Stoneleigh on the Saturday evening of the LeMieux National Dressage Championships, the unborn foal by Finest sold for £15,000.

Weidyfleur II, full sister to Valegro (Negro x Gershwin), was inseminated on 4 July and the embryo was transferred to a recipient mare at Tomlinson Equine Stud.

The seller is Claire Hester and the embryo was sold after a bidding battle between three parties.

Bids between two parties, one of whom was a telephone bidder, upped the price to £12,000, before a new bidder placed the winning offer of £15,000.

However the owner will have to wait around nine months before she meets her new horse in person as the foal’s due date is 9 June 2019.

Weidyfleur II’s other offspring include the seven-year-old approved stallion U-Genius (by Uthopia) and five-year-old licenced stallion Integro (by Dimaggio).

Finest had nine sons selected for the 2017 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing, with one achieving premium status and selling for €360,000.

Of the 20 lots entered, 19 were brought forward, eight sold and 11 failed to make their reserves, bringing the total sales figure to £51,400.

Weidyfleur II’s “granddaughter” Penhaligon Flora Rosaria, bred by Theresa Oakes of Penhaligon Stud, was the second top lot, selling for £6,800.

The dark bay filly is by U-Genius and out of a Furst Romancier mare.

Brightwells elite foal auction results

1 Diamont Noir (Gambler x Furst Heinrich) £4,800 NOT SOLD

2 Nocturne (Incognito x Johnson) £7,000 NOT SOLD

3 Crocket (Quantensprung x Jazz) £7,000 NOT SOLD

4 Penhaligon Flora Rosaria (U-Genius x Furst Romancia) £6,800 SOLD

5 DC Dahlia (Dream On x Imperio 3) £6,100 SOLD

6 Penhaligon Soleilette Aimee (Freischutz x Soliman De Hus) £5,000 SOLD

7 Classiko (Negro x Pik Polo) £6,000 SOLD

8 Stolen Bold (Casino Grande x Riccio) £6,800 NOT SOLD

9 Unnamed Filly (Asgard’s Ibiza x Ferro) £4,000 SOLD

10 Bug Jam FST (Baron x St. Moritz) £7,500 NOT SOLD

11 Casandro Song LDS (Casanova LDS LDS x Sandro Song) £3,500 NOT SOLD

12 Kilan Dancing Demon (Dostojewski x Hemmingway) £4,800 NOT SOLD

13 FHS Whatatodo (Belissimo M x Le Duc) £8,800 NOT SOLD

14 Nezuan SHS (Sezuan x Negro) WITHDRAWN

15 Moondance (Morricone x Woodlander Del Amitri) £9,200 NOT SOLD

16 Ricardo (Beaulissimo x Gribaldi) £4,500 SOLD

17 Nelson NS (Blue Hors Fifty Cent x Gribaldi) £6,500 NOT SOLD

18 Solomon EL (Secret x Paganini) £9,200 NOT SOLD

19 Dream Boy (Dream On x Rubin Star N) £4,500 SOLD

20 Embryo out of Weidyfleur II (Finest x Negro) £15,000 SOLD

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Showjumper buys exciting prospect in young stallion at Brightwells Elite auction for £22k

Hannah Lemieux — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 15:47:05 +0000

International showjumper Derek Morton secured the top lot at Brightwells August Elite Sale held at Addington Manor EC on Saturday evening (18 August), spending £22,000 on lot 36, the three-year-old KWPN stallion Keyton (Cidane x Whitesnake) whose sire Cidane jumped up to 1.40m level.

The total amount of money spent on the night by all the buyers amassed to just under £500,000, while the average purchase price was £14,000.

Derek plans to compete the eye-catching 16.1hh stallion himself from his base at Beech House Stud and also use him as a commercial stallion for the stud farm in Staffordshire.

The rider shared a post on social media, showing ‘Owen’ in his new stable at Beech House Stud.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Brightwells August Elite Sale: full list of sale prices

Lot 1. Kimberly 3yo mare (Gaillard De La Pomme x Arthos R) £7,500 not sold

Lot 2. Kadar L 3yo gelding (Ustinov x Nabab De Reve) £9,000 not sold

Lot 3. Kamilla Khatoon 3yo mare (Balou Du Rouet x Contender) £21,000 SOLD

Lot 4. Phoenix VD Withoeve 3yo gelding (Hunters’ Scendro x Sheyenne De Baugy) £8,000 SOLD

Lot 5. Kyra Silver 3yo mare (Dantos HBC x Silverstone) £9,000 SOLD

Lot 6. Klaudius 3yo gelding (Indorado x Empire) £11,200 SOLD

Lot 7. King Kong B 3yo gelding (Obligado B x Gershwin) £6,000 SOLD

Lot 8. Girl Power 3yo mare (Grey Top x For Edition) £14,500 SOLD phone bidder

Lot 9. Coeur De L’Esprit Z 3yo gelding (Connor x Lemmod) £10,500 not sold

Lot 10. Calaite Van Generhese Z 3yo mare (Calais Z x Indian Gold Van Casterhoeve) £7,500 not sold

Lot 11. Big Big Chance 3yo gelding (Chance x Wizzerd WV) £12,000 SOLD

Lot 12. Pasquale Van De Fruitkorf 3yo stallion (Galisco Van Paemel x Ramiro) £7,500 not sold

Lot 13. Kornetto BS 3yo mare (Cornet’s Diamond x Silverstone) £7,500 not sold

Lot 14. Kahill H.M 3yo gelding (Zavall VDL x Campbell VDL) £15,000 SOLD

Lot 15. Darcon V&V 3yo gelding (Douglas VDL x Calvaro) £12,000 not sold

Lot 16. Cisco’s Calor Z 3yo gelding (Carrera VDL x Damiro B) £16,000 SOLD

Lot 17. Compliment 3yo mare (Colosal x Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve) £5,500 SOLD

Lot 18. Kindependence J.W.B 3yo mare (Zavall VDL x Sheraton) £20,000 SOLD

Lot 19. Kyra 3yo mare (Dantos HBC x Hattrick) £6,500 SOLD

Lot 20. Amazing-K Van’t Kattenheye Z 3yo stallion (Arezzo VDL x Mr.Blue) £15,000 SOLD

Lot 21. Prima Donna Van Het Voortveld 3yo mare (Vannan x Vigaro) £12,500 not sold

Lot 22. Ballyfree Kannalier 3yo gelding (Kannan x Cavalier Royale) £10,000 SOLD

Lot 23. Coco Chanel 3yo mare (Diatendro x Aldatus Z) £9,500 not sold

Lot 25. Duriel Z 3yo gelding (Dieu Merci Van T&L x Emerald Van’t Ruytershof) £18,000 SOLD

Lot 26. Kate Slottie 3yo mare (Etoulon VDL x Lucky Boy) £15,000 SOLD phone bidder

Lot 27. King Cornet 3yo stallion (Cornet Obolensky x Burggraaf) £17,500 SOLD

Lot 28. Kiss me Soon GR 3yo mare (Quasimodo VD Molendreef x Arezzo) £16,500 SOLD

Lot 30. Kohinoor 3yo gelding (Quality Time x Damiro) £8,000 SOLD

Lot 31. Katarina 3yo mare (Zapatero VDL x Lupicor) £18,000 SOLD phone bidder

Lot 32. Mr. Grey 3yo gelding (Clarcon x Lansing) £15,200 SOLD phone bidder

Lot 33. River Field Cornet Chin 3yo mare (Cornet Obolensky x Aldatus Z) £11,500 not sold

Lot 36. Keyton 3yo stallion (Cidane x Whitesnake) £22,000 SOLD

Lot 38. Kamilla Utopia 3yo mare (Gino x Odermus R) £8,500 not sold

Lot 39. Kingsman 3yo gelding (Voltaire x Cantus) £14,500 SOLD

Lot 40. Clarisal-W 3yo stallion (Casalito x Clarimo) £8,000 not sold

Lot 41. Durney 3yo gelding (Durango VDL x Sidney) £15,500 SOLD

Lot 42. Modira V Z 3yo mare (Modesto x Landlord) £21,000 SOLD

Lot 43. Daktari 3yo mare (Dantos HBC x Topas) £16,500 SOLD

Lot 44. Kings Of Leon ZK 3yo gelding (Ustinov x Jumpy Des Fontaines) £15,200 SOLD

Lot 45. V-Power Z 3yo gelding (Vagabond De La Pomme x Corofino I) £25,000 not sold

Lot 46. Donna Van’t Gebergte Z 3yo mare (Diamant De Semilly x Prince VD Wolfsakker) £17,000 SOLD

Lot 47. Koskarino 3yo gelding (Freedom x Ferragamo) £18,500 SOLD

Lot 48. Powerplay 3yo gelding (Ultimate De Kreisker x Toulon) £12,000 SOLD

Lot 49. Kandy G 3yo mare (Ghandi x Triomphe) £6,500 not sold

Lot 50. Kadar AH 3yo stallion (Elton John x Holland) £9,000 not sold

Lot 51. Karma 3yo mare (F-One USA x Diarado) £7,000 SOLD

Lot 53. Coco 3yo mare (Colosal x Con Capitol) £13,200 SOLD

Lot 54. Doncester 3yo gelding (Dibadu L x Rebell Junior) £9,500 SOLD

Lot 55. Karola Marinus 3yo mare (Obligado B x Lennard) £11,000 SOLD

Lot 56. Calimera 3yo mare (Colosal x Cezaro) £12,500 SOLD

Lot 57. Levista Van De Kanaalweg Z 3yo mare (Levisto Alpha Z x Apollo Van’t Lindebos) £7,000 not sold

Lot 58. Viper Z 3yo stallion (Vigo D’Arsouilles x Darco) £13,200 not sold

For all the latest news, reports and features don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine — on sale every Thursday. Read the full report from the Brightwells August Elite Sale in 30 August issue.

