Latest from Horse & Hound in Horse-sales-auctions

‘Flawless’ rising star sells at elite auction for €90,000 to UK buyer

Lucy Elder — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:17:45 +0000

An eye-catching grey described by his producers as “probably the most flawless horse” they’ve ever produced topped the results at Goresbridge Go For Gold sale (10 to 12 November).

Monbeg Monaco, from Marti Rudd and Tomás Doyle’s Monbeg Sport Horses operation, sold to Barratt Equestrian (UK) for €90,000 (£79,290). The four-year-old is by Malcomme P and out of Mutieza (by Emir R).

The sale had a total turnover of €1.765m (£1.542m) and an overall clearance rate of 84%. The average sale price was €25,955.88 (£22,867).

Five-star winners and Olympic medallists studded the buyers’ list, which included shoppers from across the world. Austin O’Connor, Oliver Townend, Gaspard Maksud, Max Warburton and Susie Berry were among the top names to go home with new horses.

“These are the best event horses the island of Ireland can showcase and put forward for sale,” Goresbridge director Ed Donohoe told H&H.

“They were very carefully screened – we ended up with around 82 horses on the night from about 500-600 who were put forward.”

The horses are selected by a committee including British event riders Nicky Roncoroni and Nick Gauntlett, Sally Parkyn and Chris Ryan. Potential buyers are able to see and trial the horses over a few days at Barnadown, followed by the sale itself at a gala evening at Amber Springs Hotel.

“The proof is in the pudding – there have been so many top horses that have come out of that sale that have gone now to event at four- or five-star level,” said Mr Donohoe, adding that the sale does not solely cater for the very top level.

“There are the potential four- and five-star horses, but we also have something for everybody, such as the real top amateur horse. It’s about horses being commercial, and the horses are screened very well from a veterinary point of view.”

He added that sale topper Monbeg Monaco is “an absolute beauty” and that the next highest priced lot – Ralph Conroy’s four-year-old Milchem Giovanni who sold for €80,000 (£70,461) – is another to watch in future.

The Tyson son finished fourth in the Burghley Young Event Horse final with Jason Doerflinger in the saddle and sold to a US buyer.

“You’ll hear tell of him again,” said Mr Donohoe.

Another who caught his eye was lot number one Monbeg Echo Bay, also from the Monbeg yard. The five-year-old sold to a UK buyer for €50,000 (£44,038).

“The most satisfying thing for me, as the owner of Goresbridge, was the reaction we got before the sale, let alone after,” Mr Donohoe said.

“Before the sale, people were coming up to me and saying, ‘This is some selection of horses’. To have this selection all in one place makes it really appealing – riders and owners can come and see the horses being showcased over two days, they don’t have to travel from one yard to another. Then it culminates with the auction; it’s very exciting.”

He added that seeing sale graduates go on to achieve success is “so satisfying for the whole team”.

“It’s a big production,” he said, name-checking its many parts – the veterinary side, the selectors, media and showcasing teams. “We’re only as good as the horses we sell. It’s just so satisfying when it happens. But so they should be [going on to do well], because they are the best of what we can find and what we can bring to the market.”

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Top lot at Monart elite sport horse sale heads to the US as ‘strong demand’ reported

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Top lot at Monart elite sport horse sale heads to the US as ‘strong demand’ reported

Pippa Roome — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 11:29:07 +0000

The top lot at last week’s Monart Sale was knocked down for €31,500 to a US buyer.

Joe Pagan, founder and president of Kentucky Equine Research – an international equine nutrition, research, and consultation company serving horse owners and the feed industry – bought three-year-old MBF Santuro, by the Canturo son L’Extreme BH, out of a mare by Casall, who was being sold by MBF Sporthorses.

The Monart Sale consists entirely of three-year-olds, primarily destined for eventing. Buyers could attend in person or view horses through videos online on Monday and Tuesday (3-4 November), with the actual auction taking place online on Wednesday and Thursday (5-6 November).

“My wife and I attended the sale. This was our first time at Monart in person, but we were very familiar with the sale through the years. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience, particularly staying at the Monart Destination Spa,” Joe told H&H.

“We were interested in a number of horses initially, but narrowed our bidding to two horses. We were outbid for the first horse on Wednesday and bought this one on Thursday. We liked his conformation and were impressed with his way of going. We thought he might be a good young eventing prospect.”

Joe added that MBF Santuro will remain in Ireland to be started, before hopefully heading to the US next summer to begin his eventing career. He said it is “yet to be decided” who would start him or ride him once he is in the US.

View the sale results

Niall Griffin, managing director of the Monart Sale, said: “We’re very pleased with how the 2025 sale performed. It proved to be a real stand-out year, with outstanding quality on show and strong demand across all our markets.”

The sale reported a 73% clearance rate and an increase in average price compared to 2024. Seventy-nine horses were sold, with buyers including British five-star rider Sam Ecroyd’s father James, who bought three horses, Turkish championship rider Kumru Say, who purchased two, and Naomi Brotherton, mother of rising British star Barnie Brotherton.

The sale made “substantial investments this year to elevate the quality and experience of the sale, and there’s more in the pipeline for 2026”.

Expanding international reach through increased investment in marketing and social media paid off, attracting buyers from Poland, Scandinavia, Italy, the United States, Canada, Argentina, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium. The sale also reported “a welcome rise” in homegrown buyers from Ireland.

“Our vendors put in tremendous work and showcased their horses beautifully,” added Niall.

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Looking to buy the next best riding horse of the showing circuit? Read this handy guide…

Alex Robinson — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:30:47 +0000

If you’re on the hunt for new star for the show ring, then this guide on how to buy a riding horse is a good place to start.

What is a riding horse?

A riding horse is often defined as a type of show horse that fits between a hunter and a hack.

Riding horses fit into two height classes, large and small.

Small riding horse — mare or gelding, four years old or over, exceeding 148cm and not exceeding 158cm
Large riding horse — mare or gelding, four years old or over, exceeding 158cm

According to the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) the riding horse should have quality, substance, good bone, correct conformation, presence and true action.

There are riding horse classes held at most shows across the country. The two most prestigious riding horse titles to win are the riding horse of the year championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and the riding horse supreme at the Royal International (RIHS). At unaffiliated shows, large and small riding horses may be shown together in a single class.

During the class, riding horses perform on the go-round before they are assessed by a ride judge and a conformation judge.

Turnout wise, riding horses are shown trimmed with a plaited mane. Riding horses are shown with a coloured browband and the rider should wear a tweed jacket. Spurs should be worn by adults.

What should I look for in a riding horse?

Riding horses are the type between a hack and a hunter. Vicky Smith is a leading show horse producer from Cheshire. She has ridden multiple top riding horses, including the 2023 Royal Windsor and Great Yorkshire champion Royal Illusion.

She says that if you’re looking at a young prospect, you need to be mindful about its height.

“Always be aware of the height restrictions on each of the classes,” Vicky says. “Look at a horse and ask yourself what class it will fit in. These days, a lot of people buy unseen. There is always a risk, especially if you’re buying a youngster, say a three-year-old, that it will be too big for the small class, but too small for the large class.

“In terms of movement, a riding horse needs three really quality paces. They have to move well in trot but be comfortable in the canter when the ride judge gets on. Ultimately, they are going to be judged heavily on their ride once they get into the ring. They should be forward, and cover the ground, but also be mannerly and balanced.

“Type wise, I like a riding horse with good, flat bone, but with plenty of limb and substance. They need a substantial body and be in proportion. A small should be compact and butty with good depth, and a large can be a scopier in body. Riding horses do bridge the gap between a hack and a hunter, which is arguably why there is so much variation in type, probably the biggest you will see across the show horse classes.”

What else can I do with a riding horse?

Many riding horse types can do other jobs. The type of horse that fits into the riding horse category is likely to be scopey and athletic, but also substantial enough to jump, hunt or be a versatile all-rounder. Their movement might also make them a good choice for the dressage arena.

“A riding horse is the ideal type for an amateur who wants to do a bit of everything,” Vicky says. “As well as disciplines outside of showing, they can contend other showing classes, too, such as working show horse classes and intermediates if the rider is of the correct age.

“There are so many opportunities out there; from the new classes at London International, to the Search For A Star finals held at HOYS. If I were a young amateur looking to get into showing but also hoping to do other things, a small riding horse would be my first choice. They’re not as heavy and big as a hunter, but they’re usually not too fine for activities such as jumping and hunting.”

Where should I buy a riding horse from?

Riding horses for sale will be advertised at various times in the season on online platforms, including with Horse & Hound, powered by Whickr.

“It’s worth looking at online sites, but also asking professionals who produce riding horses,” Vicky says. “Riding horses are a type you can also stumble across by chance on all-rounder for sale pages. You can see low level all-rounders that, with a bit of fine tuning, could turn into good riding horses. The type isn’t quite as specific as a hack or a hunter, so they can be discovered if you have the right eye for one and have the confidence to take a chance on it.”

How do I know if the horse is for me?

Ultimately, only you know which horse is the right fit for you, and you should ask yourself a few questions before you agree on a sale. It is strongly advised that you go and view a horse prior to buying it. If the horse is broken in, you should ride the horse, ask to hack it out and see it in various situations, if possible.

If you are looking to keep the horse at home instead of on a production yard, you will need to figure out if it will fit into your routine. Show horses are athletes, many requiring careful training and production to ensure they perform at their best in the ring.

How much should I pay for a riding horse?

As Vicky suggests, as riding horse types can sometimes be advertised under a different guise, you might be able to grab a bargain: “I’ve stumbled across nice horses that have never done anything in the show ring, but that are of a nice type and they’ve just never been considered as a show horse, for about the £5,000 mark. On the other hand, there are beautiful young riding horses of the future going for strong money; it depends if you can find that diamond in the rough.”

What happens when I’ve agreed to buy a riding horse?

When you have found the right horse for you, then it’s time to arrange a pre-purchase vetting, something that is strongly recommended.

The vet will assess the horse with the specific job you want it for in mind, so it’s important to let the vet know prior to the vetting that your main goal is to compete it in the show ring as a riding horse. As you want the horse for showing, the vet should pay close attention to any conformational faults which could impact its future career, even if they don’t impact soundness or performance. Show horses should be clean limbed and have no blemishes either.

“I would always recommend a vetting, for insurance purposes,” says Vicky. “But remember, horses look different on different days. A horse doesn’t have to be perfect, but it’s always good to get the vet to look so you’re aware of anything wrong. The main things to check are the heart and eyes, and I would always get X-rays to ensure the structure of the horse is correct and sound.”

For more information, you can read H&H’s ultimate guide to buying a horse.

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‘Special horse’ breaks sale’s record with £1.47m price tag

Becky Murray — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:13:32 +0000

An Acclamation colt has sold for a record price on day one of the 2025 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up sale (15-16 April).

Lot 17, Willie Browne’s two-year-old colt out of Blue Willow mare Exceed and Excel, was knocked down for 1,400,000 guineas (£1.47m) to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin. Mr Browne broke his own record for this sale, set in 2015 when a War Front colt sold for 1,150,000 guineas.

“I can’t believe it. I believed he would sell well and that he might get to 500,000 or 600,000 guineas,” said Mr Browne.

“He was a beautiful yearling that I paid €70,000 (£59,958) for. On 1 February when we started doing a bit of work, straight away he started to stand out but he is also so sound, so easy to train, he has a great mind. I do believe he is a very special horse.”

Acclamation has sired Group One winners, and Blue Willow is a sister to three black type performers from the family of champion two-year-old filly Lemon Souffle.

“He did a very good breeze and a very good gallop out and is a lovely horse,” Mr Stroud said. “It just shows how vibrant the breeze up sale is, there were so many people on him – not just two, I think there were four or five. It just shows the appetite to buy horses at this sale.

“I thought this sale would be strong, but I did not think this horse would be so expensive. We have a few on the list and he was one of them. He goes to [trainer] Charlie Appleby and no one does a better job, he is the best. It is great for Willie Browne, he has been doing the job for a long time. It is lovely for him.”

Other notable sales included lot 82, a St Mark’s Basilica colt who sold for 750,000 guineas to Amo Racing, and lot 5, a Havana Grey colt who sold for 650,000 guineas to Godolphin. A Havana Grey filly, lot 65, was knocked down for 375,000 to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock.

A Tattersalls spokesperson reported “strong trade” throughout the session; the median and average were up 18% and 40% respectively from the equivalent session in 2024. The sale continues at 5.45pm today (16 April).

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How can I buy my perfect Connemara pony?

Alex Robinson — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:30:41 +0000

If you’re looking for tips on how to buy a Connemara pony then this guide on what to look for, where to shop and how much you should expect to spend will help you on your search.

What is a Connemara pony?

The Connemara is one of the most popular native breeds due to its versatility, athleticism, level temperament and willingness to work. The breed originates from County Galway in Ireland.

The breed is now hugely popular in Ireland, Britain, North America, across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

The preferred height for a Connemara pony is between 128cm and 148cm, and you cannot show a pony that exceeds 148cm in affiliated mountain and moorland classes. Though, over-height Connemaras are in high demand in disciplines such as eventing and showjumping. Similarly, the part-bred Connemara is sought after and commands a high price as it can turn its hoof to many activities and do several jobs.

Connemaras can be of the following colour; grey, black, bay, brown, dun, with occasional roan, chestnut, palomino, dark- and blue-eyed cream

According to the British Connemara Pony Society (BCPS), the breed Connemara pony should be “compact, well balanced riding type with depth, substance and good heart room. Standing on short legs covering a lot of ground. It should have a good temperament, hardiness and staying power, intelligence, soundness, surefootedness, jumping ability, suitable for child or adult.”

What should I look for when looking to buy a Connemara pony?

The BPCS provides the following breed standard to be used as a guide when conformationally assessing a Connemara pony:

Head: well-balanced pony head of medium length with good width between large kindly eyes. Pony ears, well-defined cheekbone, jaw relatively deep but not coarse.

Front: head well set on to neck. Crest should not be over-developed. Neck not set on too low. Well laid-back shoulder giving a good length of rein.

Body: body should be deep, with strong back, some length permissible but should be well ribbed up and with strong loins.

Limbs: good length and strength in forearm, well-defined knees and short cannons with flat bone measuring 18–21cm. Elbows should be free. Pasterns of medium length, feet well shaped of medium size, hard and level.

Hind-quarters: strong and muscular with some length, well developed second thighs (gaskin) and strong low-set hocks.

Movement: movement free, easy and true, without undue knee action, but active and covering the ground.

Kerry Wainwright’s Skellorn Stud has produced several champion Connemaras of the show ring, including multi-garlanded ridden and in-hand stallion Skellorn Harrison, now 22, and his son, former Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Connemara pony of the year Skellorn Deja Vu.

For Kerry, a good Connemara, no matter whether they are a native type or a sportier sort, should first and foremost have good limbs and conformation: “Start from the bottom up,” Kerry says, when she chatted to H&H in 2022. “Good, strong hindquarters are essential as that’s the engine of the pony. I also like a nice topline, shoulder and neck, too, as these indicate it will carry a saddle and ultimately have a job to do. A nice walk and good movement is also key from the performance aspect.”

Vanessa Clark has produced and shown Connemaras to top level for many years. Her mare Skaergaardens Delicious Love won the HOYS in-hand supreme final in 2022.

“The movement is the first thing that stands out, whether I am judging or looking for a pony to buy,” Vanessa says. “I like something that can open the shoulder and that can use itself, and I also want a pony to move from behind, really bringing the hocks forward. It’s so important to have that power coming from the back end. As I’m usually buying for top-end showing, I want a pony that immediately catches your eye, too.

“A pony being four-square is important, but it’s hard to find something with a good foreleg on it these days. I like symmetry all the way down into the hoof. Today, you do see a lot of Connies that are back at the knee, a big no-no for me. I also don’t like to see upright pasterns, or something that lacks limb or bone. I like a pony with a good front, and a nice deep body for the saddle. I would also be looking for pony characteristics to shine through.”

Is the Connemara pony right for me?

“The Connemara cross has become increasingly popular in grassroots eventing,” Nicola Baguley, who owned Connemara stallion Glencarrig Dolphin when she spoke to H&H back in 2022. “There’s a pyramid of riders and the grassroots people make up the base of it. I could have sold cross-bred youngsters 10 times over as there’s a demand for quality horses with nice, trainable temperaments as well as that all-important get-up-and-go which Connie blood adds. They’re also a popular choice for children coming off ponies, as they are more forgiving and have the ability to sort themselves out.”

“One of the key drivers of the increase in demand is that more people are opting just to have one pony in the family for a lifetime,” explains Kerry. “They want a pony which the mother can hack out during the week and the daughter can compete on the weekends, but that also won’t be outgrown; a proper, solid Connie will carry a lot of people for a long time and as it’s a native breed they’re relatively low maintenance while still being a performance animal.”

Vanessa adds: “Connies are very intelligent, and many people can underestimate them. You do have to get on with a Connemara, otherwise you are wasting your time. When you’re getting to know one you have to bend over backwards for them a little bit until you form a bond. If you can build that trust and bond, though, a Connie will move the earth for you. You won’t find a better pony, if you have that important connection.”

What about part-bred Connemaras?

Part-bred Connemara ponies and horses are also exceptionally popular in multiple disciplines. If you’re seeking a performance animal with temperament, talent and hardiness then a part-bred Connemara could be the way to go.

Debbie and Charlie Handley of the Wellbury Park Stud introduced the Connemara to their breeding programme for the level-headedness they bring to the crosses.

Debbie began her breeding journey with an Irish Draught stallion who was put to thoroughbred mares to produce event horses.

“I’ve always liked Irish crosses and the Connemara is renowned for being a good all-rounder,” explains Debbie, when she spoke to H&H in 2022. “We’ve crossed our stallions with all sorts and bred some very nice stuff,” Debbie adds. “The Connie puts bone onto the foals, but they tend to be more athletic than a pure-bred. They also bring a nice temperament to the mix which is what I aim for over anything else. The demand for Connie crosses is so high that we now sell our youngsters as foals; the money we can ask for them means it isn’t worth keeping them until they’re four-year-olds. The spectrum of people that Connemaras suits is so broad.”

How much should I pay for a Connemara pony?

“It really does depend on a few factors, but gone are the days of being able to buy a just backed Connie for around the £3000 mark,” Vanessa says. “Some of the most in demand types are the eventing and Pony Club types that will also do workers. An all-rounder that does everything with little to no fuss can go for anywhere around £20,000, as would a nice novice with HOYS potential.

“If you’re buying out of the field it’s obviously less, but colts and fillies with good breeding are definitely holding their value. And over height Connemaras are very popular and are also fetching a lot of money.”

Where should I buy a Connemara pony from?

There are several places to purchase a Connemara pony from. You can buy privately or from one of the many long-standing breeders located in either Ireland or England.

You can find current ponies for sale on online sites, such as Whickr.

Alternatively, you could attend one of the breed sales in Ireland. In Clifden, known as the heart of Connemara, there is a Connemara Pony Sale held several times per year. The sale offers ponies at different stages of training, from unbroken youngsters to those that are ready to start competing.

If you are based in England, you will need to consider that you will need to arrange an equine transporter to safely transport your new purchase over the water and back home.

“A lot of people go to Ireland which is understandable,” Vanessa says. “Connemara is the most beautiful place and it’s a real experience. I’ve been there many times and it’s brilliant. Irish ponies do have the bone, too. But, as the cost of getting a pony back over to the UK has risen so much I would always encourage people to have a look around locally, too.

“See what’s on your doorstep; there are some lovely ponies who have been well produced. Ireland will always be there and it’s handy to go for a visit to get your eye in anyway.

“If you see something you like out and about on the circuit, don’t wait for an advert to go online. You could approach the owner and see if they might be open to a sale.”

What happens when I’ve agreed to buy a Connemara pony?

When you have agreed on a sale, it is time to organise a pre-purchase vetting, something that is strongly recommended. If the pony is for a child, perhaps asking for a trial period would be sensible, but not all sellers wish to let their animals go out on trial, so don’t be surprised if this request is turned down.

It’s important to let the vet know prior to the vetting what you intend to use the pony for and who the rider will be. If you want the pony for showing, ask the vet to inform you of any blemishes or conformational faults even if they don’t impact the pony’s soundness or performance.

For more information, you can read H&H’s ultimate guide to buying a horse.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

£5m filly tops the list in £57m horse sale

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:29:55 +0000

There was roaring trade at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in Newmarket yesterday (3 December). It proved to be a record-breaking event, with a turnover of 55,168,500 guineas (£57,926,925) – the highest grossing day in European auction history.

The top lot was Group One 2024 Irish Oaks winner You Go To Me, who was knocked down for 4.8m guineas (£5.04m). This daughter of Nathaniel was the first filly offered for sale in the year of her Classic triumph for 40 years.

Consigned by Newsells Park Stud, You Got To Me was bought by Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian, who has spent a considerable amount of money in recent months, securing horses to expand his operation.

“We are trying to do the right thing. We have to compete, and we have been trying to compete for many years and have probably burnt so much cash by trying to do it, by trying to pick the next one – why try to pick the next one when you have the one here?” said Kia. “We were getting to a point that we were thinking she was overpriced but she could be very cheap in the long run. At least we know she is proven, she won the Irish Oaks amazingly.

“We bought a beautiful Frankel yearling filly for 4.4m [guineas] and so to buy a Classic winner at 4.8m [guineas] felt like it wasn’t such a bad move.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

You Got To Me has been trained throughout her career by Ralph Beckett and Kia said she will probably stay in training with him and will race next year.

“If you buy a horse like that, you always let the trainer who’s done an amazing job with her carry on,” Kia said.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Moving forwards, a career as a broodmare will be on the cards for You Got To Me.

“We’ve got strong stallions going into the market now and I want to back them,” said Kia. “She will probably stay in training one more year, but with King Of Steel, Bucanero Fuerte, Persian Force and Go Bears Go, they could all easily fit her.”

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‘I never thought this could happen to someone like me’: filly foal sells for £2.6m

Gemma Redrup — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:14:49 +0000

A Frankel filly foal, a full sister to Chaldean who won the Dewhurst Stakes and the 2000 Guineas, has sold for 2.5m guineas (£2.625m) at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, equalling the European record in the process.

The filly, who is out of Suelita, was introduced into the sales ring as “the queen of the show” by Tattersalls auctioneer Alastair Pim, and the opening bid was 1m guineas. It was Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian who made the final bid after a brief phone call. It is the highest ever price achieved by a filly foal in Europe – the previous record holder was when My Typhoon went down for 1.8m guineas at this sale in 2002.

“What is there to say? We have spent 2.5m on an own-sister to a Classic winner; I think we have made a good move, and it is a brave statement of intent by Kia,” said bloodstock agent Alex Elliott. “I was willing Kia to make that last bid, he had to make a phone call – he said that he had to phone a friend; I said don’t ask the audience! I am over the moon – such horses are so very hard to buy. The mare is unbelievable, the farm is unbelievable, the sire is unbelievable and she is a lovely filly.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The filly was bred and consigned by Whitsbury Manor Stud; Chris Harper, who took over the running of the stud in the 1970s and whose son Ed Harper now runs it, said: “I am very emotional. Suelita was the last mare I bought, she was just my sort – very pretty, not very big, a nice big body with short legs. Did I think she could become what she has? Never! What a lucky chap I am? It is quite extraordinary, I never thought this could happen to someone like me!”

Ed Harper added: “It is amazing! It’s funny, when we have a really good one like this I have very little to do with her really – the team [at home] just go into overdrive. She did not need any selling, the mating planned itself. It has all been down to the team.”

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‘A horse that gives you goosebumps’: young sport horse sells for €2m

Lucy Elder — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:50:17 +0000

A dressage-bred colt by the young sire Donkey Boss sold for €2m (£1,669,470) to headline the Verden stallion licensing and sale on Saturday (23 November).

The two-year-old chestnut Hanoverian was bred at Helene Geervliet’s Danish stud Stutteri G, and bought by Helgstrand Dressage in partnership with Schockemöhle.

“[He is] a horse that gives you goosebumps,” said the licensing committee, headed by breeding director Ulrich Hahne.

The colt’s sire, Donkey Boss, is by Donkey Boy. Donkey Boss’s dam, Boogie Woogie, is a daughter of Blue Hors Zack, a world team gold medallist and familiar face on Danish championship teams.

On the maternal side of the colt’s family tree is his dam, De Vie G, is by grand prix stallion Don Olymbrio L – better known as Blue Hors Don Olymbrio – who finished second in the World Cup final with Nanna Skodborg Merrald this year.

“We are super excited about this young stallion. He has shown excellent potential both at the pre-selection and here at the licensing, and we are confident he has a bright future ahead,” said Esben Møller, Helgstrand Dressage’s head buyer.

In a post on social media, Schockemöhle stud said the horse “has what it takes to take dressage horse breeding to a whole new dimension”.

“In his pedigree, the strongest stallion lines ever flow together,” the post said.

The post added that from the colt’s first appearance to his final trot laps, the “eyecatcher from the Jadeluft [line] always showed himself at the highest level”.

“Licensing commissioner Heike Kemmer aptly described him as a pronounced complete horse with three absolutely outstanding basic gaits, always elastic yet powerful and equipped with a mental superiority, as if he was aware of his uniqueness,” it stated.

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£4.62m filly is second-highest priced yearling sold at auction in Europe

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 07:03:10 +0000

The top lot of Book One at the 2024 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket (8–10 October) was a Frankel filly, who was knocked down for 4.4m guineas (£4.62m), the second highest price for a yearling in European auction history.

Out of Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes winner Aljazzi, the filly was sold to Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing, alongside agent Alex Elliott, after he saw off a determined effort from Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida. The filly will be trained in the UK.

“Kia and partners wanted the filly very badly,” explained Alex. “A Frankel filly from that family and with that physical make-up – she was always going to be a collector’s item. It is a deep price tag and, though we had discussed her at length, I obviously did not see her making that, but we had very much homed in on her.”

Consignor Julian Dollar of Newsells Park Stud said: “To be honest, I was hoping she would make a million and that would have been nice, but obviously some good players had her valued at twice that. We are obviously delighted. Mitsu Nakauchida is a great trainer and a lovely guy and he loved her, and obviously Kia, Amo and Alex loved her too – it is unbelievable.”

Top priced colt in Tattersalls Book One sales results

Amo Racing invested significant sums throughout this year’s sale with the second highest-priced lot, a Wootton Bassett colt, knocked down for 4.3m guineas (£4.515m) – a new record price at Book One for a colt – to Amo, with Coolmore the underbidders.

The record price for a yearling sold during Book One was achieved in 2013 by a Galileo filly when she was sold for 5m guineas. She was out of Alluring Park – this colt’s granddam – and was also bred and sold by Lodge Park.

After the sale Jamie Burns of Lodge Park, who led up the colt and was surrounded by family, said: “He is a beautiful horse and the family has always done us well, and, hopefully, he will be the next one to enhance the pedigree.

“I was not expecting that! I was not really thinking when it went over four million – emotion took over, it was surreal and all pretty special.”

Bloodstock agent Alex Elliott said: “If you were going to paint a racehorse, he is as close to perfection as you can get. From the top to the bottom, from the farm he came from – the amount of time and money and love that the Burns family has put into that page, it just does not take any explaining to anyone.

“For us to be part of that, to buy into that is just phenomenal. I said, ‘Kia, you have been second in two Derbys, this is the horse who could take you one place better.’ He has got every right, if he can run how he looks to have a spot in a stallion shed one day.

“I am very honoured to be a small part of the process, thankfully Kia has faith in his team, I just hope he gets rewarded for what they are doing.”

Kia Joorabchian added: “For us to get to the next level we have to target the best stock. When we saw this colt, every member of my team said ‘We can’t leave without him’.”

Of the 345 lots sold, the total turnover was 127.8million guineas (£134.2million), with the average lot price of 370,501 guineas (£389,026).

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€1m young horse tops jumping auction after intense bidding war

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 15:09:25 +0000

The top lot at the recent Zangersheide Quality Jumpers powered by MBA auction was a young stallion who fetched a whopping €1m (£834,000).

On Thursday evening (19 September) in Belgium, an intense bidding war broke out for seven-year-old Codex Diaz Z (Codex One Z x Cornet Obolensky), resulting in his seven-figure price tag. The youngster was sold to a buyer from Germany.

This debut auction was a collaboration between Judy Ann Melchior, Jens Baackmann and Christian Ahlmann, and held as part of the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at Zangersheide in Belgium.

Auctioneer Frederik de Backer presented the collection of 26 lots, ranging from three-year-old potential showjumpers to nine-year-old proven performers with the striking Codex Diaz Z proving the highlight as the approved stallion son of the Aachen grand prix winner’s price soared to the €1m mark.

Auction top lot Codex Diaz Z ((Codex One Z x Cornet Obolensky). (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Changing hands for €900,000 was seven-year-old stallion Ay Caramba Z (Aganix Du Seigneur Z x Crowntano Z), who was also sold to Germany, while the third most expensive horse of the evening was six-year-old gelding Barack Z (Balounito x Arpeggio), for whom the hammer fell at €365,000 to a buyer from the United States.

A British bidder secured six-year-old approved stallion Dolomite Z (Diamant De Semilly x Caretano Z) for €310,000 and the hammer fell at €295,000 for eight-year-old Danger Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Calvados Z) to a Chinese buyer.

Among the three-year-olds to go under the hammer, the mare Annan Z, a daughter of Aganix Du Seigneur Z and Canturo, and a full sister to Ludger Beerbaum’s approved stallion Aberdeen Z, sold to the US for €240,000. The chestnut stallion Chacnan Van Het Weidehof Z (Chacco Blue x Kannan) sold for €110,000 to new German owners while Denzel The One Z, a son of Diablue PS and Ogano Sitte, changed hands for €98,000 finding a new home in the United States.

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Grand prix jumping stallion sells for €2.3 million at auction to join young rider

Jennifer Donald — Tue, 07 May 2024 16:30:42 +0000

The top lot at this week’s Aloga showjumping horse auction in Belgium was 10-year-old grand prix stallion Dark Chocolate, who was sold for €2.3million (£1,975,000) for a student of Cian O’Connor.

Dark Chocolate (Casall x Acodetto I) has been ridden and produced by Ireland’s Denis Lynch for the past few years, being crowned the leading eight-year-old in the seven- and eight-year-old final at Dublin Horse Show in 2022 before going on to record plenty of good placings at five-star level including the London International, Barcelona, Basel and St Gallen.

The stallion was one of 19 quality showjumpers to go under the hammer on Monday 6 May at the latest Aloga Auction, established by Irish showjumping brothers Bertram Allen and Harry Allen, and fellow showjumper Maxi Lill, held at Sentower Park.

€2.3million horse auction purchase: championship ambitions

Cian O’Connor told H&H that the top lot was bought for one of his European-based students.

“The plan is to develop her to the young rider European Championships this year,” said Cian, who recently had two top horses secured for him thanks to investment by a British buyer as the Paris Olympics approach.

Denis paid tribute to a “class horse”, who he’s enjoyed producing over the past three years.

“One of the early highlights of our time together was jumping clear at Olympia grand prix, which is a really good character test,” he told H&H. “He won the eight-year-old finals at Leipzig World Cup Finals, then we took it easy for a bit before stepping him up and in his first big test he was clear in the World Cup in Madrid. He’s been jumping clears again as a 10-year-old – the whole way through, every time you asked him, he always stepped up.

“His new rider is very talented, she gave him a beautiful trial, the horse loved her and they really clicked together, which is fantastic, so hopefully they’ll go on well together.”

Three lots from Monday’s auction made in excess of €1,000,000 with two other beautifully bred stallions completing the trio. The second highest-priced lot of the night was Ballywalter Stables’ exciting six-year-old stallion Nikora TSH (Aganix Du Seigneur x Unaniem), who has been competed by Harry Allen and went under the hammer for €1.9million, and the nine-year-old stallion Kiritan (Kannan GFE x For Ever Jump) who has been jumping to CSI3* with Maxi Lill and sold for €1.7million.