Top lot sells for £31,000 at Brightwells Elite Dressage Auction

Polly Bryan — Tue, 15 May 2018 16:32:36 +0000

The Brightwells Elite Dressage Auction attracted a top sale price of £31,000 this year — matching that of 2017. Top lot was Instagram PF, a super classy five-year-old KWPN gelding by Lord Leatherdale x Goodwill. He was secured by Kirstie Mayne for an anonymous client.

The second-highest priced horse was Izaloe (above), a five-year-old Jazz x Rhodium mare who was snapped up by Sally and Alex Hardwick for £28,000 in a tense bidding war.

“I rode this mare and we just clicked — I really, really loved her,” said grand prix rider Alex, 27, who was competing at the Premier League show also held at Addington over the weekend. “I actually wanted a gelding so Izaloe is nothing I wanted but everything I was looking for at the same time.”

Sally Hardwick was overcome with excitement when she secured the final lot of the evening, the three-year-old Dimaggio x Sandro Hit gelding Dimaggio’s Hit (below), for the evening’s lowest ring price of £11,500.

“One of the things on my bucket list was to buy and ride a Dimaggio,” enthused Sally.

LOT 16 - DIMAGGIO'S HIT (Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

The Hardwicks also bought the six-year-old Bretton Woods daughter Batista, who did not meet her reserve in the ring but was later sold to them for £18,000.

Seven of the 14 horses presented did not sell in the ring, including the much-anticipated Westenwind six-year-old Herbie and the Desperado stallion King-Diamond, both of whom attracted £40,000 but did not meet their reserves. Two horses that went through the ring unsold changed hands after the sale: Batista and the Belissimo M son Belfast, who sold for £12,500.

Of the 14 horses, eight were KWPN, with Hanoverian, Oldenburg, Westfalian and Anglo-European studbooks also represented. The Vivaldi stallion Desperado was the only sire to appear twice, though neither of his offspring sold on the night.

The total figure from the horse sales was £160,500, with the average sale price being £17,833.

Continued below…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Top lot makes £30,000 at Brightwells dressage sale

The top lot of the Brightwells European Sale of Dressage Horses makes £30,000 and is secured for a 13-year-old rider

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Brightwells’ elite auction results: two £55,000 price highlights

One dressage horse and one showjumper fetch the top prices at Brightwells' Elite summer sale, with prices ranging from £3,500

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Three-year-old tops Brightwells December Elite auction at £31k

The top lot at the Addington sale was a three-year-old bay mare by Cardento

Brightwells Elite Dressage Auction results and ring prices

4, Herbie — 6yo KWPN gelding by Westenwind x Glorieux — £40,000 NOT SOLD

13, King-Diamond — 3yo KWPN stallion by Desperado x Voltaire — £40,000 NOT SOLD

6, Instagram PF — 5yo KWPN gelding by Lord Leatherdale x Goodwill — £31,000

12, Izaloe — 5yo KWPN mare by Jazz x Rhodium — £28,000

1, Batista — 6yo HANN mare by Bretton Woods x De Niro — £18,000

15, Hazelwood — 6yo KWPN gelding by Armani x Negro — £18,000 NOT SOLD

3, Dark Rubin — 3yo WEST gelding by Diatano x Rittmeister — £17,500

10, Fiona — 8yo AES mare by Calvinos x Hierach — £17,000

8, J’Adore — 4yo KWPN mare by Chippendale x Krack C — £13,000

5, Belfast — 4yo WEST gelding by Belissimo M x Lauries Crusador xx — £12,500

2, Joaquin-L — 4yo KWPN gelding by Netto x Nourejev — £12,000

16, Dimaggio’s Hit — 3yo OLD gelding by Dimaggio x Sandro Hit — £11,500

11, Princess Florina — 3yo OLD mare by Floriscount x Hochadel — £10,000 NOT SOLD

3A, Jauve BR — 4yo KWPN mare by Desperado x Houston — £9,500 NOT SOLD

Don’t miss the full report from the Brightwells Elite Dressage Auction, in this week’s issue, out 17 May.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

6 of the most expensive horses sold this year (with price tags that will make you weep)

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 17:25:21 +0000

This year, some horses swapped hands for some serious money. Here we round up the top lots at some of the biggest auctions…

Tattersalls December Mare SalePrice: £6.3million

Double Group One winner Marsha (pictured above) became the highest-priced horse ever sold at a European auction when she was snapped up by Coolmore’s MV Magnier for a new partnership for an eye-watering six million guineas (£6.3million).

The four-year-old thoroughbred filly, who has won seven of her 18 starts notching up £650,114, attracted interest from bidders around the world.

Mr Magnier said: “She really is something special. Sir Mark [Prescott, the filly’s trainer] has done a great job with her, she was very fast and the lads were very keen to have her.”

Marsha will now go to stud and will be covered by champion sire Galileo.

Goresbridge Go For GoldPrice: €130,000 (£114,596)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The top lot at this popular Irish event horse sale was Gurtea Mattie Clover, a five-year-old full brother to Nicola Wilson’s four-star mount Annie Clover, purchased by Gerard Alan Kemp

By Newmarket Venture and out of a Clover Hill mare, the 16.3hh brown gelding was described in the catalogue as: “Very well related, this gelding has successfully competed at EI100 level.”

The Monart Select Elite Event Horse SalePrice: €29,000 (£25,544)

FLS Piltown Bay was the top lot at this annual Irish horse sales. The five-year-old by Garrison Royale out of a Beneficial (thoroughbred National Hunt sire) mare, described in the catalogue as a “modern blood type event horse that has competed at unregistered shows and is showing great potential”, was purchased by Canadian event rider Katlyn Hewson-Slezak.

Karl and Katlyn Sezak said: “I am keeping hold of him and will produce him with the top levels in mind. I am very excited about my new boy’s future. He’s a really sweet horse.”

Brightwells Addington August ElitePrice: £39,000

In August the two joint top lots were sold for £39,000. The first was Creto, a seven-year-old dressage mare by Conteur. She had been competing at medium level in Holland and was purchased for a young British rider.

The second lot to achieve £39,000 was Gember Z, a three-year-old showjumping stallion who demonstrated an impressive jump. He is by Gemini CL, a thoroughbred stallion and clone of Olympic silver medallist Gem Twist, out of a mare by Berlin.

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Festival SalePrice: £320,000

A record price for a mare from the point-to-point field was set at this sale in March when Maire Banrigh, a 2012 bay mare by King’s Theatre and out of a Supreme Leader mare was knocked down for £320,000. The mare only made her racing debut four days before the sale, where she saw off competition from 12 other horses in the mares’ maiden at Lingstown (video below).

She was bought for £40,000 at Goffs UK’s Spring Sale 12 months previously by County Wexford-based point-to-point trainer Richard Black. He then sold the mare here to Ryan Mahon, a former jockey who is now working as a bloodstock agent, on behalf of leading racehorse owner John Hales. was bought for £40,000 at Goffs UK’s Spring Sale 12 months ago by County Wexford-based point-to-point trainer Richard Black.

On 6 December, this mare’s Racing Post form noted that her trainer is now Dan Skelton, so she is definitely one to look out for from his stable.

Equine ElitePrice: €210,000 (£184,998)

The top lot at this hugely popular dressage sale in The Netherlands in October was an 11-year-old chestnut Dutch warmblood gelding, appropriately called Bollinger. ‘Bubbles’, who is by Johnson out of an Aktion mare is trained to small tour level.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Three-year-old tops Brightwells December Elite auction at £31k

Alice Collins — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 23:21:45 +0000

The showjumping-bred mare Ibiza was the top lot at the sale at Addington horse sales tonight (3 December). The three-year-old bay mare by Cardento was sold for £31,000. This is a full list of provisional prices for all 57 lots.

1 Invito 3yo mare (Advance x Kalstad) £9,000 not sold

2 Castral Z 3yo mare (Cosun x Kazan) £5,500 not sold

3 Incognito 3yo gelding (Bodinus x Contender) £11,000 not sold

4 Iovanni 3yo gelding (Etoulon VDL x Numero Uno) £5,800 not sold

5 Donna Sion 3yo mare (Don Diarado x Sion) £14,000 SOLD

6 Itsaloma 3yo mare (Arizona x Chuck Z) £10,500 not sold

7 Jason King 2yo stallion (Don’t Touch It M x Sillerly xx) £5,100 SOLD

8 Douglas Diamond 3yo gelding (Douglas Cavalier x Welcome Diamond) £2,500 not sold

9 Horee Du Picasso 3yo mare (Charlekijn Van T & L x Ogano Sitte) £4,100 not sold

10 Tailormade Le Teddy 4yo gelding (Tailormade Temptation x Rafa-L) £6,800 not sold

11 Blandina 3yo mare (Belissimo M x Fidermark) – £18,000 not sold

12 For You 3yo gelding (For Romance x Belissimo M) £26,000 SOLD

13 Ice King Texel (Everdale x Farmer) WD

14 I Am Special 3yo mare (Dannebrog x Rotspon) £15,000 SOLD phone bidder

15 Vlagberg’s Monarch 3yo gelding (Brouwershaven Diamond Hit x De Goede Ree’s Metall) £5,200 not sold

16 Casperoni Van Overis Z 3yo gelding (Casper Van Erpekom Z x Ramiro Z) £4,500 not sold

17 Irene Leva 3yo mare (Everglade VDL x Amethist) £14,000 SOLD

18 Don Corleone Z 2yo stallion (Don Diablo x Landor S) £5,500 not sold

19 Bounty Hunter 3yo gelding (Bugatti VDL x Olisco) £9,200 SOLD Australia phone bidder

20 Mocking Jay 3yo stallion (Baloubet Du Rouet x Casiro I) £15,000 not sold

21 Ivascalle 3yo mare (Baltic VDL x Lincoln) £15,000 not sold

22 Calito 3yo stallion (Casalito x Julio Mariner xx) not shown

23 Ilviro 3yo gelding (Bugatti VDL x Veron) £8,000 SOLD

24 Ducati 2yo stallion (Diacontinus x Now Or Never M) £12,500 SOLD

25 Indian Girl G 3yo mare (Dantos x Vittorio) £15,500 SOLD

26 Idefix Van De Crumelhaeve 3yo gelding (Emir R x Sam R) £16,000 SOLD

27 Hannah Van De Kapel 3yo mare (Caddy Van De Kapel x Ueleme De Longpre) WD

28 Fireball 2yo stallion (Stakkato x Heraldik xx) £12,000 SOLD

29 Amore JG Z 3yo gelding (Andiamo VH Kapelhof Z x Quasimodo Z) £10,000 SOLD

30 Ivar SS 3yo stallion (Cassini Gold x Voltaire) £21,500 SOLD to USA

31 Lector Van Guidam 3yo gelding (Hannibal Van Overis Z x Guidam) £4,500 not sold

32 Rock It 2yo stallion (Rock Forever x Jazz) £8,500 not sold

33 Saphira 3yo mare (Sir Fidergold x Santino) £13,000 not sold

34 Bento 3yo gelding (Benicio x Flovino) £9,000 SOLD

35 Giovanni BM 5yo gelding (Apache x Belisar) £25,000 SOLD

36 Inouk 3yo mare (Desperado x Wolfgang) £20,000 SOLD

37 Nairo VD Moervijver 3yo mare (Johnson x Royal Jubilee) £14,500 not sold

38 Ibiza 3yo mare (Cardento x Corofino) £31,000 SOLD

39 Boss Z 3yo gelding (Bisquet Balou VD Mispelaere x Diamant Z) £19,500 SOLD

40 Jacardo 2yo stallion (Zambesi x Zadok) £7,900 SOLD

41 Metropolis 3yo stallion (L’Aveu Z x Cristo) £13,500 not sold

42 Grandeur 3yo black stallion (Gem Of India x Silvio I) £7,500 SOLD

43 Casparina 3yo mare (Cassini II x Stakkato) £16,000 SOLD

44 Namika 3yo mare in foal to Light My Fire (Numero Uno x Collin L) £9,200 SOLD

45 Isis V Veecaten 3yo mare (Zapatero VDL x Bernstein) WD

46 Iomie 3yo gelding (Zavall VDL x Legaat) £18,500 SOLD

47 Jozie VD Zwinkhoeve 2yo mare (Quicktime x Guidam) £5,000 SOLD

48 Last Dance 3yo mare (B Alba R 68 x Blue Boy) £7,500 not sold

49 Interlaken W 3yo stallion (Sam R x Come On) £6,000 SOLD

50 Happy Jour Ter Wulderdreve 3yo stallion (Norton D’Eole x Think Twice D’Ici) £7,500 not sold

51 Nixon Van’t Breehof 3yo gelding (For Pleasure x Contact VD Heffinck) £8,500 not sold

52 Knightsbridge 3yo AES Licensed stallion (Totilas x Hotline) WD

53 First Hit 4yo gelding (First Selection x Sir Savoy) £11,500 not sold

54 Indiana Du Vlist 3yo mare (California x Lordanos) £12,000 SOLD

55 Bel Dame 3yo mare (Belissimo M x Eichbaum) £20,000 not sold

56 Zandor 4yo gelding (Zack x Blue Hors Romanov) £13,000 not sold

57 Silber Lottie 5yo mare (Silbermond x Fidermark I) £9,000 not sold

Please note these are provisional hammer prices and subject to confirmation by Brightwells. For a full report including interviews with the new owners of the top lots, pick up a copy of Horse & Hound on 15 December.

Brightwells’ elite auction results: two £55,000 price highlights

Alice Collins — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 23:20:55 +0000

Fifty-one horses came under the hammer at the Brightwells Elite Auction held at Addington Manor EC in Buckinghamshire on 22 August, 2015.

The top lots, one dressage horse and one showjumper, both fetched £55,000.

For a full report from the sale, including the foals which were auctioned on the previous evening, see Horse & Hound magazine, 4 September.

Hammer prices:

Lot 20 Rosebud 2012 gelding (Rosengold x Rouletto) £9,500 not sold

Lot 22 Faberge 2012 gelding (Fabregas x San Remo) £10,500 not sold

Lot 24 Eldiablo 2009 gelding (Painted Black x Ronaldo) £17,500

Lot 25 Happy Hoefnagel 2012 mare (Indoctro x Contender) £9,500

Lot 26 Heaven Can Wait E 2012 gelding (Up To Date x Cavalier) £20,000

Lot 27 Celtic Dream Pss Z 2012 stallion (Clinton x Chin Chin) £9,500 not sold

Lot 28 Houston 2012 gelding (Quality Time x Zuidhorn) £10,500

Lot 29 Sky Fly 2012 mare (Spartacus x Landwind II B) £5,000

Lot 30 Heineken M 2012 stallion (Bugatti VDL x Sydney) £13,000

Lot 31 Hamberlane 2012 gelding (Harley VDL x Cardento) £6,500 not sold

Lot 32 Novelle 2012 mare (Nabab De Reve x Larino) £4,000

Lot 33 Maxamillion 2012 stallion (Hunters Argentus x Laudanum xx) £10,000

Lot 34 Corazon Van Paebroek Z 2012 gelding (Canturo x Coriano Z) £10,000 not sold

Lot 36 Zerbin Van De Heihoek Z 2012 gelding (Zandor Z x Voltaire) £9,000

Lot 37 Famoya 2010 mare (Tuschinski x Don Picardi) £55,000

Lot 38 Billionair 2012 gelding (Belissimo M x Walt Disney I) £14,000

Lot 39 Rosenhit De Lus 2011 mare (Rosengold x Don Larino) £3,500

Lot 40 Lord Lauda 2012 gelding (Laudabilis x Diadalos) £6,000

Lot 41 Jazz Queen 2012 mare (Jazzmate x Florestan I) £35,000

Lot 42 Fontainebleau 2012 gelding (Friedensritter x Weltmeyer) £20,000 not sold

Lot 43 Woodstock 2011 gelding (Wakantanka M x Matcho AA) £13,500

Lot 44 Hyvonia G 2012 mare (Quality Time x Calvados) £8,000

Lot 45 His Royal Highness 2012 gelding (Biscayo x Quidam De Revel) £9,000

Lot 46 Headhunter 2012 stallion (Plot Blue x Clinton) £15,000

Lot 47 Herzliya 2012 mare (Carrera VDL x Cassini I) £29,000 not sold

Lot 48 Calibera Z 2012 mare (Cassini Gold x Libero H) £9,500 not sold

Lot 51 Quite Perfect 2012 gelding (Quasimodo Van De Molendreef x Colandro) £16,000 not sold

Lot 53 Hot Pepper S 2012 gelding (Cassini Gold x Creool) £25,000 not sold

Lot 54 Caruso 2012 gelding (Chello III x Lupicor) £7,500

Lot 55 Colesca EB Z 2012 mare (Conte Della Caccia x Lucky Boy) £15,000

Lot 56 Supernova 2012 stallion (Casall x Carthago) £55,000

Lot 57 Bugatti Z 2012 stallion (Baron Cento Heldenlaan x Calando V) £7,200 not sold

Lot 58 Morginto 2012 gelding (Centurio x Denver) £7,000

Lot 60 D’Amour Of Class 2012 mare (Destano x Rubin Royal) £8,000

Lot 61 Day Dream 2010 stallion (Dream On x Florestan I) £19,000 not sold

Lot 62 Quo Vado 2012 gelding (Quasar De Charry x Lauries Crusador xx) £28,000

Lot 63 Joly 2012 stallion (Jazzmate x Worldly) £14,000 not sold

Lot 64 Duke Of Light 2012 gelding (De Niro x Wolkentanz) £18,000

Lot 65 Jack Johnson 2012 gelding (Jazzmate x Laurentianer) £10,500

Lot 66 Herewego GR 2012 stallion (Arezzo VDL x Indoctro) £23,000

Lot 67 Hercules 2012 stallion (Baltic VDL x Vigo D’Arsouilles) £13,000

Lot 68 Caleandra Z 2012 mare (Caleandro x Andiamo Z) £12,000 not sold

Lot 69 Beluga Z 2012 mare (Bamako De Muze x Concorde) £20,000

Lot 70 Guestlist 2012 stallion (Cicero Z x Eros Platiere) £18,000

Lot 71 Colorado 2012 gelding (Chello III x Empire) £5,500

Lot 72 Qualite 2012 mare (Quaid x For Edition) £18,000

Lot 73 Unique 2012 mare (Ucello x Lacantus) £9,000

Lot 74 Zamba 2012 mare (Zapatero VDL x Optimist) £14,000

Lot 75 Chanel 2012 mare (Chello III x Sydney) £26,000

Lot 76 Gentleman 2012 stallion (Fantomas De Muze x Equador) £28,000

Lot 77 Hangover 2012 mare (Dutch Design x Contender) £6,500

Lot 79 Meistersinger Van Koekshof 2012 stallion (Emerald Van’t Camus) £12,000

Lot 80 Holly 2012 mare (Dantos HBC x Numero Uno) £14,500

Please note, these prices are subject to ratification by Brightwells Auctioneers.