‘She’s going to be just fabulous’: filly sets record with eye-watering AU$10m price tag

Lucy Elder — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 16:38:19 +0000

The only foal of super mare Winx has set a new record price by selling for AU$10 million (£5,219,055) at auction to her famous dam’s part-owner.

The 2022 filly (“Lot 391”), by Pierro, was consigned by powerhouse operation Coolmore and sold for the record sum to Woppitt Bloodstock following an electric bidding war with Resolute Racing’s John Stewart on the second day of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Australia.

She is currently the sole living offspring of Winx, the exceptional mare who won 25 Group Ones during her racing career.

The auction house has stated that this is a new world record price for a yearling filly. It also sets a new yearling record price in the Southern Hemisphere.

“I didn’t come here to buy this horse originally. We put her up for auction and then in the past few weeks, all of the family, we started to miss our ‘daughter/granddaughter’ so we just decided as best we could, if we could get her, we would,’’ said Woppitt Bloodstock’s Debbie Kepitis said post-sale.

“I am privileged to have been able to secure this filly on behalf of my family. She’s Australian for ever and she’s going to be just fabulous. Thank you to everybody around the world who has taken this on board, it’s been thrilling to watch it and we’re lucky enough that we came out winners.”

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said he had never seen anything like it.

“You wouldn’t see this anywhere else in the world,’’ Magnier said. “You wouldn’t see the build-up, you wouldn’t see the hype and atmosphere today, I’ve never witnessed anything like it at any auction house around the world.

“It’s just the perfect story. I knew she was going to make a very high figure because somebody is buying history. She is a classic, a collectors’ item and there’s only one person who deserved this today, and that’s Debbie.

“It’s a dream story. I don’t think you can put a value on a filly like that. It’s just incredible, I’m delighted.”

Buying a horse at an elite sale or auction: H&H explains all you need to know

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 13:00:37 +0000

Historically, some British buyers have been reluctant to buy through horse sales. But the recent growth in continental-style “select” or “elite” auctions has seen British buyers grow in confidence and numbers.

So if you’re thinking about attending one of these more popular horse sales to find your next equine partner, what do you need to know before you go? Horse & Hound’s experts are here to guide you through some critical dos and don’ts before you start bidding…

Pre horse sales homework

Take the time to research your auction trip thoroughly and make a shortlist of potential purchases. This is critical to the chances of success once in the sale room.

Register and order an auction catalogue through the auctioneers’ website. The catalogue lists the entries being offered for sale (known as lots, each lot having its own particular number). You can then have a look through the catalogue and make a note of possible candidates.
If you’re not confident, go and watch some horse sales before you take the plunge. This will help you to get used to the bidding process, such as how buyers signal their bids and the speed at which the auction moves.
Remember there will be commission to pay at horse sales. Charges vary but as an example, Goresbridge Go for Gold requests 8% commission of the sale price from the purchaser and the Monart sale requests 5% commission of the sale price from the purchaser. There will also be VAT, transport and insurance to add to your final bidding price, so budget accordingly. Most sales will accept all forms of payment (cash, card, cheque or bank transfer). All information regarding these extra charges and methods of payment can be found in the sale catalogue.
Be sure to turn up on the sale day well in advance of the likely time that your lot number is due to go through the sale ring. This will give you plenty of opportunity to inspect the lot you may be interested in as well as to register as a potential buyer. You may even be allowed to trial the horses before you bid so look out for information on the auction house’s website.

Top tips for novice horse sales buyers

If you’re keen to head to a sale or auction, but are unsure where to start and what pitfalls you should be avoiding, follow our tips for success.

1. Stick with what you know you want. Don’t be drawn in by vendors chatting to you at the sales. Follow your instinct – if alarm bells ring in the way a horse looks or goes, avoid it.

2. Buy at a reputable sale where there is a vet present. Vetting is strongly recommended no matter what your budget may be. All sales are fully warranted, so if your horse doesn’t pass its vetting immediately after the auction you can terminate the sale.

3. If you are looking for a specific breed, check that the horse or pony has a registered passport for that breed society.

4. Make sure you pull any lot numbers you are interested in out of their box before they go into the sales ring. This is to check for obvious problems in limb and body. Watch them trot up and check the vet’s certificate in the office. This way you can ensure the lot has good conformation, clean limbs, straight movement and signs of general good health.

5. Observe carefully when they are tacked up and handled, and again when they are mounted.

6. There are usually good, reliable transport companies present at a sale so you can get your purchase home – information is usually printed in the catalogue, but check with the auction house if you are unsure.

7. Look out for professional riders on a pony that you are considering for a child — there may be a reason for this.

8. Take an experienced person with you — two sets of eyes are always better than one.

10. Don’t get carried away on the day. Auctions are quite exciting places and auctioneers build up the atmosphere and push up prices where they can. Have a budget and stick to it. Remember to factor in any extra fees you will have to pay on top of the sale price.

11. Don’t expect to pick up star quality for peanuts – there’s nearly always money around for the best stock.

Expert advice when buying at horse sales

Some auction room professionals share their pearls of wisdom for anyone considering attending a sale.

Stuart Clarke – Cavan Horse & Pony Sales director

“Ask plenty of questions and try and study the horses or ponies you’re interested in as closely as possible – try to get up close to them to make sure you’re happy and it is fit for purpose. Also have a good chat with the vendors. If you want to or have the opportunity to ride the horse or pony prior to the sale, that can definitely be a helpful tool in helping you to make a decision. Buying horses isn’t an exact science – horses obviously aren’t like cars – so you need to try and satisfy your requirements as best as possible before buying. At Cavan, we’ve had success with selling horses at all levels across all disciplines across the world, including at the Olympics. There are lots of good horses out there that can be bought at reasonable prices from sale and at auction.”

Cathy Wood – producer

Cathy Wood has been selling horses successfully for many years, privately and at sales. “You have to look at your own stock with your eyes wide open – not through rose-tinted spectacles. I try to put a buyer’s hat on and ask myself how much I would pay. You can’t value a horse on what it has cost you — some will earn more than their cost, while others will be a bitter pill to swallow.”

Nicky Stephens – event rider

Former international event rider Nicky Stephens has bought literally hundreds of horses at auction. “The first things I look for are whether the horse has the conformation to do his job and if he has a kind attitude. Without these two things, you have nothing. Good breeding lines can also make a difference, but not to a horse with poor conformation or an attitude problem. A horse must live up to its breeding.”

Sport horse elite sales directory

• Goresbridge: Pulls for British buyers are the Go for Gold sale in November which showcases Ireland’s elite young event horses in November, and the flagship 10-day sport horse sale in September, which sees nearly 2,000 horses offered for sale. More information

• Monart: select sale of three-year-old event horses in Ireland in November. Also a new summer sale (30-31 July, 2024) of ridden eventing and jumping horses. More information

• Cavan Equestrian & Horse Marketing Centre: this auction house is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024 and offers international performance horse sales, youngstock, sport horse, Irish draught and Connemara sales in Ireland. More information

• Tattersalls: thousands of thoroughbreds are sold each year at over 30 sales at either its Newmarket headquarters in England, at Fairyhouse outside Dublin and at Cheltenham and Sandown racecourses. More information

• Clifden: exclusively for Connemaras, head to the west coast of Ireland. More information

• Brilliance Horse Auction at London International Horse Show: the inaugural running of this auction took place in December 2023 where 12 elite showjumpers were showcased. More information

• British Elite Sporthorse Talent (BEST) at Brendon Stud: this auction, aimed to put a spotlight on British breeding, first took place in November 2023. The 19 three-year-olds that were offered included a few belonging to Shirley Light, who owns Brendon Stud, plus some bred by Shane Breen, Carron Nicol and Oakingham Stud, among others.

• Scottish Sports Horse Auction at Rockrose Equestrian: this auction first took place in September 2023. There were 30 horses registered for the auction, including yearlings and youngstock, and competition horses across the disciplines.

• Billy Stud auctions: The Billy Stud is a joint venture between William Funnell and Donal Barnwell. The stud hosts several auctions each year, offering Billy Stud showjumpers for sale. More information

• Bolesworth Elite Auctions: In 2023, Bolesworth hosted two auctions, offering elite foals for sale in August and 10 ridden horses and 15 yearling lots in the A-List auction in July. More information

‘It has been an honour’: new world record price set at horse auction

Gemma Redrup — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 16:47:29 +0000

History was made at Tattersalls Ireland yesterday (5 February) when Caldwell Potter achieved a world record selling price of €740,000 (£632,000); the most ever paid for a National Hunt horse at public auction.

The Grade One winner and leading Cheltenham Festival contender was part of the Tattersalls Ireland Andy and Gemma Brown Dispersal Sale. Andy and Gemma recently decided to sell their entire string of horses, who had all been in training with Gordon Elliott, as they want to leave the sport.

The high-profile and unprecedented sale offered 29 lots, all without reserves. The session turnover of €5,290,000 was a record-breaking aggregate for a one-day boutique National Hunt Sale. The average price for the session was €182,414 with four horses selling for over €500,000 and 10 for €200,000 or more.

Although Gordon Elliott was the determined underbidder of Caldwell Potter in an effort to ensure the horse returned to his Cullentra House Stables, Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock ultimately secured the impressive six-year-old on behalf of John Hales, Ged Mason, Sir Alex Ferguson and Peter Done, and the horse will go into training with Paul Nicholls.

“He is standout, a lovely horse – I loved him as a youngster as a store [unbroken three-year-old],” said Anthony. “I have watched his career closely – he has only been running over two miles yet he looks a stayer. He may potentially be a Gold Cup horse, long-term.

“I can’t say what plans Paul will have for the horse and we will see how it all works out, obviously there are the Cheltenham entries and Aintree would be a consideration, but he has been bought really as a chaser of the future.”

Gordon Elliott managed to secure Pied Piper for Windgates Stud on behalf of a new syndicate for €570,000, Staffordshire Knot for €510,000, Sa Fureur for €330,000 and Doctor Elvis for €260,000.

Gordon said: “I was disappointed to lose the big horse, but that is the way it is – hopefully he will be lucky for the new owners. Pied Piper is coming back and we have got all the ones we wanted apart from Caldwell Potter.”

Simon Kerins, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland, said: “First and foremost, I extend my sincere gratitude to Andy and Gemma Brown, as well as Joey Logan, for entrusting us with their dispersal sale, it has been an honour.

“I would like to express my appreciation to Gordon Elliott and his team – every single horse in this draft has been produced looking in superb order and, finally, the Tattersalls Ireland team for turning this sale around at such speed. It is testament to the team’s professionalism and hard work, proof of the flexibility that we have and ability to act as the industry requires.

“The sale has been a phenomenal success and the figures paid have been mind-blowing. We knew these horses would be in high demand given their proven level of form, and all the big players were here today.

“We look forward to watching today’s sales horses going on to achieve great things on the racecourse, and we hope to see the Browns return to the racing scene in the near future.”

Rise in UK elite horse auctions helping to show off ‘uncut British diamonds’

Becky Murray — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 19:33:01 +0000

A rise in the number of elite horse auctions is providing a platform to promote British breeding and boost the UK sales market.

New events have taken place this year including the Brilliance Horse Auction at London International Horse Show, the British Elite Sporthorse Talent (BEST) auction at Brendon Stud and the Scottish Sports Horse Auction at Rockrose Equestrian, in addition to existing sales at the Billy Stud and Bolesworth.

At the Brilliance Horse Auction, founded by William and Pippa Funnell and Chloe and Shane Breen, 10 horses sold – totalling £1,695,000 – to buyers from Saudi Arabia, the US and Europe. The top lot was eight-year-old mare Billy Etna, by Billy Congo, who sold for £300,000 to Belgium.

William Funnell, who started running the Billy Stud auctions in 2017, told H&H British breeding “has come a long way over the last 20 years”.

“Auctions are a good way to show European buyers that there are a lot of uncut diamonds here. And for us at Billy Stud, it’s a way to get our breeding and horses into the marketplace,” he said.

“For a buyer, the auction scenario is great because they can come and see 12 horses, they don’t need to pay for vettings and X-rays because it’s all done for them and if they don’t purchase, it doesn’t cost them anything.”

William added that when coming up with the Brilliance Horse Auction – which will run a second edition at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead in July – they had to think about how to bring foreign buyers to the UK.

“By having the London International as a platform, people could do shopping over Christmas and watch the World Cup,” he said.

“It was one of the only ways I could see that we could get Americans or people from the Middle East to come to an auction here – that’s where we miss out, because in Europe anybody in Germany, Belgium, Holland or France can drive to an auction within three hours.”

Shirley Light of the Brendon Stud told H&H the BEST auction, which will return next autumn, was available to stream online and they had bidders from Europe and the US.

“I think auctions are brilliant for the UK horse market,” she said. “It’s about having an experienced team behind them and people trusting that team. For our auction, we had the horses stabled here for two weeks beforehand, so we made sure they were handled and exactly as described.

“The Brilliance team did a great job in London. I think running auctions alongside events is definitely the way to go.”

Sonya Cunningham of Rockrose Equestrian launched the Scottish Sports Horse Auction, which ran in September, because she believed the sales system in Scotland to be “broken”.

“We’ve got some great horses here so I thought, ‘Let’s get them in one place and make it worthwhile for people to come and see them.’”

‘This country needs to grow a pair!’ New auction to promote British breeding

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:10:42 +0000

“This country needs to grow a pair”, joked the organiser of a new open auction of youngsters aimed to boost British breeding.

Shirley Light of Brendon Stud in West Sussex is organising the BEST (British Elite Sporthorse Talent) auction this weekend (11-12 November). The 19 three-year-olds on offer include a few of her own, plus some bred by Shane Breen, Carron Nicol and Oakingham Stud, among others.

Shirley told H&H the idea “popped out of my head”.

“The aim is to promote British breeding,” she said. “It’s time this country grew a pair and put on a good sale like this!”

Shirley said her aim is for the sale to grow to be held at least once a year. She has started with showjumpers as those are the ones she breeds but does not want it to be restricted by age, discipline or location.

“All the auctions abroad work like this, ones that are open to everyone, and it’s time we realised that sales like this can be good, and that you don’t have to go abroad to buy good horses,” she said. “We breed and produce good horses; we know how to give them the right start in life; the first three years are so important.”

Free tickets are still available for the viewing day.

New sports horse auction aims to fix ‘broken’ sales system

Becky Murray — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 18:32:53 +0000

An event rider and producer is hoping to change the way performance horses are bought and sold in Scotland with the launch of a new auction.

Sonya Cunningham, owner of Rockrose Equestrian Centre, East Lothian, is hosting the first Scottish Sports Horse Auction, in partnership with Caledonian Marts, on 30 September.

Sonya told H&H she came up with the idea having been to auctions in Ireland in the past, and she believes that the current sales system in Scotland is “broken” for both buyers and sellers.

“I think auctions are a fantastic way to buy and sell horses, and we don’t have anything like it here for performance horses,” she said.

“We’ve got some great horses here so I thought let’s get them in one place, and make it worthwhile for people to come and see them.”

There are 30 horses registered for the auction, including yearlings and youngstock, and competition horses across the disciplines.

“The day will be organised to give buyers plenty of time to watch the horses being ridden and also to try them out. The auction itself will be later in the day with the option to bid online if required,” said Sonya.

“All the horses will be inspected by a vet on arrival, and vendors are strongly encouraged to bring full vetting certificates and x-rays as appropriate. It’s as much about educating people how to sell at auction as how to buy.”

Sonya said the auction is open to spectators.

“Even if you aren’t intending to buy, we are encouraging people to come, enjoy the day and learn how the system works to build confidence in future auctions. It’s a fantastic environment to network with breeders, producers, friends and other professionals in the industry,” she said.

“We hope in the future to build on this and host auctions with 50-60 horses, either quarterly or six-monthly. I buy almost all my horses at auction now, including my current three-star eventer. Auctions work brilliantly in most other countries and are a fantastic, and thoroughly enjoyable, way to buy or sell a horse.”

View the auction catalouge.

‘One of the best ever’: six-year-old showjumper smashes records to sell for seven figures

Lucy Elder — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:02:55 +0000

A six-year-old showjumping mare billed by former owner Paul Schockemöhle as “one of the best we’ve seen” set an auction record selling for a staggering €4m (£3.49m).

Chyazint (pictured, above), formerly co-owned by Paul and her breeder Anna Christina Gansäuer, topped the 43rd PSI Auction (11 December) and set the highest price in the auction’s history.

The Casallco daughter, out of Heartbreaker mare Hyacint 2, started her career with Swedish rider Ebba Johansson and was acquired by the Auer family for the seven-figure sum.

“This is an unbelievable result,” said Paul.

“Chyazint is an absolute super talent, one of the best horses we have seen in all these years.

“Under the expert guidance of Ebba, she has developed into a truly absolutely exceptional jumper. The best riders in the world have tried to win this mare for themselves and I am sure that she will soon play a role in top international sport and at championship level.”

The proceeds from the 50 horses sold totalled €22,992,000 (£20,047,882), with two other horses also breaking the €1m barrier at the showjumping and dressage sale.

Fürstin Aura, by Fürst Jazz and out of a Don Schufro mare, was the highest-priced dressage horse, selling for €1,050,000 (£915,548) to a Belgian buyer. Seven-year-old showjumper LVS Vigo, formerly owned by Paul and who started his international career under Ireland’s Aoife McCabe and Germany’s Laura Klaphake, also broke the €1m mark.

The combined total for the showjumpers sold was €13,655,000 (£11,906,482), with an average price of €546,200 (£476,259). For the dressage horses, it was €9,337,000 (£8,141,400), with an average price of €373,480 (£325,656).

“The philosophy of Performance Sales International meets the buyer’s demand and is unique in the sport horse market,” said Ulli Kasselmann, who co-founded PSI with Paul

“Especially loyal customers rely on the relationship of trust à la PSI — a factor that is more important than ever, especially in these times.

“Our customers know that in most cases we have known the candidates in the PSI collection from birth and appreciate their good upbringing as well as their initial training.”

Embryo by the sire of Olympic champion Explosion W sells for a cool €90,000

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:56:48 +0000

An embryo by top showjumping sire Chacco-Blue sold for €90,000 (£78,824) to a buyer from the Emirates, who also snapped up a full sibling to H&M All In.

The embryo by the same sire as Ben Maher’s Olympic champion Explosion W, out of Nabab De Reve mare Kirby De Muze, was the subject of a bidding battle at the end of the Flanders Embryo Auction in Italy on 12 November.

Of 32 embryos up for auction, 29 were sold for an average €30,276 (£26,519). A Canadian buyer secured a Cash x Carthago embryo for €68,000 (£59,522), and a half-sibling to Emerald van ’t Ruytershof was sold to Italy for €60,000 (£52,520).

“The question whether Flanders Foal Auction wanted to organise an embryo auction on Italian soil did not take Luk Van Puymbroeck and Gerald Lenaerts long to respond to,” a spokesman for the sale organisers said. “It turned into an unforgettable occasion with prices you can only dream of.”

Buyers at the Il Borro estate in Tuscany gathered in the wine cellar for the bidding, and the first embryo sold was the full sibling to Peder Fredricson’s double Olympic individual silver medallist H&H All In, by Kashmir Van Schuttershof out of Andiamo mare Fortune. This went for €38,000 (£33,267) to the Emirati buyer, who also paid €26,000 (£22,761) for a Cathago embryo, out of Venus, dam of Beezie Madden’s five-star grand prix winner Darry Lou.

Initiator and host Marco Debolini was delighted with the auction. “To be honest, normally speaking, embryo auctions are a little dull,” he said. “There is no reason for a lot of preparation or explanation. Anyone visiting an auction like that knows the story of Chacco-Blue by now. Our aim was to create a good atmosphere, to offer everybody a night never to forget. We Italians do not have such a powerful auction culture as you do, but having mixed various elements in combination with offering the very best embryos I expect that next year we will have an even more interested public!”

£2.94m colt is highest-priced yearling sold in the world this year

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 17:55:27 +0000

A colt by racing superstar and super sire Frankel became the most expensive yearling sold in the world this year when going under the hammer for 2.8 million guineas at Tattersalls in Newmarket on Wednesday (5 October).

The colt (lot 221), bred by the Lloyd Webbers’ Watership Down Stud, was sold to top racing operation Godolphin for £2.94m at the prestigious Book One Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The unnamed yearling is out of the Group Three Musidora Stakes winning mare So Mi Dar, who was sired by Dubawi.

Watership Down Stud’s owner Madeleine Lloyd Webber said: “It is always a shame to sell the wonderful stock out of the Dar Re Mi family but we just have to. He is a particularly beautiful colt, he looks so like his father Frankel yet he has the Dar Re Me line and the beautiful head. He walked beautifully, I could not really fault him. We obviously loved him, we are delighted that Godolphin bought him and he is going to stay here [in the UK] and be trained brilliantly. We could not have hoped for anything better really.”

“Obviously he’s got a stallion’s pedigree as he’s by Frankel out of a very good Dubawi mare,” said Anthony Stroud after signing for Godolphin’s top purchase. “This is one of Watership Down’s best families so he was the jewel in the crown. He is an outstanding horse and he will be a very valuable horse if he is a good racehorse.”

Simon Marsh, general manager of Watership Down, said: “It is an amazing family, it’s an extraordinary thing when you have a horse like that and he fulfills everything you want. He has been an exceptional individual all his life, but these things don’t happen by accident, there has been an enormous amount of people involved in getting him here – stud manager Terry Doherty, who has been with us for 30 years, Conor Chapman, who led him up, and Donna Vowles, who is our manager in Ireland, the feed people, the farriers, all these people have to come together to get the horse here today. We are delighted, it is an incredible family and we are incredibly lucky.”

Frankel was a superstar on the racecourse and looks to have transferred that superiority to the breeding shed, breaking all records so far in his stud career and already the sire of eight top-level winners in 2022. He had five of the top 10 prices at this year`s October Book One Sale, including the top two lots.

Trade was incredibly strong at this year’s Book One sale with turnover reaching a record 126,671,000 guineas, up 47% on last year’s sale. The average and median sale prices rose by 30% and 25% respectively to 298,752 guineas and 200,000 guineas, which are also both records. However the top lot’s price fell short of the sale’s record, which remains held by a Galileo filly out of Alluring Park, who sold for 5,000,000 guineas in 2013.

The world’s most expensive horse ever sold was Fusaichi Pegasus, who cost $70 million (£53.7 million) when he was bought by the racehorse breeding powerhouse Coolmore Ireland in 2000.

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lot 221 Frankel (GB) / So Mi Dar (GB) B.C. (GB) Watership Down StudGodolphin2,800,000Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 105/10/22 (Image credit: ©Tattersalls)

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Fell pony filly foal is top lot in breed’s first online sale

Alex Robinson — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 10:01:20 +0000

For the first time in the Fell pony breed’s history, ponies from two leading studs were sold via online auction, where a filly foal topped the trade at £5,500.

North West Auctions conducted the sale of registered Fell ponies on behalf of the Drybarrows Stud of David Thompson, Penrith and the Bracklinn Stud of Alistair Smith, Dunblane.

There were 150 active bidders and more than 25 successful buyers, which included nine ponies finding new homes abroad.

Leading the bids at £5,500 was the black filly Drybarrows Harmony, by Bluecap Gilbert out of Drybarrows Distinction, who was sold to Ms Colquhoun in south Cumbria.

This was followed by £4,900 for Drybarrows Hallmark, a black colt foal also by Bluecap Gilbert, who sold to the south of England, to Ms Fouch.

American buyer Ms Snar bought Drybarrows Havana, by Drybarrows Dynamic, for £3,700. Drybarrows Hot Stepper, by Drybarrows Bowie, sold for £3,500 to Riverwind Stables in South Carolina, which also took home the top-priced foal from the Bracklinn Stud, the Carrock I’m Yer Man filly Bracklinn Violet, for £3,700.

Colt foals from the Bracklinn Stud sold to £2,700 for Bracklinn Hotshot, who is by the late Bracklinn Jackpot.

The sale also included a selection of yearlings upwards. These ponies peaked at £4,300 for three-year-old filly Drybarrows Edelwiss, sired by Drybarrows Bowie out of Holling Tara. She joins Ms Wohlfarth in Germany.

The yearling colt Drybarrows Guardian, by Bracklinn Jackpot, sold for a final bid of £2,900.

A grey yearling filly by Carrock I’m Yer Man, Bracklinn Clemmie, achieved £3,400, also selling to Riverwind Stables.

All foals forward in the sale averaged £2,412.22. Yearlings and older ponies averaged £2,418.

Showjumping superstar’s first auctioned embryo sells for five figures

Lucy Elder — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 18:01:35 +0000

The first embryo of five-star grand prix-winning showjumper Lizziemary to be auctioned has been sold for €50,000 (£41,972).

Lizziemary, whose success came under Israel’s Dani G Waldman and Ireland’s Billy Twomey, retired from competition in 2021, aged 15. Her career included King George V victory at Hickstead in 2016 with Billy, as well as CSI5* grand prix titles at Cascais, Berlin and Florida with Dani.

The British-bred mare, by Cabri D’Elle out of Acord II mare Amanda Lear, was also partnered by Dani at two European Championships and the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

Her unborn foal, by Emerald, was sold at the Youhorse.auction on 8 March to a client of Alan Waldman, co-organiser of the auction and Dani’s husband, for the five-figure sum.

“It will be an amazing foaling season for those who bought from our breeding auction for there were many very special ones, which was reflected by the bidding”, said auction co-organiser Mario Everse.

He added that it “took a while” to persuade connections to auction the Lizziemary embryo, “but the result made up for the reluctance”.

A full brother to the highly decorated H&M All In was also sold. The embryo, by Kashmir Van Schuttershof out of an Andiamo mare, was knocked down to a French buyer for €36,000 (£30,220).

H&M All In’s spectacular record with Sweden’s Peder Fredricson features the 2017 individual European Championship crown and team silver, back-to-back Olympic individual silver medals at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, and Olympic team gold at last summer’s Games.

The full brother of multiple CSI5* grand prix winner Halifax Van Het Kluizebos was among the other notable sales, selling to his new home for €24,000 (£20,147).

The most expensive broodmare was Chaccothiara PS. The Chacco-Blue daughter, who is in foal to Dominator Z, sold to Poland for €26,000 (£21,826).

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[collection name=”small”]

VDL Sport Horse Auction achieves nearly $3million at Winter Equestrian Festival

Sarah Eakin — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 22:49:33 +0000

Nobody expected it to be light on the wallet when shopping at the Winter Equestrian Festival Sport Horse Auction featuring VDL Stud. The 13 horses presented for the 10th annual sale achieved $2,819,000 – an average of more than $200,000 per horse.

“I was happy with the sale,” said Janko van de Lageweg today. Janko’s father laid the foundations for the VDL Stud in Friesland, Holland, when he bought his first horse for breeding in 1972.

Two horses were sold online and the rest in the room. A last-minute addition to the sales line-up proved to be a popular choice. With one horse injured prior to the sale, VDL Legodermus was substituted. With the arrival of the eye-catching six-year-old chestnut gelding in the ring at the international showground, bids started coming in thick and fast, the auctioneer’s gavel falling at the sale-topping price of $400,000.

There were two online winning bids – the rest were in the room (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Yes, we expected it of course,” said Janko of the highest price tag of the night. The horse, who is competing at 1.25m, had already claimed seventh place in the Netherlands five-year-old national championships. The new owners, whom Janko kept confidential are “very happy,” he said. “They know they have a great horse – it’s a good investment I think. In a couple of years, he will be a top horse.”

VDL Legodermus’ sire, Harley VDL, is one of the most prominent stallions at the stud, with offspring such as two-time World Champion Earley and grand prix showjumpers Charly Chaplin S, Doloris, Elana, Arlando, Davidson and Constable II.

The advantages of buying at auction in the US are clear, Janko explains: “The horses have already flown in, gone through quarantine and vetting. It’s very easy, and from other auctions, it’s proven that they are quality horses and that they come through also.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Wellington Equestrian Festival VDL stud auction tailored for the US market

Sarah Eakin — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 19:08:08 +0000

From the auction ring to the showground, horses sold at tomorrow’s VDL stud auction (Thursday 3 March) in the International Arena at the Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF], will likely be on show soon after. “Once they’re sold, you can see them out in the ring almost immediately,” said Melanie Peterson-Ramey, auction coordinator. “So the results from the auction horses speak for themselves.”

This is the 10th anniversary of the auction, which features 13 horses including five, six and seven-year-olds with a range of experience, designed to appeal both to professionals and the substantial US amateur-owner market.

The average sale, Melanie says, is $125,000, “but we have sold horses for $600,000, it depends on what they have brought over here. These are the best horses that they hold back for the US market during WEF.”

Janko van de Lageweg, whose father laid the foundations for the VDL stud when he bought his first horse for breeding in 1972, is in Wellington to represent the family. “We believe this gives a more comfortable opportunity to buy your next equine partner rather than buying off videos,” Janko said.

Some horses on sale tomorrow already have form.

“I think it’s exciting when we have horses that have already competed at a top level,” said Melanie. “There’s one that’s already been to the championship at Lanaken and there’s another that was the champion for his age group in Brazil. When you have the opportunity to sell horses that have already shown so much potential on an international stage I think that’s really exciting.”

VDL Jonathan is the horse on sale with the title of Brazil’s national champion seven-year-old. He is by Douglas VDL and out of Kimberly, mother of Robert Whitaker’s grand prix horse, Casino VDL.

Some 350 people are expected to attend as bidders, sitting in the private auction area. Spectators can watch from other areas of the Winter Equestrian Festival International arena. Start time is 7pm.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Like father like daughter? Showjumper secures offspring of his former grand prix winner at auction

Lucy Elder — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 18:51:13 +0000

Mexican showjumper Jaime Azcarraga has secured the daughter of his top grand prix-winning stallion Presley Boy.

Jamie bought Summer Song Du Champ Du Bois at the Youhorse.auction sale on Tuesday (4 January) for €60,000 (£50,119) via Hank Melse, who also sold him Presley Boy at the time.

The four-year-old mare is out of Tess Briolita (by Kalypso), who also jumped at 1.60m level and counts My Presley Girl and Nofa among her full siblings who are competing internationally.

“She is an amazing mare”, said Mario Everse, who ran the 18th auction with Alan Waldman. “We started the year well. We had a good collection, good prices and a high sales percentage with clients from 16 different countries. Our aim is to go on having an auction every month, the next one will be our ‘Valentine auction’, a week before Valentine’s Day, for anyone who still has to come up with a present for a beloved one!”

Presley Boy was sold by Jamie to the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation in 2010 and he continued his successful career under Olympic rider Khaled Al Eid. The same year, the pair won team gold and individual bronze at the Asian Games and finished 12th individually at the World Equestrian Games.

The January sale featured buyers from 16 countries. Five horses were sold to the Netherlands, with four bought by Canadian bidders, three sold to the US and Hungary respectively, with two each going to Poland, Italy, Germany and Belgium.

Mabel Van De Renger (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Amadeus) was the second top lot, selling for €55,000 (£45,985) to Poland.

The next Youhorse.auction takes place from 5 to 8 February.

‘Electric from start to finish’: new record price set at Goresbridge Go For Gold

Lucy Elder — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:03:52 +0000

A three-year-old daughter of Sligo Candy Boy topped the 2021 Goresbridge Go For Gold results with a new record price of €82,000 (£69,004).

The 2021 sale was the most successful to date in terms of turnover, which stood at close to €1.5m (£1.26) for 62 lots sold.