Photograph: Livingstone, a four-year-old stallion sold at Brightwells’ December 2014 sale.

First auction of ex-racehorses looking for new careers

Caroline Bankes — Sun, 17 May 2015 06:25:31 +0000

The first sale of racehorses being sold for the riding horse market takes place in Malvern next week (20 May).

Brightwells Auctioneers in conjuction with Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is staging the auction at the Three Counties showground.

There will be 30 thoroughbreds under saddle going under the hammer, many from National Hunt trainers including Tom George, Venetia Williams and Anabel King Murphy.

Horses that have enjoyed successful careers after racing with private owners are also included in the catalogue. Among the lots is Milly (not pictured), a 16.1hh seven-year-old former point-to-pointer who has been second in a BE90 (RoR section). According to the vendors, Milly “has got the scope to go to novice or intermediate.”

The ex-racehorses range in age from three-year-old Reet Petite (not pictured), a 15hh mare who has raced on the flat, to Storey Coburn (not pictured), a 12-year-old gelding who hunted under a whipper-in last season.

Andrew Elliot, bloodstock manager and auctioneer at Brightwells said: “This being the first sale of its type, we really did not know how it would be received. However, the feedback from trainers has been very positive and we are greatly encouraged by how well it has been supported.”

He said he was “pleased with the quality of the horses entered” and has “no doubt that they will all have the potential to find a rewarding second career after racing.”

Prices are expected to start at £400-£500 rising to £2,000 or more.

Di Arbuthnot, chief executive of RoR said: “There are now more than 10,000 horses registered on RoR’s database as active in a second career. This sale is intended as another step towards facilitating the transfer of horses from a training yard to a life after racing.”

The thoroughbreds will be sold from midday as “they stand”, but there will be veterinary surgeons on hand to give prospective purchases pre-sale advice.

Every horse sold will have a ‘non racing agreement’ clause added to its passport preventing the horse from returning to racing in the future.

View the catalogue

Dressage horse sets new record price at UK auction

Alice Collins — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:25:28 +0000

Donna, a seven-year-old black KWPN mare (pictured), broke the UK auction record for a dressage horse as she sold to British clients for £120,000 on Saturday (21 March).

The mare, by Uptown x Donnerschwee, has a proven competition record.

H&H is not revealing who the purchaser is, as Donna was bought as a surprise birthday present for a lucky wife —who is as yet unaware of her generous gift.

The sale was a new venture by long-time auctioneers Brightwells and was staged during Addington’s international CDI show. It was held straight after the grand prix freestyle (won by Nikki Crisp and Passoa – see full report in H&H 26 March) on Saturday evening, swelling the audiences for both at the Buckinghamshire venue.

The auction got off to a shaky start, with the first horse through the ring, a four-year-old Wolkenstein II x Rotspon gelding, only achieving a top bid of £6,500 (and failing to reach his reserve). However, it quickly picked up.

Sixteen horses were offered. All bar one were selected from the continent, with Mount St John’s Emma Blundell’s mare Quiana II being the only exception. The hammer came down at £30,000 for the Quaterback x Samba Hit I daughter, but it wasn’t enough to secure her.

In the ring, 10 of the 16 horses forward found new homes — the remainder not reaching their reserve price.

One of those was lot three, a chestnut Westfalian gelding called For Season. Grand prix dressage rider Peter Storr picked up the Fifty Cent x Voltaire five-year-old For Season outside the ring after the gelding passed through for £20,000 unsold. For Season is now being ridden by Laura Wollen.

Auction regular Antonia Brown welcomed two new horses back to her SJL Sport Horses base in Northamptonshire. Lot 17, Giovanni B — a beautifully bred KWPN by Apache out of a Vivaldi x Cabochon mare — was bought by Annette Richter for £21,000.

Antonia also collected Flintstone, an uphill five-year-old gelding by Sir Oldenburg x Creool, who was knocked down for £17,000.

She suffered the misfortune of two blow-outs while taking the horses home, but both arrived unscathed.

Phone bidders snapped up lot four, Giovanni, a smart little bay approved stallion by Uphill x Welt Hit II for £23,500.

Lot nine, a Blue Hors Don Romantic x Laroche five-year-old, switched homes for £23,000.

Lot 15, a Dimaggio x Feininger six-year-old Hanoverian attracted bids up to £34,000, but failed to reach his reserve.

NB these results are subject to ratification by Brightwells

Popular sale relocates due to health and safety concerns

Caroline Bankes — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 07:30:34 +0000

Brightwells has moved its autumn Hay-on-Wye pony and cob sale (pictured below) to Hereford following concerns over health and safety at the market.

“Hay-on-Wye is a very old market and it doesn’t lend itself to horse sales,” said Terry Court, who has been with Brightwells since the equine business started in the town.

“We have managed there for 60 years but lately health and safety has become more difficult for us to cope with. We had no choice but to look for somewhere else to hold the sale,” said Mr Court.

The auction will now be called the Hay-on-Wye at Hereford sale and continues to be held on the first Saturday in October.

This year’s sale is on 3 October and will be run on the same format as usual.

There will be two sale rings; one for the led ponies and cobs and one for the unhandled entries.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The annual foal show for registered Welsh sections A, B, C and D will take place as normal on the morning of the sale. This year’s judges are Len Bigley, a past president of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society, and Cerdin Jones of the Synod Stud.

Brightwells said there will be no change in the costs for entry frees.

Mr Court said he hopes sale clients “will appreciate the move” but he admitted it “will not be a popular decision with the town folk of Hay-on-Wye.”

The 2014 Hay-on-Wye autumn pony event had 300 entries, mainly registered Welsh ponies and cobs.

Buyers come from all over the UK and Europe, with many sale graduates going on win top prizes in the showring.

Brightwells sells more than 7,000 horses and ponies every year from Shetlands to Gold Cup-winning racehorses.

For more information visit: www.brightwells.com

New elite dressage auction to be held at CDI3* show

Sophia Heath — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:55:53 +0000

A new elite dressage auction will be held by Brightwells at the Addington CDI3* in Buckinghamshire next year (21 March).

This will be the first time that an auction has been held alongside an international dressage competition in the UK.

Fifteen high-quality dressage horses are being selected from across Europe. There are expected to be a number of higher level trained horses included in the collection as well as one or two top dressage ponies.

The selection of the auction horses will be completed by 5 February next year and prospective clients will be able to take advantage of private viewings and riding the horses at their stables in Europe from this date. Brightwells agents will be able to collect and arrange trips for potential customers.

Richard Botterill of Brightwells said: “The auction of the elite dressage collection is another exciting step forward in bringing high quality dressage horses to the UK to sell to an international audience.

“The focus is on top-quality horses that command the attributes to successfully compete at championship level and a number of exceptional horses have already been earmarked.”

Earlier this year Brightwells organised the first elite horse auction alongside an international three-day event at Blenheim (12 Setember). The sale recorded an average price of £13,900 and a top price of £26,000 for a four-year old.

Mr Botterill said afterwards: “The first ever Blenheim sale has been a learning curve not only for Brightwells but the vendors and prospective purchasers. The support from the event riders and owners has been amazing and the sale now has the opportunity to go forward and provide a vibrant market for quality young horses.”

Timetable of events:

Thursday 5 February — auction horses available to be viewed and tried at their stables.

Thursday 19 March — presentation of auction horses at Addington

Saturday 21 March — The auction of the elite dressage collection. The auction will take place at 9pm after the completion of the FEI grand prix freestyle

For further details email: Richard.botterill@brightwells.com

Future stars at Brightwells December 2014 elite auction [VIDEO]

Alice Collins — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 11:21:26 +0000

Prices range from £3,400 to £47,000 at the Brightwells elite December sport horse auction at Addington

These are the hammer prices from the Brightwells elite sport horse auction held at Addington Manor EC, Bucks (6 December 2014):