Brian Flynn and Meabh Bolger, of MBF Sport Horses, had a sale to celebrate. Among the horses sold under their names were both the overall sale header, homebred MBF Stardust (Sligo Candy Boy x Terimon), who sold to US buyers Three Creeks Training LLC, and the second-top lot MBF Major Lazer, by Emir R. The latter was the highest-priced ridden horse at the auction, and was knocked down to GHF Equestrian (Vicky Tuffs and Andrew Williams) in the UK for €79,000 (£66,480).

“We were thrilled with the sale. It was electric from start to finish and fantastic to see so many new customers as well as so many returning purchasers who support the sale each year. I think it’s testament to the selection process and the quality of horse on offer at the Go For Gold Sale,” said organisers Martin and Mary Frances Donohoe.

“People have come to expect the very best at the Go For Gold Sale and the lists of accolades and achievements of our graduates speaks volumes.”

The UK was the biggest market, claiming 50% of horses sold, with the US also proving lucrative, accounting for close to a third of purchases.

A total of 45% of horses were bought by online or telephone bidders, with successful buyers from Germany, Canada, Sweden and Belgium, as well as the major US and UK markets.

Michael Jung was among the repeat Go For Gold buyers, taking home the three-year-old Ramiro B mare MBF Senorita, consigned by Brian and Meabh, for €26,000 (£21,879).

Other notable lots included MBF Celtic Claddagh (Celtic Hero B Z x Radolin), winner of the 2021 Royal Dublin Society four-year-old championship, who was secured by British buyer Barrington Sport Horses for €49,000 (£41,234).

The sale had a clearance rate of 87% with the average three-year-old price at €22,489 (£18,925) and the average four-year-old €30,538 (£25,698).

“The Go For Gold Sale has long established itself as the leading source and showcase of Ireland’s finest young event horses,” added Martin and Mary.

“The success of the sale is a team effort and there are many cogs in the wheel but the vendors keep on bringing their best horses forward for selection and ultimately it’s all about the horses on offer that keeps the Go For Gold Sale the source of champions.”

2021 Goresbridge Go For Gold results

Lot 3 Danos Lola (Carrera VDL x Cruising) €24,000Lot 5 Rahale Cougar (Cougar x Coevers Diamond Boy) €15,000Lot 6 RVS Cupid (Quidam Junior x Ricardo Z) €24,000Lot 7 Hashtag Verified (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Don Juan De La Bouverie) €15,000Lot 9 MBF Handyman (Ramiro B x Royaldik) €28,000Lot 11 EPA Elegance (Wido x Dow Jones Courcel) €40,000Lot 12 Rathnageera (MBF Colando x Diamond Valley Gold) €23,000Lot 14 Greenacres Pino (Pino x Cavalier Royale) €26,000Lot 15 MBF Major Lazer K (Emir R x Landsieger) €79,000Lot 16 Ballygriffin Crossfield Cara (O.B.O.S Quality x Highroller) €19,000Lot 17 SBT Solo (In Seclusion x Boherdeal Clover) €13,000Lot 18 Drombane Lord (Harlequin Du Carel x Kings Master) €34,000Lot 19 MBF Celtic Claddagh (Celtic Hero BZ x Radolin) €49,000Lot 20 Unnamed (Pointilliste x Master Imp) €13,000Lot 21 CFH Dakars Girl (Dakar VDL x Ars Vivendi) €15,000Lot 23 MBF Firebrand (Tyson x Coevers Diamond Boy) €32,000Lot 24 Unnamed (Hype x Master Imp) €26,000Lot 25 MBF Starburst (Sligo Candy Boy x Terimon) €82,000Lot 26 Clooncastle MBF (O.B.O.S Quality x Touchdown) €16,000Lot 27 Ballygriffin Odysseus (Ulysses M2S x Newmarket Venture) €18,000Lot 30 Flirtation (Je T’aime Flamenco x VDL Arkansas) €48,000Lot 31 Unnamed (Cobra 18 x Courage 11) €22,000Lot 32 Unnamed (Mr Lincoln B x Castlecomer Q) €10,000Lot 37 Unnamed (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Ramiro B) €38,000Lot 38 Unnamed (Olympic Lux x Diamond Imp Lad) €13,000Lot 39 Monbeg Django (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x unknown) €16,000Lot 40 MBF Huntstown Cornet (Cornet Obolensky x Loughehoe Guy) €24,000Lot 41 Jagerbomb PH (Womanizer x Desir Du Chateau) €15,000Lot 42 MBF Corbeagh (Quidam Junior x Lux Z) €22,000Lot 43 Unnamed (Island Commander x Ramiro B) €18,000Lot 44 Kilderry Storm (Barley A Moment x Touchdown) €16,000Lot 45 Unnamed (Golden Master x Je T’aime Flamenco) €19,000Lot 46 Cushlas Stitchem (Vittorio x Apache D’adriers HN) €16,000Lot 47 Unnamed (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Darsi) €28,000Lot 49 Warrenstown U de Muse (Im Special De Muze x Verdi) €20,000Lot 50 Unnamed (Tullabeg Fusion x Aldatus Z) €18,000Lot 51 MBF Senorita (Ramiro B x Fines) €26,000Lot 52 MBF Dignified Duchess (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Master Imp) €32,000Lot 53 Ballygriffin Trendy (Ars Vivendi x Clover Brigade) €16,000Lot 55 Kilcannon Heat Wave (Tyson x Harlequin Du Carel) €16,000Lot 57 Sunhill Cobrio (Cobra 18 x Condios) €36,000Lot 58 Unnamed (Loughehoe Guy x Garrison Royale) €11,000Lot 59 Unnamed (Freestyle Van De Wolfsakker x Sparkling Clove) €27,000Lot 60 Handsome Boy (Hardwell x Cavalier) €20,000Lot 61 Unnamed (Lancelot x Cruising) €24,000Lot 62 NPS Lanzarote (NPS Campagne 11Z x Diabeau) €40,000Lot 63 Kilcandra Bonnie Ocestes (Orestus x Bonnie Prince) €12,500Lot 64 Unnamed (O.B.O.S Quality 004 x Cobra) €20,000Lot 65 MBF Capri Du Carel (Capri Van Overis Z x Harlequin Du Carel) €10,000Lot 66 Unnamed (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Luidam) €19,000Lot 67 Ballinglen Alainn (Financial Reward x Rebel Mountain) €18,000Lot 68 Monbeg Showtime (Tolan R x Womanizer) €23,500Lot 69 MBF Kingsriver Romeo (Womanizer x Sandro Hit) €18,000Lot 71 Poynstown Mason (Luidam x Chill Out) €14,000Lot 73 Outherard Errigal (Loughehoe Guy x Errigal Flight) €13,000Lot 74 Unnamed (Numero Cruise x Courage 11) €30,000Lot 75 Zwavo’s John (Unaniem x Roven) €15,000Lot 77 Boleybawn Fabien (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Courage 11) € 28,000Lot 78 MBF Old Mel (Coonogues Hill x Mummys Luck) €13,000Lot 79 Curraghgraigue Q Hill )O.B.O.S Quality 004 x Cobra) €28,000Lot 80 MBF Late Night Views (Cormint x O.B.O.S Quality) €26,000Lot 81 Unnamed (Sligo Candy Boy x Newmarket Jewel) €17,000

Monart to stick to selling three-year-olds as sale achieves record average price

Lucy Elder — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 12:57:19 +0000

Organisers have confirmed their intention to “stick with” three-year-olds after strong Monart Sale results, with no plans to returning to selling ridden horses, as they celebrate another record-breaking year.

The 2021 auction featured a new record average price of €15,281 (£13,060). It also had a clearance rate of over +82%, with two unnamed fillies from Henry Foley’s stable achieving the highest prices.

The sale previously offered ridden four- and five-year-olds, in addition to three-year-olds, and sale director Niall Griffin said they will be sticking to the younger age bracket going forwards.

“We really are now the premier three-year-old sale in Ireland,” said Niall.

“If you’ve got a good three-year-old, you bring it here and put it in front of the best riders in the world. We’ve proven time and time again that we sell to the four corners of the world, and we’ll get a good price for it. We’ve made the decision to not go back to the ridden horses, and it’s the three-year-olds we’re going to stick with.”

He added: “It seems like we keep saying we’ve exceeded our expectations, but to be honest it’s been absolutely brilliant for us.”

Lot 73 (Luidam x Plot Blue) topped the auction, selling on the second night to Britain’s Zoe Feeney for €35,500 (£30,341). The second highest-priced horse was lot 33, by KEC Maximum Joe out of a Furryoso mare, who sold for a day one high of €34,500 (£29,487) to US buyer Jennifer Oliver.

“We heard about the Monart Sale via a word-of-mouth referral from a friend familiar with the auction,” said Jennifer.

“We are generally hesitant to buy horses remotely, however the Monart team do such a super job showing the young stock. We appreciate that the conformation pictures are on hard surfaces, that the walks are on gravel and that the x-rays were thorough. Just top notch all the way. Lot 33 attracted us because of her overall presence. She is a super well-rounded filly, we thought one of the best in the sale.”

Monart sale results 2021

Lot 1 MBF Carnsdale (Ramiro B (BWP) x not recorded) €16,000.00Lot 2 Monbeg Fintra Smart (Future Trend (OLD) x Harlequin Du Carel (SF)) €31,000.00Lot 3 Unnamed (Quintero (HOLST) x Rash R (HOLST)) €15,000.00Lot 5 Sallybog Coco (Imperial Tiger (ISH) x Primitive Rising (TB)) €13,500.00Lot 6 Coolim Eclipse (Chinook Eclipse (TB) x Kahtan (TB)) €9,500.00Lot 8 Kilbunny Grand Design (Kilbunny Kabana (ISH) x Spring Elegance VII (WNTR)) €14,000.00Lot 9 Unnamed (Capri Van Overis Z (ZANG) x S. Crevvagh Ferro (KWPN)) €19,000.00Lot 10 Unnamed (Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet (BEWB) x El Rio (TB)) €21,500.00Lot 11 Dolmen Dun Aenghus (Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet (BEWB) x Dolmen Deja Vu (ISH)) €12,500.00Lot 13 Unnamed (Island Commander (TB) x Flagmount King (ID)) €12,000.00Lot 14 Fairwood Pearlova (Romanov (KWPN) x Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet (BEWB)) €14,000.00Lot 15 Nycarlos H (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve (KWPN) x Up To Date (KWPN)) €14,500.00Lot 17 Unnamed (Frammassone (TB) x Heigh Ho Dubh (ID)) €8,000.00Lot 18 Kilbunny AFS (Imperial Tiger (ISH) x Aldatus Z (OLD)) €13,000.00Lot 19 Unnamed (Capri Van Overis Z (ZANG) x Quidam Junior I (KWPN)) €7,500.00Lot 20 MBF Do The Maths (Grennan Fort (TB) x Jackson’s Drift (TB)) €32,000.00Lot 21 Unnamed (Golden Master (TB) x Harlequin du Carel (SF)) €17,500.00Lot 22 Monbeg Trademark (Quabri de L’isle (SF) x Pacino (BWP)) €22,500.00Lot 23 Carraiganard Ralph (Tullabeg Fusion (ISH) x Choisir (TB)) €8,000.00Lot 24 Rock Illusion (Pointilliste (TB) x Rich Rebel (TB)) €10,000.00Lot 25 Newmarket Amy (Newmarket Jewel (WESTF) x Cathcher in The Rye (TB)) €23,000.00Lot 27 MRF Emblem (Metropole (KWPN) x Cavalier Carnival (ISH)) €7,000.00Lot 28 Unnamed (Pointilliste (TB) x Coevers Diamond Boy (ISH)) €13,000.00Lot 29 Unnamed (Frammassone (TB) x Crosstown Dancer (RID)) €8,000.00Lot 30 MBF Dutch Courage (Guinness (KWPN) x Courage II (HOLST)) €13,000.00Lot 31 Unnamed (Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet (BEWB) x Cavalier Clover lad (ISH)) €11,500.00Lot 32 Monbeg Rhodes (Capri Van Overis Z (ZANG) x Porter Rhodes (TB)) €16,000.00Lot 33 Unnamed (KEC Maximum Joe (WESTF) x Furryoso (ISH)) €34,500.00Lot 34 Unnamed (Jet Away (TB) x Brush Aside (TB)) €6,000.00Lot 35 Assagart Treasure (Ars Vivendi (HOLST) x Bonnie Prince (TB)) €15,000.00Lot 36 Unnamed (Premier Sport (ISH) x Balou Du Rouet (OLD)) €11,000.00Lot 37 Templerainey Victorio (Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet (BEWB) x Zilzal (TB)) €9,000.00Lot 39 Unnamed (Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet (BEWB) x Kings Master (ISH)) €9,500.00Lot 40 MBF Risohorse Hill (Risohorse Locorotondo (RHEIN) x Captain Clover (ISH)) €17,000.00Lot 41 Unnamed (Capri Van Overis Z (ZANG) x O.B.O.S Quality (OLD)) €8,000.00Lot 42 Monbeg Zidane (Zidane (KWPN) x Indoctro (HOLST)) €24,500.00Lot 43 Ballynort Chanel (Chacoa (HOLST) x Drombane Cruising (ISH)) €5,500.00Lot 44 MBF Just For Joy (Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet (BEWB) x Cavalier Two For Joy (ISH)) €16,000.00Lot 49 Drumin Romeo (Womanizer (KWPN) x Mr Big Cat (TB)) €12,500.00Lot 50 MBF Full Moon (Rosshaven Silken Rouge (ISH) x Olympic Lux (KWPN)) €18,000.00Lot 52 Monbeg Sand Storm (Cormint (HOLST) x Brian Boru (CP)) €26,500.00Lot 54 Unnamed (Creig Aine Cove (CP) x Gamut (TB)) €9,500.00Lot 56 Exquisite Mint (Cormint (HOLST) x Vechta (KWPN)) €15,000.00Lot 57 Unnamed (Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet (BEWB) x Morozov (TB)) €12,500.00Lot 58 Kilbunny Rathnageera (Silvano (KWPN) x Luso (TB)) €13,500.00Lot 59 Tullibards Fit For Function (Jaguar Mail (SF) x Tullibards Shakespeare (ISH)) €14,500.00Lot 60 Unnamed (Olympic Lux (KWPN) x Harlequin Du Carel (SF)) €13,500.00Lot 61 MBF After Party (Coolkeeran (HOLST) x Last Fields (ISH)) €13,500.00Lot 62 Clarkes Monbeg Ambition (S Creevagh Ferro (KWPN) x Lux Z (HANN)) €26,000.00Lot 63 Bonmahon Jasper (Ulysses M2S (KWPN) x Ramiro B (BWP)) €21,500.00Lot 64 MBF Cruisiler (Leestone Cruisiler (ISH) x Watermill Swatch (TB)) €11,000.00Lot 66 Unnamed (Capri Van Overis Z (ZANG) x Harlequin Du Carel (SF)) €14,000.00Lot 67 Unnamed (Pointilliste (TB) x Kennedys Clover (ISH)) €9,000.00Lot 68 Kilbunny Rockstar (Royale Concorde (ISH) x Contendro (HOLST)) €27,500.00Lot 69 Unnamed (Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) x Lux Z (HANN)) €14,000.00Lot 70 Shannondale Paladin (Pointilliste (TB) x Wivollet Van Beek (KWPN)) €15,000.00Lot 71 Dermish MBF (Denounce (TB) x Cougar (ISH)) €11,500.00Lot 72 Monbeg Cavland (Cavalier Land (ISH) x Cult Hero (TB)) €28,500.00Lot 73 Unnamed (Luidam (KWPN) x Plot Blue (KWPN)) €35,500.00Lot 76 Unnamed (Chinook Eclipse (TB) x O.B.O.S Quality (OLD)) €14,500.00Lot 77 Unnamed (Quest For Peace (TB) xBeneficial (TB)) €14,500.00Lot 78 Unnamed (Colandro (HOLST) x Mister Mat (TB)) €12,000.00Lot 79 Ballymurphy July (Cougar (ISH) x Jack of Diamonds (SWB)) €11,000.00Lot 81 MBF Mix Match (KEC Maximum Joe x not recorded) €14,500.00Lot 82 Unnamed (Cavalier Land (ISH) x Kings Master (ISH)) €10,000.00Lot 83 Shanbeg Surprise (Sirillio (TB) x O.B.O.S Quality (OLD) €7,000.00Lot 84 Killisk Brook (Spirit House (TB) x Puissance (ISH)) €14,500.00Lot 86 Unnamed (Pointilliste (TB) x Diamond Rock (ID)) €20,000.00Lot 87 Unnamed (Insatiable (TB) x Fayruz (TB)) €5,500.00Lot 88 Kilbunny Maximus (Emperor Augustus (TB) x Clover Hill (ID)) €14,000.00Lot 91 MBF Nelson (Mount Nelson (TB) x Artan (TB)) €9,000.00Lot 92 Monbeg Salt Fever (Womanizer (KWPN) x Ramiro B (BWP)) €24,500.00Lot 94 Unnamed (Capri Van Overis Z (ZANG) x Lucky Valier (ISH)) €11,000.00Lot 95 Unnamed (SIEC Livello (Holst) x ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN)) €17,500.00Lot 98 Montal To Candy Max (Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) x Indian River (TB)) €16,000.00Lot 99 Unnamed (Koro D’or (SF) x Roseberry Avenue (TB)) €8,000.00Lot 101 MBF Reality (Cevin Z (ZANG) x Milan (TB)) €30,000.00Lot 102 KSH Monbeg Society (Rehy High Society (ISH) x O.B.O.S Quality (OLD)) €16,000.00Lot 103 Wheelagower Dandy Man (Check Out Charlie x Harlequin Du Carel (SF)) €23,500.00Lot 104 HSH Talbots Hill (Coolkeeran (HOLST) x Dalakhani (TB)) €13,500.00Lot 105 Tisrara Womanizer (Womanizer (KWPN) x Harlequin Du Carel (SF)) €15,500.00Lot 106 Unnamed (O-Piloth (KWPN) x Cruising (ISH)) €13,500.00Lot 107 Unnamed (Dilshaan (TB) x Ghareeb (TB)) €18,500.00Lot 109 Ceatharlia Musashi (O.B.O.S Quality 004 (OLD) x Lux Z (HANN)) €15,500.00Lot 110 Socrates Van De Brouwershoeve (Quint VH Maarlo Z (BWP) x Darco (BWP)) €17,000.00Lot 111 Parkmore Choice (Master Choice (ISH) x Coolcorron Cool Diamond (ISH)) €8,500.00Lot 113 Unnamed (Pointilliste (TB) x Master Imp (TB)) €13,500.00