1. Havana Moon, 6yo broodmare by Hotline x Weltmeyer, £5,000

2. Withdrawn

3. Gijs, 3yo gelding by Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Phin Phin, £9,000

4. Gelonie, 3yo mare by Zurich x Carthago, £10,000 not sold

5. Graaf V Veecaten, 3yo gelding by Zapatero VDL x Equador, £10,500

6. Vapiano, 2yo stallion by Vulkano x For Pleasure, £8,000

7. Cool Boy, 3yo stallion by Coco Jambo x Justinian XX, £18,000

8. Germates, 3yo mare by Warrant x Goodtimes, £6,500

9. Blue Hors Rudisha, 4yo stallion by Blue Hors Romanov x Donnerhall, £45,000

10. Royal Hit, 4yo mare by Rousseau x Sandro Hit, £4,000

11. San Miguel, 3yo gelding by Scolari x Davignon I, £6,000

12. Dresscode, 2yo stallion by Diatano x Stedinger, £8,500

13. Diva Royal, 3yo mare by Diatano x Wordly, £6,000

14. Duffy Diamond, 5yo mare by Diamond Hit x Worldchamp, £9,000

15. Lamara Quality, 3yo mare by Arko III x Clarence, £3,400

16. Withdrawn

17. Floriaaan Van Generhese, 3yo gelding by Nabab De Reve x Wolfgang, £9,200

18. Hulten, 2yo stallion by Baltic VDL x Grandeur, £8,000

19. Zip VD Tojope Hoeve Z, 3yo gelding by Zento x Chuck Z, £9,500 not sold

20. Fighting Boy TH, 4yo gelding by Armani x Jetset-D, £9,500

21. Carpe Diem, 4yo gelding by Contendro I x Escudo I, £16,000

22. Geluk, 3yo gelding by Arthos R x Berlin, £8,000

23. Cadeau, 2yo stallion by Chacco Blue x Lifestyle, £16,000

24. Huckleberry, 2yo stallion by Zambesi x Niveau, £12,500

25. Atlanta, 3yo mare by Arpeggio x Drossan, £8,200

25a. Carla, 3yo mare by Capriol x Pablo, £9,500

26. Fannini, 4yo gelding by Finito x De Niro, £35,000 not sold

27. Romanov’s Krack, 4yo gelding by Blue Hors Romanov x Krack C, £20,000

28. Destination, 3yo mare by Davignon I x Sunset Boulevard, £6,200

29. Firaccio, 3yo gelding by Friedensritter x Davignon I, £9,000

30. Christmas, 3yo gelding by Christ x Rubinstein I, £9,000

31. Westbury, 2yo stallion by Weltmeyer x Akzent II, £5,500 not sold

32. Convince Me, 3yo mare by Conteur x Wolkentanz, £33,000

33. George Clooney, 3yo gelding by Lancet x Clavecimbel, £19,500

34. Bon Giorno, 3yo gelding by Benetton Dream x Gribaldi, £13,000 not sold

35. Friday Night Du Vlist, 4yo bay mare by Cador x Guidam, £7,500

36. Gimona, 3yo mare by Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve x Chin Chin, £15,000

37. Withdrawn

38. Lamborghini Quality, 3yo gelding by Contendro I x Con Air, £9,000

39. Fifty Fifty, 4yo gelding by Azteca VDL x Zeno, £7,000

39a. Dina Van Zandershof Z, 2yo mare by Diamant De Semilly x Kannan, £6,500

40. Hartbreker GB, 2yo stallion by Crespo VDL x Numero Uno, £8,500

41. Withdrawn

42. He Is A Lucky Boy, 2yo stallion by Lucky Boy x Quick Star, £6,200

43. Smilla, 3yo mare by Stalypso x Landcapitol, £15,500

44. Graavgards Zabba, 3yo gelding by Blue Hors Zack x Blue Hors Hotline, £14,500 not sold

45. Livingstone, 4yo stallion by Lissaro x Fidermark, £38,000

46. Bella Vista, 3yo mare by Bonifatius x De Niro, £5,200

47. Bonfire Heart, 4yo gelding by Bonifatius x Don Gregory, £47,000 (video top)

48. Findus, 2yo stallion by Fiorano x Belissimo M, £7,500

49. Gambler VD Beekzijde, 3yo gelding by Corland x Arpeggio, £6,000

50. Cacharel, 3yo mare by Cachas x Quinar, £15,500

51. Granturo Laageind Z, 3yo mare by Grison Van Den Bisschop x Acapulco Z, £14,500

52. Galilea, 3yo mare by Jee T’Aime Flamenco x Couleur Rubin, £4,000

52a. Gyralda, 3yo mare by Bugatti VDL x No Limit, £9,000 not sold

53. Best Of Bavaria, 3yo mare by Balou De Rouet x Lennon, £14,500

54. Classic Touch, 3yo mare by Congress x Champion Du Lys, £9,000

55. G Star, 3yo stallion by Up To Date x Indoctro, £20,000

56. Papillon, 3yo mare by Perigueux x Metterbich, £12,000

57. Withdrawn

58. Santa Cristina, 5yo mare by San Remo x Florianus, £7,000

59. Dark Diamond, 3yo gelding by Destano x Rubinero, £5,500

60. Rosenberger, 3yo gelding by Rosengold x Rouletto, £10,000

These prices and results are all subject to verification by Brightwells Auctioneers. For a full report, see Horse & Hound magazine, 18 December.

Lauren Shannon’s eventing blog: Bidding a fond farewell

Lauren Shannon — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 11:53:00 +0000

It’s been a very long time since I have done a H&H blog, as we’ve just been so busy here on the Shannon Eventing yard.

It seems building a yard takes a lot of time, but setting it up and starting it off takes up all of your time! It’s been a whirlwind of a year so far, but it’s been amazing to watch our new yard develop and grow throughout this eventing season.

Since my last blog, we have had Crunchie (Kilcannon Watlings Crunch) and Purdey (Quality Purdey) competing in their second advanced class at Wellington Horse Trials. It was my first time visiting this event, and they did a brilliant job running a very good weekend of eventing — even if it did lash it down with rain the entire bank holiday Monday.

Both mares did personal bests in the dressage, followed by a double clear with time penalties for Crunchie, and an educational day for Purdey on the cross-country. She jumped very big and babyish over a few fences, so had a stop at a simple skinny coming out the water after ballooning in, but finished strong and keen so we were happy with her performance.

Since then, we’ve had babies out at competitions and I’ve been doing a lot of teaching after passing my UKC Level 3 coaching assessment. It was a nerve-racking day spent at Vale View for my assessment, being critiqued and evaluated in a coaching session for each phase of eventing. I have to say, it was incredibly educational, and has helped my teaching a great deal.

Last weekend we headed to Blenheim Horse Trials for the Brightwells Elite Event Horse Auction that took place on Friday. We are looking for a young horse for one of my owners, and having already made a trip to Germany to see some youngsters, we thought we’d go to the sale to see what type of horses were offered there.

It was a brilliant day out and Brightwells did a fabulous job. We were able to trial ride any horses that we were interested in and the auction itself attracted a lot of attention. However, the horses didn’t seem to make their reserve in a lot of cases, and many didn’t reach a good price. It is hard to understand from a seller’s point of view the attraction of using an auction as with 10-30% fees attached to each sale price, it artificially inflates prices and can put buyers off. It will be interesting to see what happens with the future of the auction.

So back from horse shopping, we are now finishing off little bits in the yard that didn’t get finished in the initial build. The horses are very thankful to now have warm water in the wash box, and our washing machine will hopefully be plumbed in by the end of the week. We definitely want to get that sorted before winter sets in!

This will be my last blog for H&H for a while. I have been blogging here since 2011, and it has been a huge honour and privilege to do so. I cannot thank the H&H team enough for the opportunity to write for them and promote myself and my team through their website. However, with the yard busier than ever I am going to concentrate on my blogging on my website www.shannoneventing.co.uk and try to make sure I keep that up to date — let’s face it, my track record isn’t great!

Anyway, I am sure H&H will keep you updated with everything you need to know in the eventing world through their other fabulous eventing bloggers Rosie Fry and Coral Keen. Kick on everyone, and good luck for the rest of your eventing season and beyond.

Lauren

Full report of the Brightwells sale at Blenheim in this week’s H&H, out 18 September.

Laura Collett determined to ride at Boekelo despite injury

Caroline Bankes — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 15:37:35 +0000

Eventer Laura Collett is confident she will compete at Boekelo next month despite breaking her foot in a fall last Tuesday (9 September).

The horse she was riding, Ouzo, was being vetted for the Brightwells auction at Blenheim Horse Trials (12 September) when the accident happened.

“I was galloping for the vet to listen to his wind when he spooked and reared to one side,” said Laura.

As he turned away, he slipped and fell trapping Laura’s foot underneath him. She broke four of the five metatarsal bones in her foot.

Impressively, Laura still managed to ride in the dressage at Blenheim on Friday (12 September) before getting treatment for her injury.

“I tried jumping Controe on the Thursday afternoon (who was not competing) but it was too painful, so I did the dressage on Grand Manoeuvre on the Friday and then went to hospital,” said Laura.

The foot specialist in Bath told her to rest for the next few weeks.

Laura said she should be fine to take Grand Manoeuvre to the CICO3* at Boekelo in Holland on 9-12 October.

Her plan is to go on from there to Le Lion d’Angers in France for the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships for young horses.

“My leg is too swollen for a cast so I have to keeping icing it and keep it up in a boot which luckily I don’t have to sleep in,” Laura told H&H.

Last year she was in a coma for a week after a fall at Tweseldown, but was riding soon after coming home.

“It wasn’t so bad last year because I could still get on and ride. I am very bored,” she admitted.

Carole Mortimer’s sport horse comment: Making the kindest cut [H&H VIP]

Carole Mortimer — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 08:00:05 +0000

The beautiful site of The Horse Trust in Buckinghamshire was the venue for a recent seminar: welfare and ethical issues in 21st century horse breeding.

The discussion was based on several papers led by a keynote presentation made by Madeleine Campbell, Wellcome Trust clinical research fellow in veterinary ethics at the Royal Veterinary College.

The day raised several issues: as expected over-breeding was brought up, as were the possible effects of artificial reproductive techniques (ART) on welfare.

Most agreed that, from a welfare point of view, breeding mares in particular are often better off than many stabled ridden horses. In general, mares and foals are those most able to perform natural behaviours as they usually live in herds at grass, although vet Huw Griffiths from Liphook Equine was concerned about the increasing prevalence of obesity in breeding mares.

However, the main issue for concern from all parties was the increase in the number of colts now kept entire as possible stallions, or simply in order to help ensure a mature looking horse with topline and muscle. The concern was that many of these entires are deprived of the ability to perform natural horse behaviours, spending most of their life alone and in a stable.

Not what they seem

Curiously, at the same time, this was the theme of a piece doing the rounds on social media written by renowned German trainer Klaus Balkenhol. The piece centred on the premise that the market requires three-year-old horses to look older; albeit the reality is that while they look mature, they aren’t — with the result that once they start work, “degeneration sets in”.

Balkenhol is quoted as saying: “Few breeders have the sense to geld the yearling stallions and leave them on pasture to mature naturally.”

It is not that long ago that the vast majority of colts were routinely castrated, with prior to weaning considered least stressful for the foal. Castrating older colts — ie three- and four-year-olds — increases risk to the horse (through surgery), who may well by then have developed stallion behaviours that may never be unlearnt.

But why there is a trend to keep colts entire is a mystery. The world is not short of breeding stallions — in fact never there has been a greater choice — and why go to the trouble of keeping an entire, when in most cases he will be a super gelding that can be safely ridden, stabled and turned out with others and has greater potential to excel at his job?

Do we know what we want?

I did feel for organisers and vendors at the latest Brightwells British Sport Horse sale (report, 26 June) who all spent a lot of time, energy and expense for little return. It took me back 20 years to the British High Performance Sale, enthusiastically run by Jennie Loriston-Clarke at Stoneleigh for about five years before folding due to lack of support from buyers.

Ever since, there have been frequent requests from British breeders and producers for a shop window. Well, they got one, and while it was supported by many well known studs, it was not well supported by potential buyers who bizarrely still expect to pay the same sort of price as was obtained in 1994 — and that’s without taking inflation into account.

Perhaps the date wasn’t the best, but for me it also begs the question: what is it that the market wants? And are breeders providing it? At this sale ridden horses sold best, but few studs can offer these — and most certainly not at the prices buyers seemed to be expecting to pay. Someone has to get realistic. But is that the buyer, the breeder or both.

Carole

Arabian racehorses under hammer for first time in Britain

Martha Terry — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 12:00:02 +0000

The UK’s first Arabian racehorse sale will take place this summer (9 August). It is only the 2nd sale of its kind in Europe.

The sale is being run in partnership by the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) and leading equestrian auctioneers Brightwells.

Brightwells bloodstock manager Andrew Elliott said it is a “very exciting venture” as the company broadens its portfolio.

“At present there is only 1 other established sale of this type of high-value horse, and this takes place annually in France,” he said. “We are anticipating an entry of between 40 to 50 selected horses – with prices between £5,000 and £50,000 – although it would not be unrealistic to see higher prices achieved.”

The sale will be held at Charlie Mann’s Neardown Stables in Lambourn, on the eve of the annual Dubai International Arabian race day, at nearby Newbury Racecourse (10 August).

ARO director Bill Smith is expecting “a high quality of Arabians [to be] selected for sale”.

“ARO’s ambition is to establish an annual event to encourage the growth of Arabian racing and breeding worldwide,” he said.

Arabian racing has been running in the UK for more than 30 years, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The sale will begin at 6pm on 9 August, with horses available to view on 8 August from 10.30am at Neardown Stables, Lambourn.

www.brightwells.com

Brightwells introduces new horse sale

Alice Collins — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:18:50 +0000

A new Brightwells auction will take place at Addington Manor, Bucks, on 11 June.

The sale is designed to offer horses in a lower price bracket than the biannual Stars of the Future sales — which are set to be rebranded Elite sales.

Horses will be sold under the hammer at the new sale pending vettings — which will be set at around £180 and will take place on site immediately after the sale at the purchaser’s expense.

The entry fee for the new summer sale is half that of the Elite auctions, at £250.

Brightwells’ commission has also been cut from 10% to 6% of the hammer price.

“We’ve restructured the sales, as we saw lots in the Stars of Future sales making £3,000-6,000, which isn’t financially viable for vendors in the cost ratio of those sales,” explained auctioneer Richard Botterill.

“The sale will provide a new opportunity for British breeders and producers, giving more people the chance to sell at Addington under the banner of the most successful sport horse sales in the country.”

The sales will be for two-year-olds and upwards and, unlike at the Elite sales, three-year-olds need not be presented under saddle. Brightwells envisages the majority of horses will fetch £2,000-12,000.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (14 March 2013)

‘Brutal’ buyers banned from Brightwells sales

Horse & Hound — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:16:54 +0000

Brightwells auctioneers has banned at least four people from future sales following alleged “brutality” at Fayre Oaks Sale, Royal Welsh Showground (24-25 September).

The incident happened after the sales officers had left the ground on 25 September.

An H&H reader, who wished to remain anonymous, witnessed the incident: “Two men were brutally beating and kicking 12 to 15 Shetlands and other ponies to force them into a tiny trailer.

“Some of them were being held in a pen and punched – so when they were released, they stampeded into the trailer.

“These ponies were bought for bottom dollar, I can only imagine that they were going for meat.”

Brightwells’s Terry Court said: “We immediately set up an inquiry and the people in question have been banned from all future Brightwells equine sales.

“Identities have been circulated and we have extra men on the gates. It may be that we will have to employ more security for Sunday evenings. This is the first time I have had to ban someone.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (6 October, 2011)

Furore over condition of Welsh ponies at sale

Horse & Hound — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:35:12 +0000

The “very poor” condition of Welsh ponies sold at auction house Brightwells earlier this month has caused outrage and opened a wide debate on overbreeding.

Since the sale at Builth Wells on 14 May, horse lovers have questioned whether Brightwells was right to let them through the ring.

Discussion centres on a group of animals from Evan Lloyd Evans’ Criccieth Stud in Gwynedd.

H&H was unable to speak to Mr Evans, a life member of the WPCS, but a family member admitted: “He accepts he has too many ponies and wants to cut right down.”

Readers were concerned about how thin some of the ponies were — especially the 11-year-old mare Sunwillow Hernani, who had a foal at foot. World Horse Welfare confirmed it has received “concerns” from members of the public.

A spokesman for the charity added: “We have been working closely with Mr Evans during the past week and will continue to do so to help resolve the situation.”

The RSPCA is also looking into the case and H&H has been told that at least one complaint has been lodged with the Welsh government.

Despite the storm of criticism, Brightwells’ Terry Court staunchly defended the auction house’s position.

“I’ve been selling ponies for 56 years and wouldn’t dream of selling anything unhealthy,” he told H&H. “The ponies weren’t fat, but they wouldn’t be — they’d come straight off the mountains. I can’t bear the thought of any animal going to the slaughterhouse and by selling them we’ve found them all nice homes.”

But Brightwells’ vet Bertie Ellis admitted that the condition of the ponies was “very poor”.

He added: “I believe the best thing for the ponies’ welfare is to get them through the ring and into a new home. They are better off being sold than going back to where they came from.”

For the full news story on the condition of ponies at sale, see the current issue of Horse & Hound (26 May, 2011)

Brightwells to host two not-to-be-missed horse sales

Amy Mathieson — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:18:50 +0000

Two not-to-be-missed sales are being hosted by Brightwells in the coming weeks.

The first is of horses belonging to trainer John “Mad” Manners, who died in October, aged 83.

Famous for winning races such as the Aintree Fox Hunters’ he was also known for his eccentricities. In 1982 he was fined for vaulting the rails at Cheltenham and chasing winner Knight Of Love up the run-in.

John’s widow Audrey will sell 50 thoroughbreds at Common Farm, Swindon, on 5 June. All will be sold without a reserve.

Brightswells’s Andrew Elliott said: “John was a real character. It will be a very sad sale, but is an excellent opportunity to become a part of the ‘Manners magic’.”

And, on 29 May, Brightwells hosts its first ever sale of elite Spanish horses, at Yeguada Lago Stud in Dorchester.

The sale will include Pural Raza Espanola (Andalusian), Lusitano and part-bred Iberians.

Visit www.brightwells.com

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (6 May, ’10)

Foal reported stolen from sale in ‘missing identity’ case

Horse & Hound — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:58:50 +0000

Police are investigating allegations that a colt foal was stolen at the Brightwells Welsh cob sales at Builth Wells on 18 October.

Lot number 615, Henfynyw Bailey, went missing after he was sold for nearly £600 to breeder Liz Launder.

He was reunited with her five days later after what Brightwells says was “mistaken identity”.

“Henfynyw Bailey was the second of two identical palomino colts sold — 614 and 615,” said Mrs Launder. “When I went to see him, his lot number was defaced, so I rewrote 615 and gave his passport and pass-out papers to the transporter.”

But the colt was missing when the transporter arrived. Police were called, despite Brightwells insisting the colt “must be somewhere”.

Four days later Mrs Launder was told the pony had been found — with the lady who purchased lot 614, for £200.

Brightwells director Terry Court said: “A mother and daughter bought a mare and colt [Henfynyw Teifion, lot 614] and both foals were in the same pen.”

Mr Court said the mother, Nicky Dawkins, set up transport separately from her daughter, Chloe. He said Chloe put lot 614 on one lorry, while Nicky put the mare and lot 615 on another, belonging to Martin Rogers, adding the pair said they were unaware of each other’s actions.

Mr Court admitted the lorry carrying 614 left Builth Wells without the usual security checks because Mrs Dawkins caused an accident by leaving the handbrake off her car. In the ensuing confusion, Brightwells allowed the lorry to slip through.

But Martin Rogers told H&H: “Nicky and Chloe loaded both ponies. Police called me as I was driving and the description they gave me of the missing pony — lot 615 — fitted the colt I had on board, which was supposed to be 614.”