Yearling colt bred by Lady Lloyd-Webber sells for £1.26m

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 12:52:16 +0000

Lady Lloyd-Webber was celebrating yesterday (6 October) after her home-bred colt by Sea The Stars became the sales topper at the Book 1 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket, when the hammer came down for 1.2 million guineas (£1.26m).

The bay colt out of the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes winner So Mi Dar was the first in the three-day Book 1 sale to reach the seven-figure mark, with the sale due to conclude later today (7 October).

Lady Lloyd-Webber of Watership Down Stud was at Tattersalls to see her colt sell, and husband Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber arrived at Newmarket just to time to catch the sale, too.

“We never expected to break the million guinea barrier, because no one ever does, maybe Andrew is our lucky omen!” smiled a delighted Lady Lloyd-Webber. “It is very difficult to do that. The Dar Re Mi family is carrying on, and that is what it is all about from a foundation mare. We are now in the third generation, it is really wonderful to see this family keep going.

“He is a beautiful horse, hopefully he will win the Guineas. And then will carry on winning Group 1s like the rest of the family.”

Lord Lloyd-Webber, who arrived just in time to see his wife’s colt sell, said: “I walked in at the 600,000gns mark.”

So Mi Dar, a daughter of Dubawi, is a full sister to Lah Ti Dar and champion two-year-old Too Darn Hot. Lady Lloyd-Webber revealed she is “excited” as the mare is now in-foal to Lope De Vega.

This colt was purchased by Charlie Gordon-Watson on behalf of Bill Farish’s Woodford Racing, the result of a last-minute phone call from the US.

“Bill Farish rang me just an hour ago and said, ‘What about this horse? What do you think?’ I told him that I thought he was the best horse I have seen at the sale,” explained Charlie Gordon-Watson. “I know the family backwards, as Bill does, and he is a great friend of Simon’s [Marsh, general manager Watership Down Stud], but he did not want Simon to know anything about it – Simon had no idea.

“It all happened in the last hour-and-a-half. I think I got the valuation right as I told Bill that I thought he’d make between 800,000gns and 1.2 million. I have been involved in the family all the way through, I bought Darara [third dam], and this colt is very typical of the family, perhaps a bit bigger because they are all slightly smallish, Darara was quite small. He is a very athletic horse, I have been going on about him for a long time.”

Of Farish’s plans for his new colt and reasoning behind the purchase, Gordon-Watson said: “Bill liked the pedigree and the mare, everything is so international now. The horse will stay here, and no trainer has been decided as yet. He is not a horse to go to the US as a two-year-old. I think Bill probably saw an opportunity in this market.”

So Mi Dar has had three foals, with her oldest named Astrologia, a 2019 Galileo filly, who is yet to run. So Mi Dar is a daughter of Dar Re Mi who won six races, including the Yorkshire Oaks (Group One), the Pretty Polly Stakes (Group One) and the Dubai Sheema Classic (Group One).

Dar Re Mi is dam of four black-type runners, headed by the champion two-year-old and champion three-year-old miler Too Darn Hot, a three-time Group One winner, now a Darley sire and a full-brother to So Mi Dar.

The foundation mare Darara is dam of five black-type winners, including three Group One winners, and the family stretches to Darshaan, a champion of 1984 and winner of the Prix Jockey-Club (Group One).

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Olympic showjumper’s foal sets new world record price at auction

Becky Murray — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 19:45:59 +0000

The world’s most expensive showjumping foal has sold for a world record €160,000 in a “night to remember” at the Zangersheide Quality Auction (24-25 September).

The top lot of the sale, which ran alongside the World Breeding Championships for young horses, was colt Especial For Fun (Eldorado Van De Zeshoek x For Pleasure), who sold to a German buyer.

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The foal is out of Portuguese rider Luciana Diniz’s Rio Olympic 17-year-old ride Fit For Fun 13, whom she co-owns with Ralf Jünger. Luciana and the Hannoverian chestnut mare have made many Nations Cup team appearances together and picked up multiple grand prix wins around the world as well as finishing ninth in Rio.

While Especial For Fun Z was an embryo transfer foal, Fit for Fun is expected to become a dam herself next year, with the foal sired once again by Eldorado Van De Zeshoek. Mr Jünger is hoping for a filly this time.

“It was always our goal that Fit for Fun would return to us for breeding after her sport career,” Mr Jünger explained, but he plans to use the mare thoughtfully, even in embryo transfers, “because Fit for Fun, who has already given us so much incredible pleasure, simply deserves that”.

Other auction highlights

Filly Cartina JL Z (Carthago Z x Nabab De Reve) was the second most expensive foal of the auction when she was knocked down for €135,000 euros. She is out of Belgian showjumper Jos Lanksinks’s London Olympic ride Cavalor Valentina Van’t Heike.

The third most expensive foal sold was colt History JT X (Heartbreaker x Carthago Z). The full brother to Hardrock Z, the Rio Olympic ride of Venzuealan Emmanuel Andrade, sold for €86,000.

“The atmosphere was electric and the fillies reached an exceptional average price of €52,571. The colts raised an average selling price of €38,833 and with buyers tuning in from all over the world, there is no surprise the foals have found new homes and futures all over the globe,” said a spokesman for Zangersheide.

“Never before have we been more grateful that we are able to organise our World Championship and our Zangersheide Quality Auction, and we sincerely thank the breeders for supporting us with fantastic foals, our hardworking team for the great work, and all the bidders and buyers worldwide for the endless trust in the Zangersheide foals. We wish them all the best for the future.”

A sparkling diamond: £190,000 mare headlines Bolesworth auction as three lots smash six-figure barrier H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 16:15:55 +0000

A seven-year-old mare, who has never rolled a pole in international competition, was the sparkling headline at the Science Supplements Bolesworth Elite A-List Auction (9 July).

One Diamond, a 16.1hh mare, by Diarado, out of Balido I mare Rubinija, was knocked down for £190,000 following a fierce bidding war.

The mare has been competing under Millie Allen and Angelie von Essen on the national and international circuit. Her FEI record shows she did not touch a pole on any of her five starts in international young horse classes last year, partnered by Millie.

Demand for the mare was high, with the bidding jumping from £8,000 to £50,000 in one jump. The price rattled rapidly up to £100,000, with the auctioneer barely drawing breath.

The race to take this “diamond” home briefly steadied around £170,000, inching up gradually with the hammer finally falling on the winning bid of £190,000.

The next highest-priced sale of the night was lot nine, the six-year-old grey gelding Millfield Chrisis (Christian 25 x Lux Z), who sold for £105,000.

Another six-year-old grey gelding also hit six-figures, with lot six, Cerano Van De Dijkhoeve Z (Clarimo x Polydor) reaching £100,000.

This was the first time Bolesworth has offered ridden horses at its auctions.

“We are thrilled that the Science Supplements A-List Auction delivered as promised,” said Bolesworth managing director, Nina Barbour.

“The collective expertise of the selection team was testament to the success of the auction. With an unprecedented number of bids coming from both in the room and online, the catalogue offered breeders and producers in the UK the opportunity to showcase their horses to a truly global audience.

“This marks an important moment in the Science Supplements Bolesworth Elite Auctions’ history, creating a foundation for future success with ridden horse auctions. We would like to congratulate the new owners and thank everyone that attended, it will certainly be a night to remember.”

Lord Louis 25 (lot 12) headed the yearling side of the auction, with the Christian 25 x Emerald Van’t Ruytershof chestnut colt selling for £35,000.

The next sale in the Science Supplements Bolesworth Elite Auction calendar is the Elite yearlings (16-19 July). View the catalogue and register to bid

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Horse sales market soaring despite pandemic H&H Plus

Rachael Turner — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 16:13:18 +0000

Many people have reported increased interest from buyers, and a rise in horse sale prices this year. H&H spoke to insurers, sellers and organisations to find out their view

HORSE sales appear to have increased this year, with buyers willing to pay competitive prices despite the pandemic.

NFU Mutual received a rising number of equine insurance-related calls between January and August, and an increasing number of requests for quotes.

The number of higher-value horses on their books also increased, with more in the £5,000-£7,500 and £7,500-£10,000 value ranges, as well as an influx of horses worth over £15,000.

“These trends suggest an increase in both the number and value of horses being purchased,” NFU Mutual equine insurance specialist Aleks Corr told H&H.

“Customers having more time to spend with their horses during the lockdown period, and social restrictions leading more people to take up riding as a leisure activity, are both potential [causes].”

More looking

PETPLAN EQUINE’s data suggests the number of people searching for horses rose by 14% from May to August, compared to the same period last year.

From April to June, they saw a 142% increase in the number of customers insuring new horses and said the reopening of facilities appeared to be a catalyst for this.

Prices increased significantly at the Lerwick Shetland Pony Sale (2 October) and there were more than double the number of online bidders compared to 2019.

“The average price was greatly up on last year, at 624gns across the whole sale [375gns in 2019],” said a spokesman for the Pony Breeders of Shetland Association.

“Online bidding was invaluable with 33 of the 41 ponies sold, selling through the facility. All 41 ponies forward were sold, with many travelling far and wide.”

Martin Donohoe of Goresbridge Horse Sales also said online bidding has been crucial to successful sales this year.

“A lot of people are actively buying horses online,” he told H&H. “It’s opened my eyes that people are happy to do it and enabled us to put sales in front of people who wouldn’t have come to sales [in person] because of the circumstances.

“Trade is much stronger this year, which came as a surprise. Our flagship sale in September was very active and we had lots of enquiries for our postponed Go For Gold Sale (7–8 December).

“The more interest, the more competition and prices increase.”

Emma Blundell, managing director of Mount St John Equestrian, said demand for good horses “never goes away”.

She spoke to H&H before the stud’s inaugural online auction of broodmares and embryos (2–6 December).

“I’ve put a really nice collection together and there has been really good reception,” she said.

“Online sales still feel very  new for horses, but this year everybody has been pushed to try different things, so I think people are a bit more open to doing things online.”

Buyer beware

THE British Horse Society received a “notable” number of calls to its Covid-19 helpline from people enquiring whether they could travel to view or collect a horse bought during lockdown.

Director of welfare Gemma Stanford said that for many people, the pandemic had forced a sudden change in circumstances, which meant more owners were looking to sell or rehome their equines, but she advised buyers to exercise caution.

“Taking on a horse is a long-term commitment and the decision should not be taken lightly,” she told H&H. “For some, lockdown has meant more leisure time, either due to furlough, less commuting or perhaps working from home, but we urge people to consider whether this is the right time to buy.”

The organisation strongly recommends viewing a horse before buying, while following the latest government guidelines, as well as considering a pre-purchase vetting and sale contract.

World Horse Welfare deputy chief executive Tony Tyler also warned against buying on impulse, or unseen.

“Either of these could lead to all kinds of problems for the buyer and the horse, and we are already seeing horses sold during the first lockdown coming back on to the market which could be evidence of over-hasty decisions being made in the spring,” he said.

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£45,000 top price as sales strong at Goresbridge

Sarah Radford — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 17:32:57 +0000

The Go For Gold select event horse sale in Country Wexford, Ireland (7-8 December) followed the generally strong trend seen across auctions in 2020, with solid prices exceeding last year’s sale total.

The top lot, Jackie, a four-year-old grey filly by Jack of Diamonds out of the Cruising mare Cappercullen Cruise, sold to John Ellard in the UK for €50,000 (£45,589), after attracting more than 30 bids. She was put forward by sellers Alice Martin-Jones and Jason Higgins.

Three lots sold above €40,000 (£36,463), including the top-priced three-year-old geldings Robinia (Ramiro B x Wizard King), who went to British eventer Sam Ecroyd for €47,000 and MBF Gambler, another son of the late Ramiro B, who was bought by K Wendall of the USA for €42,000.

Sam is a regular customer of the sale, having bought mulitiple lots in recent years, including the top lot of 2018, a three-year-old by OBOS Quality, for €59,000 (£51,000). He also bought three-year-old gelding Knockalough Poet (OBOS Quality x Cruising) on this occasion, along with four-year-old gelding Clonaderig Rebel Sixteen (Orestus x VDL Ricochet).

Two three-year-olds went to British eventer Oliver Townend for €26,000 each, including another Ramiro B son MBF Star Buster, while Nicky Roncoroni bought Dessie Gibson’s three-year-old gelding Cullintra Digger for €24,000.

Seven horses topped the €30,000, mark, although one of these remained unsold. They included the three-year-old geldings Mon Ami Brilliante; MBF In Doubt; MBF Quidams Touch; an unnamed gelding and the four-year-old geldings Kilcannon Hot Shot and Derrycastle Houdini.

The average sold price was €23,111, with the total sales, including those sold privately, amounting to €1,040,000.

A spokesman for Goresbridge, who host the sale, said a “special thank you” had to go to all the vendors who put their horses forward and “patiently produced them through the uncertainty of coronavirus”.

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.“Huge credit to our selection panel of Sally Parkyn, Clare Ryan, Chris Ryan and guest selectors Nicki Roncoroni and Bridget Speirs who have the unenviable task of whittling down the masses put forward for selection to bring you a top class catalogue. It’s a job they take very seriously and we thank them for their dedication to the industry as well as Goresbridge,” they added.

Of the 54 sold lots, 21 went to UK buyers, five remained in Ireland, 17 were sold to the US — including four to US eventer Hannah Herrig — and three sold to the continent.

Although prices were robust they did not quite match the 2017 results, where top lot Gurtera Mattie Clover sold for €130,000 (£118,518).