He confirmed the foal had no sale sticker and said: “Security at Brightwells is usually tight.”

Mr Court maintains the foal was taken in error, adding: “This is only the second time a pony has been released to the wrong home in 10 years.”

But Mrs Launder said: “If it is a mistake, it was a bloody big one.”

A spokesman for Dyfed Powys Police said: “An investigation is ongoing, there’s currently no evidence of criminal activity.”

Mrs Dawkins did not return our calls.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (29 October, ’09)

Cash boost for Dressage Horse International prize-fund

Horse & Hound — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:04:26 +0000

The prize-fund for this year’s DHI (Dressage Horse International) dressage challenge in November has increased to £13,000.

The winnings for this competition, open to four- and five-year-olds bought through Brightwells sales, normally stand at £10,000.

But DHI pledged that the price fetched by a four-year-old they entered in this month’s sale (6 August) would dictate this year’s purse.

The horse, DHI Appart O (lot 44), a Dutch-bred gelding by Negro out of a mare by TCN Partout, made £13,000.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (20 August, ’09)

Connemara ponies get dedicated Brightwells’ sale

Amy Mathieson — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:15:53 +0000

The UK’s first prestige Connemara pony sale will take place in Worcestershire this September.

The sale is part of Brightwells’ Festival of the Horse sale at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire, on Tuesday, 8 September.

Until now, British Connemara breeders have sold their ponies privately.

Henrietta Knight, vice-chairman of the British Connemara Pony Society (BCPS), National Hunt trainer and Connemara judge, who organised the sale said: “Connemaras are a breed close to my heart. There are many Connemara sales in Ireland, but the ponies were one of the few native breeds that didn’t have a sale here.

“They are wonderful performance ponies and now enthusiasts will have the chance to visit a sale on their doorstep rather than having to travel to Ireland.”

Brightwells auctioneer Andrew Elliot said: “We have recognised for some time the popularity of the breed and are very excited about the prospect of offering, what I hope will be, an excellent catalogue of ponies.”

All entries must hold a passport from the Connemara Pony Breeders Society, BCPS or other approved Connemara society, although the sale is open to pure and part-bred ponies.

There will be sections for foals, young stock and breeding stock, as well as ridden performance ponies.

There are 140 Connemara foals bred in the UK each year, but many are brought into the country from Irish breeders, where sales take place at some of the country’s biggest horse auctioneers several times a year, including Clifden in Co Galway, Cavan and Goresbridge in Kilkenny.

Cheshire-based breeder Kerry Wainwright said: “The Malvern sale is a great idea. My only criticism is that it seems a bit early to have weaned your foals and I think holding the sale at the weekend would maximise the number of buyers who can come. A weekend later in September would have been my choice.”

Entries close at the end of July.

For more information visit www.brightwells.com

View Connemara ponies for sale

Top lot makes £30,000 at Brightwells dressage sale

Horse & Hound — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:48:22 +0000

The top lot of the Brightwells European Sale of Dressage Horses was a Dutch four-year-old daughter of Florett As, Whisper, who was sold for £30,000.

The mare’s supreme paces really impressed the buyers. Her new rider is 13-year-old Laura Woodcock, who is trained by Hannah Esberger-Shepherd. Hannah will bring the mare on to young rider level for her pupil.

“That was our absolute limit,” said Hannah Esberger-Shepherd, who trains Laura and will bring the mare on to young rider level for her pupil. “We’re so lucky to get her — I thought she’d go for £40,000. She’ll certainly do prix st georges — Laura’s a lucky girl.”

Another teenager landed the ride on the second top lot, DHI Zee See Spot, a flashy chestnut son of Sydney. Martine Reed went up to £25,500 for the three-year-old, whom her friend Jenna Capel, 18, will compete.

Two other lots — Dutch-bred three-year-olds Zippo L and Zero — hit the £20,000 mark. The average price of the 19 horses sold was nearly £16,000.

Read this report in full, plus a report from the DHI Challenge for horses previously bought from the sale, in today’s Horse & Hound (22 November, ’07)

Record price at elite show jumping sale

Horse & Hound — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 10:19:36 +0000

The prices paid for the young horses at the Brightwells auction of show jumpers at Addington Manor eclipsed previous sales and, for the first time, the quantity and quality ensured that show jumping buyers outdid their dressage counterparts in the spending stakes.

The 35 horses sold realised a total of £456,800 — almost double last year’s figure — with a mean price of £13,051. And while the total and average prices were increased, the top price record was well and truly smashed when the £33,000 paid for Safarie at the first sale at Towerlands five years ago was almost doubled.

This year’s top lot, Zest For Life, again sourced from Safarie’s Dutch vendor, Willem van der Donk, got pulses racing. The bidding started at a sharp pace for the lovely grey colt by Dutch World Equestrian Games team gold medallist Berlin.

The two-year-old grandson of Cassini was finally knocked down, with a round of applause, for £61,000 to Harvey Kay. This was a record price for a show jumper at a British sale.

“This is the best selection of horses I’ve seen here,” said the Preston-based trainer, a long-standing customer of Brightwells who was one of several buyers who made multiple purchases.

Not only was it a good night for buyers, sellers and auctioneers, but those who came purely for entertainment went home having watched good horses, professionally presented, make realistic prices.

“It was unbelievable,” said auctioneer Richard Botterill. “Two things in particular made it work; separating it from the dressage sale and making a lot of effort to find some very good horses. This is the only sale that takes in horses from all sources and our aim is to make it the best in the world.”

Read this report in full, with pictures and details of the top lots, in today’s Horse & Hound (7 Dece,ber, ’06)

Wocata is top price at elite dressage sale

Horse & Hound — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 11:30:44 +0000

After last year’s record-breaking Brightwells dressage sale, another as good might have been too much to ask. Nonetheless, this year’s sale of potential dressage horses at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre found plenty of enthusiastic buyers.

While the average price was £2,500 down on last year, it was still the second highest average over the 10 years of sales. Of the 18 horses sold, 75% made five-figure sums and buyers had to pay more than £30,000 to secure one of the top six.

Two weeks previously, Anky van Grunsven’s grand prix stallion Painted Black captured the interest of the audience at the British Dressage convention here. At this sale, it was his three-year-old daughter Wocata who attracted attention. The elegant, eye-catching mare was finally knocked down to Nicola Mahoney of Easton Park Stud in Suffolk for £40,000 — this year’s top price.

“This is the one who will win the challenge next year,” declared Nicola, who will be sending the mare to the yard of her trainer Michel Assouline.

After the first lot of the day went for the bargain-basement price of £3,000, brisk bidding ensured that the next made 11 times as much. The four-year-old Viquino, a Dutch-bred gelding by Negro, was finally knocked down to Denise Stamp for her daughter, Louise.

“He’s a new project for Louise, as we sadly lost our other horse earlier in the year. She fell in love with this one and we decided to have him whatever,” said Denise.

Bedfordshire-based Beverley Dixon was equally determined to secure lot five, Forrest Fiddler, a Westphalian gelding by the popular sire Florestan.

“It was this one or nothing,” said Beverley, who got the coveted four-year-old for £30,000.

And £32,000 was the price for the Westphalian mare Royal Alliance, who went home with British young rider team member Anne-Marie Perry. Junior squad rider Katie Bailey, 19, also has a new project after being the successful bidder for Webster, a three-year-old by the Ferro son Rhodium.

Barrie and Heather Truelove’s supporters cheered when the gavel hit the desk to secure the Lincolnshire eventing couple their first dressage horse. A bid of £36,000 bought the four-year-old Vanita, a gelding by Jazz out of a Pion mare.

“When I rode him, it was a real wow factor,” said Barrie Truelove.

Brett Wilson’s bid of £11,000 secured him one of just two catalogue entries registered with a British studbook.Kent-based Brett is confident that Prototype, a three-year-old stallion by Sharon Baldwin’s international small tour winner Pro-Set, will be at the sharp end in next year’s challenge.

DHI Dressage Challenge

Two years ago she was an impulse buy at Brightwells’ November sale, but Soul Sister has since more than repaid her owner’s whim. The five-year-old Sandro Hit mare finished the season on a high, heading this year’s DHI Dressage Challenge. This is the most lucrative prize in British dressage, and was sponsored for the first time by Dressage Horse International. It is open only to horses purchased at Brightwells sales.

This was a timely wedding present for Soul Sister’s owners, Aram Gregory and rider and trainer Jane Bredin, who, rather less impulsively after almost 20 years together, are tying the knot in Hong Kong in two weeks’ time.

Well-placed in all young horse championships this year, Soul Sister was one of the favourites for the £5,000 first prize.

“That also meant there was quite a bit of pressure to do well,” said Jane. “You can’t mess about out there — those judges are deadly serious.”

International judges Peter Engel and Igor Kogan pulled no punches in their post-test analyses, but were full of praise for the winning pair, who took an unassailable lead after the freestyle.

“It was a great pleasure to judge this combination,” said Peter Engel.

Unusually, four-year-old horses headed off the older contenders to take the top placings. The Carl Hester-trained combination of Elissa Barratt and her active chestnut Dream Or Reality — one of the high-priced lots last year — were runners-up.

“He’s exceeded my expectations,” said Elissa. “I would buy him all over again. He’s the best horse I’ve ever had — he ticks all the boxes.”

Freelance instructor Emma Hawley, back in the saddle after two years off due to back surgery, was third with V-Max, an elegant gelding by the Trakehner sire Gribaldi out of a mare by the Thoroughbred Julio Mariner.