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Four-year-old point-to-pointer breaks records to sell for £570,000

Lucy Elder — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 07:06:51 +0000

The highest ever rated four-year-old Irish maiden point-to-point winner set a new auction record selling for £570,000 at the Goffs Yorton Sale yesterday (12 November).

Jonbon, the four-year-old brother to eight-time Grade One winner Douvan was knocked down to JP McManus following a bids from a number of hopeful prospective buyers.

The impressive French-bred gelding (Walk In The Park x Star Face), consigned by Ellmarie Holden of Coolmeen Stables, looked a picture of athleticism in the Welsh sunshine.

Bidding opened at £200,000 and zipped up to to £450,000 with barely a pause for breath for auctioneer Henry Beeby. There was a brief lull at the £475,000 point, before a jump from £480,000 to hit the half-million mark.

It looked for a moment as if £500,000 would be enough to secure him, but the numbers kept climbing and in the end it was JP McManus who clinched him over the phone for £570,000, setting a new record for the highest-priced pointer ever sold at public auction. The record was previously held by Flemenshill, who was sold to Tom Malone and Joe Tizarrd at the Cheltenham January sale in 2017 for £480,000.

“I have never known a horse to be as highly touted following its success in a point-to-point and, if social media polls are to be believed, then Jonbon was always set to make a significant price,” said Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent. “But to achieve a record price for a point-to-pointer during these unprecedented times is simply incredible.”

There was much talk about the youngster in the build up to the sale. He was sold for €140,000 (£125,680) as a three-year-old store and went on to win his first and only Irish point-to-point start at Dromahane on Sunday (8 November) by 15 lengths. He was awarded a record rating of 97+ for his performance, which is the highest rating achieved by any four-year-old maiden winner since ratings began.

“We are extremely grateful to the Holden family for putting their faith in Goffs and sending him to Yorton where he certainly lived up to the hype following his brilliant performance on Sunday,” added Mr Kent.

The second top lot was Fiddaun Farm’s four-year-old Shantou gelding Jim Key, who won his point-to-point debut at Lisronagh on Saturday (7 November) and sold to agent Hamish Macauley for £215,000.

Others to fetch six-figure sums were Bernice Stables’ Bold Endeavour, who was sold to trainer Laura Morgan for £190,000 and Monbeg Stables’ Undersupervision, knocked down to Twiston-Davies Equine for £130,000. Milestone Stables’ Starevitch sold to Tom Malone and Jamie Snowden for £105,000, with Riverside House Stud’s Balco Coastal selling to Highflyer Bloodstock for £100,000.

The highest priced of the three British point-to-pointers brought forward yesterday was Ahoy Senor, who won by more than 30 lengths at Kimble (1 November) on his second start, in a time just three seconds slower than the winning time in the men’s open that day. The five-year-old (Dylan Thomas x Dara Supreme) was consigned by Philip Rowley and knocked down to Scottish-based Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell for £50,000.

A total of the 46 of the 63 lots sold, giving a clearance rate of 73%, and an overall total of £3,046,500. The average price was £66,228 and the median £45,000.

“Jonbon was the highlight of the sale but we were delighted with the trade achieved throughout the day,” said Mr Kent.

“While we are not pretending that it wasn’t selective at times, today was an opportunity to provide an outlet for these recent winners and the feedback that we received has been extremely positive.”

He thanked James and Jean Potter, the Futter family and the Yorton team for hosting the sale.

“They have done a fantastic job to make room for us all and, once again, it has proven an outstanding facility which has worked fantastically well for vendors and buyers alike,” he said.

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“We also want to recognise, and say a huge thank you to, our vendors who took a leap of faith when agreeing to bring their horses to Yorton following the Covid-19 restrictions in Doncaster. The Yorton Sale only started last year, meaning some had seen the facilities in a sales environment but it was still new to many and we are extremely grateful for their support in this difficult year.

“In all, it has been a difficult few weeks as we juggled sale locations and lockdowns but we were determined to offer a vibrant market place where pointers could be placed in front of buyers from throughout the UK and Ireland and we have achieved that.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Top lot fetches €29,000 at first online Monart Sale as buyers include Michael Jung and British medallists

Pippa Roome — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 11:59:29 +0000

The first online iteration of The Monart Sale exceeded all expectations with a 78% clearance rate and an average price of €13,000, up by about €2,000 on previous sales.

“If this had been a completely normal year doing a completely normal sale, this still would have exceeded expectations – it’s been our best sale to date,” said organiser Niall Griffin. “There was plenty of action and people were very keen so it was phenomenal. It’s unbelievable to be honest.”

The top lot – a three-year-old called Kilbunny Blue Bird – was sold by Richie O’Hara and knocked down for €29,000 to UK-based business Awarded2U Ltd. He was lot 58 and is by Kilbunny Blue, out of a thoroughbred mare by Bob’s Return, whose other offspring include Jonelle Price’s current three-star ride Killbunny Andy.

Seven horses made over €20,000 at this Monart Sale, including two who went to US-based Canadian vet and amateur event rider Katie Malensek. One of these fetched the second highest price, when she gave €26,000 for lot 101, a three-year-old grey gelding called Mei-Fleure, by Chapeau TN. Her other purchase was also a grey, three-year-old MRF Qwlkstep, by Metropole, for whom Katie paid €20,500.

With Covid-19 ruling out the usual in-person sale at the luxurious Monart hotel and spa, the lots were presented via video to prospective buyers, who then bid over a couple of days via an online platform. Buyers included double Olympic champion Michael Jung, fellow German rider Kai-Steffen Meier, Dutch world bronze medallist Elaine Pen, Ireland-based British five-star rider Nicky Roncoroni and British young rider team gold medallist Charlotte Agnew.

Husbands of two top British riders also appear on the results, with Kitty King’s husband Ben signing for Monbeg Zebedee, a three-year-old by Dignified Van’T Zorgvliet, at €13,000 and Nicola Wilson’s husband Alistair landing Gortglas Lupin, a three-year-old bay gelding by Luidam out of a Master Imp mare, at €15,000.

Online Monart Sale attracts new buyers and regulars

“As usual, we’ve been fantastically supported by riders – it’s great to see your regulars who support you every year coming out and obviously to get a whole new customer base which we can only put down to being online,” said Niall, crediting the reputation the Monart Sale has built up over the past 11 years, the selection panel of his wife Polly Jackson and Australian rider Bill Levett and Marcus Swail, who heads up the sale’s veterinary panel.

“It’s all built on the fact people have come and experienced the sale so they trust it. It’s the first time [an online sport horse sale] has really been done here in Ireland as far as I’m aware. To say vendors were nervous is an understatement, but to their eternal credit they stuck with it, which was a huge thing for me. There was a lot of pressure on our vendors from outside sources predicting that it wouldn’t work. One of the happiest things for me was to watch [the bidding on horses belonging to] those I knew were getting pressure on the outside – they were rewarded for their loyalty.”

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Polly added: “The horses are a credit to their breeders and handlers and they deserve those prices – we are lagging behind in comparison to dressage, showjumping and racing, so it’s great that breeders and handlers who put that time in do get that reward.”

Bill paid tribute to Niall for going ahead with the sale in a new format, saying: “It wasn’t a foregone conclusion that this was going to go well and he stepped up to the plate – he needs a lot of credit as not everyone would take that on, a lot of people would shy away. He needs a good deal of praise for that.”

Niall concluded: “It’s a big relief for all of us to be over the line with it and we’re obviously thrilled it worked and with pretty much every aspect of how it’s gone. We always said we were planing for this, but most plans fail on contact with the enemy but luckily this one survived. Hopefully everyone’s happy, these horses go on and produce results and we’re back here next year previewing a different type of sale. I’m not sure our friend Covid’s done with us yet, to be honest, so I think we’ve just got to be ready for whatever next year brings us.”

Have you bought a star at an auction? Share your experience by writing to us at hhletters@futurenet.com – the writer of the letter of the week receives a bottle of Champagne Taittinger.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Elite sport horse sales thrive despite Covid-19 restrictions H&H Plus

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 16:32:03 +0000

As rapidly changing Covid-19 restrictions are limiting people’s ability to attend many elite auctions in person, H&H finds out how the sector has risen to meet the challenges and what this means for forthcoming elite sport horse auctions such as the Monart Sale and Goresbridge Go for Gold...

ELITE sport horse sales have been running successfully despite Covid-19 restrictions, as organisers focus on “controlling the controllable”.

The Monart Sale of elite event horses in Ireland is due to run online from 2 to 4 November, while the Billy Stud’s first Elite Auction, which ended on 18 October, was a great success, with the top lot, Big Star national six-year-old champion Billy Masai, selling to the US for £92,000.

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing held its yearling parade via live-stream on 18 October.

Highclere chairman and managing director Harry Herbert said: “We would normally have been welcoming 250 people per day over three days but with Covid, we decided to live-stream the parade. It was really well received and since buying our yearlings we have sold over 80% of our shares which is fantastic.

“The live-stream reached a much larger audience than ever before and proved that there is real interest in racehorse ownership despite the current challenging economic climate.”

The Billy Stud’s William Funnell told H&H that more than ever, with current restrictions, auctions like his give everyone an opportunity to buy online.

In the first elite auction, Billy Tiberius and six-year-old mare Billy Seymour went for £90,000 and £72,000 respectively.

“Some of them might have made more from private sales, but I think this is the way forward,” William said. “Originally, we started the online auctions as a pre-event to the main auctions, but even before this year things had started to move online, as I think it works for seller and buyer.”

William added that having detailed footage, vetting and X-ray details for horses helps buyer confidence, while the stud protects its good name. Another 10 top Billy horses go up for auction this weekend.

The Monart Sale (2-4 November) has a changed format, with investment in the equestrian venue to cope with hosting the auction. This includes new broadband lines to cater for the auction live-stream.

“Monart has never done online bidding before and this is a positive development that will be here to stay for future sales, but it’s a big investment upfront with no guarantee that the business generated will match the investment,” a spokesman said.

Sale director Niall Griffin added that: “Our main focus is to control the controllable.”

“No matter what way this goes, a lot of it is out of our control,” he told H&H. “We want to give our vendors and buyers as much confidence as possible.

“We’ve invested heavily in making Monart Equestrian as Covid-secure as possible.

“The biggest development is the new online bidding platform and the live-stream. We’ve never done a live-stream for the sale before, but we’re hopeful it will open the sale up to new bidders from around the world. In a normal year sales would expect online bidding to equate to 20 to 30% of sales, but in a Covid year we’re expecting that to be more.”

Mr Griffin said different plans have been made depending on what level of restrictions are in place, as is the case for the Goresbridge Go for Gold sale. This select event horse sale has been postponed for four weeks, until 7 to 8 December.

Goresbridge managing director Martin Donohoe told H&H it is hoped that by then, restrictions will have eased, so those coming into the country will not have to self-isolate, and buyers may be able to attend sales.

“If not, it will all be online,” he said. “When we took promotional videos this year, we took a lot more views, to give more people opportunity to see the horses if they can’t attend in person.

“People are buying more online and getting more used to it; most people are having to think differently and change their ways of doing things in these unprecedented times.”

H&H 29 October 2020

Galileo filly becomes highest priced yearling sold in the world this year

Becky Murray — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 13:12:13 +0000

Two fillies by Galileo have become the most expensive yearlings sold at auction in the world this year – as nine lots fetch seven figure prices at the Tattersalls October yearling sale book one last week (6-8 October).

Lot 436, a Galileo filly out of Shastye, was bought by MV Magnier, Coolmore, for £3.57 million on the final day of the sale. The Newsells Park Stud consigned filly is the full sister to Group One winners Japan and Mogul and will join her full-brothers at Ballydoyle.

“It is a great result for everybody involved, she has been bought in partnership with Westerberg,” said MV Magnier. “She is a very nice filly and a very nice mover, like Japan and Mogul. The mare produces great looking stock and great racehorses, let’s hope she does it one more time.”

The second Galileo filly, Lot 374, was also bought by MV Magnier. The filly, out of the dual Grade Two winner Prize Exhibit, sold for £2.94 million.

‘[Her] breeder David Nagle has been saying for a very long time how good a filly she is. We are very lucky to have been able to buy her. She has a great page, and she comes from a very good nursery,” said Mr Magnier.

“These kind of fillies are collectors items with Galileo and how he is doing as a broodmare sire. She is just exceptional.”

During the auction’s three days nine lots sold for seven figure prices including Lot 174, the son of Kingman who sold for £2.84 million to Oliver St Laurence from Houghton Bloodstock, on behalf of Pantile Stud. The colt, out of Galicuix, is a half brother to class winner Galileo Gold.

Bo Hicks-Little, stud manager of Pantile Stud, said the colt has “never put a foot wrong”.

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“He is a superstar, and not just physically, he is so mentally strong too, he is such a professional. He was a late April foal and we had a bad night when he was born as we nearly lost the mare. We had to bottle feed him for 24 hours,” he said.

“He has been bought for Fawzi Nass and Bahraini interests. He is a gorgeous horse, he has a stallion’s pedigree and he will go into training with Roger Varian,” added Mr St Laurence.

Lot 109, a colt by Dubawi out of Cushion, was bought by Godolphin for £2.21 million from Floors Stud. The stable also bought Lot 162, a filly by Frankel out of Flesh d’Or for £2.1 million from Norelands Stud and Lot 41, a colt by Frankel out of Attraction, for £1.16 million from Floors Stud.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Top-priced Bolesworth auction colt goes viral with ‘romantic’ gesture

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 16:54:41 +0000

A pair of colts sold by Great Britain’s showjumping performance manager Di Lampard were the top lots at the Bolesworth Elite Foal Auction on 21 August.

Bids were taken both live at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Young Horse Championships and online, with offers coming from as far afield as Australia and the United States.

The 18 lots, which included two embryos, made an average hammer price of £16,643 and just three foals and one embryo went unsold on the night.

The top two lots, Casalljack and Conthargo, are both out of Di’s great mare Ruby VII, who has jumped at top level for both Louise Whitaker and Holly Smith and whose dam, Equity, was a five-star winning ride for Di.

Casalljack is by the prolific winning stallion Casall Ask, the former mount of Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, and made the highest price of £33,000. The March-born Conthargo is by popular stallion Conthargos and was sold for £30,000.

Casalljack has already made a global name for himself as the auction video of him picking out a flower from the arena decorations and cantering off with it — perhaps as a romantic gesture for his new owner Emma Phillips — has since gone viral.

?? Casalljack – with a flowery character… ??? The top foal at last nights Bolesworth Elite Auctions picked a flower for his new owner ❤️Casalljack by Casall – out of Ruby VIII, Louise Whitackers GP mare by Balou du Rouet – was the top price with 33.000£ last night! ?▶️ watch.clipmyhorse.tv/Bolesworth-YHCh? We are LIVE now with the A.W. Jenkinson (Forest Products) Limited 1.20m Open Championships!Posted by ClipMyHorse.TV Great Britain on Saturday, August 22, 2020

“Jack is a real character, such a show-off and I thought under the lights he would be a real crackerjack,” said Di, who was sad to see her foals go, but is thrilled that they will remain on home soil: “Hopefully flying the flag for Great Britain in the future,” she added.

“I love breeding them and have always sold them, but always produced them, too, which means that you have some say in who they go to and can find them a suitable partner,” Di told H&H.

“So it really hit me last year when we put our first foal, Superstar, in the auction, that I’d have no say in who would buy them.

“But it’s worked out very well and last year’s foal sold very well to Old Lodge, while this year we’ve been very lucky that they’ve gone to British producers in Emma Phillips [Casalljack] and Ian Dowie [Conthargo], who has horses with Ronnie Jones and owns Holly Smith’s Denver.

“Conthargo is a super foal, very correct and straight,” she added. “The stallions, Casall Ask and Conthargos, really complement Ruby and we have three more embryos for next year.”

Emma Phillips told H&H she thought Di’s foals were “both gorgeous and I’d love to have taken both home!”

“My preference was just for Casalljack because of his sire — Casall has had a very long and successful career,” said Emma, who also bought an unsold Tinka’s Serenade embryo. “It’s very early days, but we’ll use them in the stud and hopefully when they reach four-year-olds and with the help of Di Lampard we’ll pick a path for them together.”