“I bought Max to get myself going again. He fitted the bill and has been a fabulous buy,” said Emma. H&H

Top lots of the sale

Lot 31 Wocata KWPN br m 2003 (Painted Black – Locato) £40,000

Lot 22 Vanita KWPN ch g 2002 (Jazz – Pion) £36,000

Lot 29 Webster KWPN br g 2003 (Rhodium – Chronos) £36,000

Lot 2 Viquino KWPN br g 2002 (Negro – Rohdiamant) £33,000

Lot 13 Royal Alliance West br m 2003 (Rubin-Royal – Pessoa) £32,000

Lot 5 Forrest Fiddler West ch g 2002 (Florestan I – Wachorst) £30,000

31 forward; 18 sold; Total £321,00; Average £17,833

This report was first published in Horse & Hound (23 November, ’06)

Top prices paid for Welsh performance

Horse & Hound — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 10:10:52 +0000

Proving that Welsh breeds are in demand as performance animals, the most interest at the recent Brightwells sale was shown in ridden and driven animals.

The top price of £5,600 was paid for the ridden nine-year-old palomino section D mare, Janton Merry’s Maid.

Merry’s Maid is by Janton Meredith, a well-known performer who won at the Royal Show and Ponies (UK). She was ridden in the sale ring by her vendor, Julie Cuming from Hampshire, and was bought by the Thomas family of Townhill, Swansea.

Another ridden section D, Jane Vosper’s 10-year-old stallion Maylands Sid, was sold to Cumbria for £4,900. A son of Llanarth Welsh Flyer, Sid won at the Royal Welsh Show, is a former Olympia finalist and is also broken to harness.

The top price for an unbroken animal was the £3,700 paid for a daughter of the Royal Welsh champion Danaway Flash Jack by event rider Sara Ackers.

This report was first published in Horse & Hound (8 June, 06)

Record average for elite dressage sale

Horse & Hound — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 12:21:00 +0000

The demand for potential dressage horses showed no signs of waning, with the majority selling well at Brightwells’ recent sale of European dressage horses.

Fifteen horses fetched five-figure sums and from the first lot they were flying out of the ring to new homes.

There was an average of more than £20,000, the highest mean price since the first sale nine years ago. The figure — £5,000 more than last year — is almost twice that paid in 2003.

Lot one, Shining Star, a three-year-old Westphalian mare by the Sandro Hit son Show Star, got arms in the air. The bidding reached £35,000 before she went to Ardenfield Equestrian in Henley in Arden. Although a potential competition horse, Shining Star will also join a future embryo transfer programme.

Prospective buyers were well into the swing by the time the German-bred Dream Of Reality entered the ring. This compact, athletic chestnut gelding — already a champion in Germany — by the Davignon son Di Versace went for £60,000.

New owner Elissa Barrett, a recent university graduate and a pupil of Carl Hester, admitted to being terrified and thrilled at the same time. “There really was only this one and I rode him during a 2min trial,” said Elissa, who took Dream Of Reality home to Nether Wylde in Hertfordshire.

The top lot was the three-year-old Dutch-bred stallion Van Damme, who made £65,000 and went to Derbyshire to be trained as a grand prix prospect. This good-looking stallion is by the popular Trakehner sire Gribaldi out of a Havidoff mare.

“It was him or nothing,” said Van Damme’s new owner, who prefers to remain anonymous. “This was a fantastic opportunity to buy a horse of a lifetime. I was glad I didn’t have to go abroad to find him.”

Andrew Gould has a new horse to produce courtesy of Surrey-based Lucy Smith, a buyer here on two previous occasions, who procured the four-year-old Typhoon. This gelding by the Ferro son Kennedy was knocked down for £32,000.

Mares, too, found favour, with a lovely four-year-old Westphalian by Laurentianer, Lasting Impression, living up to her name to reach £46,000.

“Ten years ago, people said we’d never get this venture off the ground,” said auctioneer Richard Botterill. “We had a stonking sale, and providing more quality proved the right move.”

This report was first published in Horse & Hound (8 December, ’05)

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Elite young horses up for grabs

Horse & Hound — Wed, 19 Nov 2003 10:58:27 +0000

Buyers from across the globe will congregate in Buckinghamshire this weekend for the Brightwells European Sale of Dressage Horses and Show Jumpers 2003.

“This is one of the most successful auctions in Europe,” says Richard Botterill of auctioneers Brightwells, who is currently preparing for the event at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in Buckingham. “It attracts buyers of many nationalities, including Japanese and American, and of course British.”

The 50-plus top quality horses listed for auction include mainly three- and four-year-old potential dressage and show jumping horses. “We select horses from across Europe,” explains Richard. “There is a very strict criteria for selection, and upon arrival all horses undergo a full vetting.”

Sale prices vary widely, starting from around £5,000, and Brightwells hopes that this opens the auction to a wide range of buyers. However, many horses sell for substantially higher prices. “Recently a couple have sold for £40,000, and our highest sale price so far was £86,000 for a dressage horse,” says Richard, who is optimistic that some of this year’s horses will fetch good prices.

The event this weekend also features the Korenbloem £10,000 Dressage Challenge 2003 and Genus Equine £10,000 Show Jumping Challenge 2003, which are competitions exclusively for horses bought at Brightwells auctions. Horses sold this year will be eligible for the competitions in 2004.

The dressage challenge has been running since 1998, one year after the auction for dressage horses was established. “There are about 36 entries this year, and the prize money is very generous for four- and five-year-olds,” says Richard. “Peter Storr rode the 2002 winner, and is attending again this year on Go Dutch, a horse he bought at one of our auctions in August last year.”

Brightwells only started selling show jumpers at auction in 2002, so the 2003 Genus Equine £10,000 Show Jumping Challenge is the first of its kind. With an entry of 16, it promises to be a strong competition.

The challenges take place this Saturday (22 November), and the auction on Sunday. Both are ticket events (grandstand tickets can be bought on the day for £10 either day or £15 for both; VIP tickets must be ordered in advance). For further information and tickets contact Brightwells (tel: 01432 355300) or visit: www.brightwellsequine.co.uk

Crowds flock to Malvern to set record trading levels

Horse & Hound — Thu, 02 Oct 2003 12:14:49 +0000

The largest crowd ever to attend Brightwells’ Malvern sale helped to boost trade to record levels at this year’s event.

The decision to condense the sale into a one-day fixture proved popular. Of the 114 horses offered, 85 changed hands, with a solid market at the £3,000 price mark and eight horses realised more than £4,000.

The top price of £7,200 was paid by show jumping specialist Charlie Edwards for Mystic R Jay, a promising four-year-old mare by the Nimmerdor son, JR — formerly ridden by John Whitaker — out of an I Love You dam. She was second in her show class for performance horses, showing excellent technique.

An eight-year-old gelding by the Irish Draught sire Double Edition made the second-highest price of the day at £5,000. Another hunter, the Irish-bred Island King seven-year-old, Wonder King, made £4,800.

Demand was again strong for well-conformed, athletic horses with good movement, and this was borne out by the highest-priced four-year-old, Delmore Godwin, a grand sort with show ring form in-hand and now demonstrating promise under saddle. He was sold for £4,600.

Buyers of young stock were again selective, but two three-year-olds by the TB sire Still Time Left bucked the trend in the filly class to make £4,200 and £3,800, and a yearling gelding by the popular warmblood Abraham realised £3,700 after winning his show class and presenting considerable potential for sport horse classes next year.

Some reserves were unrealistic, leading to disappointment all round, but on the whole, steady trade made this sale a resounding success.

Record prices at Royal Welsh sale

Horse & Hound — Thu, 24 Oct 2002 00:00:00 +0000

The four-year-old Welsh section C stallion, Uphill Tom Thumb, created a record at Brightwells Royal Welsh Sale when he sold on the second day for £14,500.

Tom Thumb, who has no show ring experience but staghunted with his Okehampton-based owner, Cathy Pearse, was offered with a reserve of £2,000, and was bought by St Clears-based Alan Pearce for an overseas client.

Dave and Cathy Pearse bought Tom Thumb’s dam, Balimou Bizzie Lizzie, for £100 and paid £200 for his sire, Windwillow Viscount, who has now been sold on.

Performance animals were in demand at the sale, where the top first-day figure of £6,500 – almost double the previous record price for a gelding – was paid for Lady Forwood’s six-year-old section D, Mowcastle More Magic.

More Magic, who was bred by the Machin family before being bought by Lady Forwood at this sale as a yearling for £700, was broken in by her husband, 77-year-old Sir Peter Forwood, and has been ridden to many successes this year by their daughter, Jane Waller.

Among their achievements in 2002 were winning the ridden gelding class at the Royal Welsh Show, the open class at the P(UK) Winter Championships and the Woodhouse M&M Championship and dressage competition at the NPS Championships.

Included in the prize for the latter were dressage lessons with Carl Hester, which will be taken up by More Magic’s new owner, Anna Ernsting, of Ross-on-Wye.

The top young cob was Jones Brothers and Gwyn and Nicola Jones’s black two-year-oldcolt, Fronarth Telynor-yr-Ail. He was bought for £6,200 by Ann Daunt of the Maestir Stud, Melton Mowbray, and will later be gelded as a riding horse for her granddaughter.

The Synod Stud’s section C consignment of one colt and seven filly foals fetched more than £22,000, averaging at £2,853.

Overall sales were encouraging, with 163 of the 216 animals offered on the first day selling for an average of £705, with the part-breds and geldings averaging £1,273, almost £400 up on last year. More than 40 lots went to overseas buyers.

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