Emma and her husband Mike have also been building a good crop of youngsters out of the dam of Tripple X III, who they previously owned, and have sent the eight-year-old H Quainton Xtra Factor, a full-sister to Ben Maher’s Olympic 2012 ride, to Ellen Whitaker.

“We’re not committed to a particular rider this time, but we’re tentatively building and Ellen is riding one while William Whitaker has a six-year-old,” she said.

Also of interest at the auction was Lot 4, a daughter of Cornet Obolensky out of a half-sister to Scott Brash’s great winner Bon Ami. This filly was sold for £18,000.

The combination of Big Star and Tinka’s Serenade has proved a popular pairing and has sold well here in the past; this year’s offspring from Billy Twomey’s Olympic ride, a filly named Starlight Serenade, made £27,000.

In a first for Bolesworth’s Elite Auctions, two embryos also went under the hammer, with one from Michael Whitaker’s grand prix-winning mare Wild Rose, by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve, making £14,000 after a fierce bidding war.

Bolesworth organiser Nina Barbour summed up: “We were delighted with the result and it is hugely encouraging to see the strength and breadth of British breeding which continues to improve year on year.

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“Although operating strictly under the Covid-19 guidelines, it was fantastic to be able to present the foals live at the event, and we wish all buyers the very best of luck with their future stars!

“Bolesworth will continue to champion sport horse breeding in the UK working with British breeders and vendors to select and prepare horses for future sales,” she added. “Our ethos of only selecting youngstock with world class “black type” dams (either elite performers in their own right to 1.45m level and above or with close relations who have performed to a similar or higher elite level) in the pedigree as well as incorporating the highest performing sires will cement Bolesworth’s position on the world stage for performance horse auctions.”

Bolesworth elite foal auction sale prices

Lot 1: Khaleesi, 2020 filly (Plot Blue x Quidam De Revel) £7,000

Lot 2: Glasgow’s Prince HD, 2020 colt (VDL Glasgow van’t Merelsnest x Germus R) Not sold

Lot 3: Brittas Verifee ASH, 2020 filly (Verdi x Winningmood) £7,000

Lot 4: Aredis Corrida, 2020 filly (Cornet Obolensky x Lord Z) £18,000

Lot 5: Ashdale Direct Star, 2020 colt (Big Star x Luidam) £16,000

Lot 6: Conthargo, 2020 colt (Conthargos x Balou Du Rouet) £30,000

Lot 7: Millfiled Social Isolation, 2020 colt (Cardento x Plot Blue) £10,000

Lot 8: Carrickview Ubalou, 2020 colt (Untouchable x Baloubet Du Rouet) Not sold

Lot 9: JTH Cromwell, 2020 colt (Derby x Quannan R) £8,500

Lot 10: Wild Child HF, 2020 filly (Big Star x Oklund) £21,000

Lot 12: Millfield Divinity, 2020 filly (Diarado x Contender) £11,500

Lot 13: Casalljack, 2020 colt (Casall Ask x Balou Du Rouet) £33,000

Lot 14: Starlight Serenade, 2020 filly (Big Star x Tinka’s Boy) £27,000

Lot 15: Puerto Rico NS, 2020 colt (Verdi x Padinus) £10,000

Lot 16: Nomara Casall, 2020 colt (Komme Casall x Larino) Not sold

Lot 17: Con Amora, 2020 filly (Conthargos x Con Air) £20,000

Lot 18: Unnamed embryo (Chat Botte Du Ruisseau Z x Tinka’s Boy) Not sold

Lot 19: Unnamed embryo (Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve x Oklund) £14,000

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Meet the equine auctioneer travelling across Europe in a camper van to inspect young racehorses

Hannah Lemieux — Fri, 29 May 2020 11:24:34 +0000

At this time of the year, equine auctioneer John O’Kelly is usually flying around Europe inspecting young racehorses at foreign yards for the Tattersalls catalogue, ahead of the Book One, Two and Three sales in October.

However, owing to the coronavirus pandemic that has swept the globe, John has found himself swapping his usual hotels for a camper van, in a bid to continue his work for the racehorse auction house in Newmarket.

This week, John arrived in Ireland on the final leg of his travels and has to quarantine for 14 days before he can start visiting yards. He expects he’ll remain in Ireland for several weeks before returning to Belgium, where he lives.

John O’Kelly (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“My role has always seen me visit far-reaching places across Europe at this time of year, but with Covid-19 halting many things, my wife suggested I hire a camper van and drive myself,” explained the Irishman.

John’s adventure started on 18 May and from Normandy in France he drove onto Luxemburg then Munich, Berlin, Hamburg and then Cologne. Over five days, John estimated he covered around 4,000km.

“Before visiting each yard, I call ahead to check they have somewhere I can park my camper van overnight and a hook-up point near electricity and water,” said John.

John O’Kelly (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“While inspecting the horses I always wear a face mask and abide by the social distancing rules. The young horses have all been nominated for the autumn sales. It is my job to inspect them, talk to the vendor about where their horse will sit in the sales catalogue and grade the horses for each sales book,” he added.

“It is important to make sure the horses fit all the criteria and ensure that it will be worthwhile for the vendors to travel the horses over for the sales. In a usual year, I will see around 1,000 horses from end of April until June. We are really hopeful that by autumn, people will be able to travel over with the horses for the sales.”

John O’Kelly (Image credit: creditUnknown)

John described his journey across Europe as a “great experience”.

“It has been an adventure, and I had never driven a camper van before. There has been much interest in my travels and I’m glad it has put a smile on some people’s faces,” he said.

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“Getting into countries has been okay, I was only stopped once in France, but I have all the relevant documents to hand and a letter from Tattersalls explaining that I am travelling for work, which cannot be done over the phone.

“The highlight has been getting out and about, and meeting people again – all of whom share the same interest in bloodstock. However, I didn’t enjoy the traffic jams in Germany (pictured, above).

“It’s always a lovely time of year and one I thoroughly enjoy. There will be light at the end of the tunnel; we all just have to pull through this together.”

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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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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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Damning report leads to pledge for clean-up of industry conduct H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 16:58:27 +0000

The newly formed Bloodstock Industry Forum (BIF) has pledged a commitment to improve practices following a damning report on the conduct of a minority of buyers and sellers.

Justin Felice’s report, commissioned by the British Horseracing Authority, emphasised the bloodstock industry is “not a fundamentally unsafe place to do business”, but improper practices “by a small number of unscrupulous individuals have been allowed to continue without challenge in a way which adversely affects the industry as a whole”.

It stated unethical and/or unlawful practices “which appear to be most prevalent” include secret profiteering and dual representation, which is where an agent works for both buyer and seller — charging commission to both parties — unbeknown to one or both parties.

Also on the list were luck money, where the agent for the buyer demands money from the seller on the sale of a horse, and bidding up, which is the artificial increase in the sale price of a horse at auction through a series of pre-agreed bidding, whereby the buyer pays more for the horse than they otherwise would have done.

The 83-page report was officially published by the BHA in December.

One of the main reasons it was commissioned was a concern that racehorse ownership was in gradual decline, which would create major issues for the sport if not addressed. The BHA was also concerned one reason for the marked decline of 18% in sole ownership, compared to a 4% increase in syndicate ownership, was owing to concerns about the integrity of the bloodstock industry.

Mr Felice found the top end was a “vibrant industry operating on a significant scale”, compared to vulnerability at the lower end of the market.

Statistics from the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association found return on capital investment for breeders was at only around 1-3%, with as many as 66% of breeders facing an unprofitable year in 2017, compared with 45% in 2013.

The review team interviewed a wide cross-section of the industry and did have some positive feedback, including one sales house stating the “vast majority of people are scrupulous and honest”.

“There was however considerably more in the way of negative feedback,” added the report.

“The overwhelming perception of the review team is that there is a substantial level of anxiety within the bloodstock industry that it is highly vulnerable to unethical and potentially unlawful practices, resulting not only in financial loss for those participants who are victims of such practices, but also public exposure which could cause serious damage to the credibility and reputation of the industry.”

In terms of sales houses, the team received both positive and negative comments and clarified that it “has not seen any evidence that the sales houses operate with a lack of integrity themselves”.

The investigating team was also told of a small proportion of agent “bad apples”.

“The evidence suggests that this behaviour is only undertaken by a small, but significant, minority of agents in the industry,” states the report.

“No interviewee suggested that this is a problem which affects all agents (or, indeed, only agents).”

In the concluding comments, the report states that these issues are not new, and while previous reviews in 2004 and 2008 led to an industry code of practice, “in the absence of proper monitoring and enforcement, the improper practices have been able to thrive”.

“The bloodstock industry is at a crossroads,” it states. “It can either collectively grasp the opportunity that this review affords to achieve transformational change or continue to turn a blind eye to concerning practices which, at some point, will cause the industry significant damage.

“As one of the sales houses remarked, ‘we need to change what is deemed as acceptable and what isn’t’.”

What has happened since?

The new forum (BIF) was created in September as a result of the report.

It is made up of representatives from across the industry, including the Federation of Bloodstock Agents, Goffs, the National Trainers Federation, the Racehorse Owners Association, Tattersalls, the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the Breeze-up Consignors Association and the BHA.

Tighter regulation from the BHA is also on the cards. It was decided that the reports recommendation of licensing of bloodstock agents was not the way forward, but the Federation of Bloodstock Agents has committed to put in place “more rigorous requirements” on its membership, including an integrity course for all.

Work is under way in several areas, including on a new code of practice, which will introduce a complaints procedure independent of the industry bodies with sanctioning power lying with the BHA.

BIF chair Jimmy George, Tattersalls marketing director, said: “Every one of the component members of BIF is committed to introducing a more effective programme of education, awareness and communication of appropriate conduct for all participants.” He added that the aim is to have “full harmonisation” of the new code with the relevant Irish governing bodies as well.

“The British and Irish bloodstock industry is a genuine success story and it is our collective responsibility to do all in our power to preserve and enhance its global status.

“All those involved in the BIF, including the BHA, are committed to ensuring the highest possible standards of integrity, and to maintaining and increasing confidence in an industry which is admired throughout the world.”

Dun mare tops Brightwells’ Welsh cob sale at £25,500

Alex Robinson — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 17:47:37 +0000

A Welsh section D mare with an enviable list of achievements under saddle topped the 2019 Brightwells’ Autumn Cob Sales (30 October-1 November).

Top lot was the flashy six-year-old dun Llanarth Fair Lady (Penlangrug Deio x Llanarth Pam Evans), owned by the Hughes family, who was sold for a trade topping £25,500 to the Alford family where she will continue her career under saddle. Her producer Katy Marriott-Payne rode the mare in the sale ring where she displayed her fabulous paces to the crowds.

Fair Lady was a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) finalist this season in both open Welsh cob and junior ranks. She took third place in the latter final. She was auctioned with her ticket to the mountain and moorland ridden final at Olympia, a qualification she picked up at the BSPS Heritage championships last month.

The £25,500 price tag is the second-highest price to have ever been reached at the sales with the record being set last year when the Welsh section C stallion Tyrllawn Rolls-Royce sold for £45,000.

The top young stock lot was Andrew Thomas’ filly foal Caederwen Miss Monroe (Waunoris Golden Boy x Caederwen Merch Euraidd), which was knocked down for £13,500. The striking palamino found a new home with Carol Prater of the Rhencullen stud.

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(Image credit: Trevor-Meeks-Photography.co.uk)

Dun mares were certainly popular as Glyn Anderson’s five-year-old Welsh section C Tyntyla Catkin (Cadfach Who Dunnit x Tyntyla Catrin) scored an impressive price of £10,000.

Prices were high across the board as the sale averaged in excess of £1,400 per lot, a level which has not been achieved for some time.

Keep in touch and up to date with all the latest news, reports and exclusive features in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

This week, don’t miss our veteran special with tips and tricks to keep your golden oldie on the road, plus an insight into the competitions available to veterans across the disciplines.

Two elite foals sell for £40,000 each at Bolesworth auction

Jennifer Donald — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 06:04:20 +0000

Two foals reached a top price of £40,000 at the Bolesworth AES Elite Foal Auction on Friday (16 August).

Going under the hammer were 18 youngsters with proven damlines and big-name sires such as Big Star, Taloubet Z, Escape Z, Quintero La Silla and Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve and among them came a brace of top-priced foals.

ASK Tinka, a blue-blooded filly by Casall ASK out of Billy Twomey’s top international ride Tinka’s Serenade (Tinka’s Boy x African Drum), owned by Sue Davies, was the first of the two to attract such a keen bidding process, being knocked down for £40,000.

Then the final lot of the evening, Cavalier HF — a colt out of Emily Ward’s British-bred grand prix winner Remi Cavalleri (by Handel) and by leading stallion Diamant De Semilly — went under the hammer for a matching price.

Cavalier HF. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The purchasers of both top lots wished to remain anonymous but also attracting strong interest was Mr Tuxara, by Christian Ahlmann’s great stallion Taloubet Z out of the superstar British-bred mare Ashdale Luxara (by Luidam) who took riders such as Anthony Condon and Charlotte Flack to international success. The winning bidder for this super colt was Didy Morgan, a long-time supporter of Bolesworth shows.

The bay foal was billed as “a top prospect for both the top sport and breeding” and was entered by Ashdale Sports Horses and Dave Quick, who also sponsored the four-year-old series at the Equitop Bolesworth Young Horse Championships in memory of great showjumping supporters Henry and Edna Harding.

Also attracting plenty of interest was Tinka’s Lady, by Nick Skelton’s double Olympic gold medal-winning ride Big Star out of Tinka’s Serenade, for whom the bidding stopped at £30,000. In 2017, this filly foal’s full brother Tinka’s Star made a record-breaking £92,000 at the Bolesworth International auction.

A chestnut colt called Superstar, also by Big Star out of Di Lampard and Dietmar Ackermann’s mare Ruby VIII (Balou Du Rouet x Adieu Z) who is currently competing at the top level with Holly Smith, fetched £32,000.

There was a strong emphasis on “black type” dam lines, coupled with prolific sires, across the evening and all the lots were hand-picked by the Bolesworth Elite Auctions team having met some very exacting criteria based on breeding, conformation, paces and attitude.

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(Image credit: bolesworth.com)

For Pleasure three-year-old is top lot at Kingsman Elite Sport Auction

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A record number of guests and potential buyers to this auction enjoyed a more personal experience as the lots were showcased in a new auction ring in Club Boles, with plenty of interest also coming via pre-arranged telephone bidding.

The show’s managing director Nina Barbour said: “The atmosphere was truly exceptional and we were delighted to present a world class selection of foals handpicked by our team. This auction highlights the strength of British breeding and marks the beginning of a new era for buyers searching for British-bred elite sport horses, capable of competing on a global stage.”

Bolesworth AES Elite Foal Auction prices

Lot 1: Armani EM (by Arko III out of Harmony) £5,000

Lot 2: Kinessa (by Escape Z out of Kynesse) £8,000

Lot 3: Millfield Tarzan (by Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve out of Zazou HE) £11,000

Lot 4: Diamond Star (by Big Star out of Quite Feeling) £17,000

Lot 5: JTH Jones (by Derby out of Martha 55) Not sold

Lot 6: ASK Tinka (by Casall ASK out of Tinka’s Serenade) £40,000

Lot 8: Millfield Tangible (by Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve out of Pretty Woman) £9,000

Lot 10: Mr Tuxara (by Taloubet Z out of Ashdale Luxara) £38,000

Lot 11: Crown Archie (by Cicero Z Van Paemel out of Flavour Of Fame) £12,000

Lot 12: ESH Mamma Mia (by Casall ASK out of F Palma) £21,000

Lot 13: SFS Breakout (by Escape Z out of SFS Arla) £17,000

Lot 14: Millfield Digress (by Diamant De Semilly out of Quitania) Not sold

Lot 15: Superstar (by Big Star out of Ruby VIII) £32,000

Lot 16: Unbelievable HD (by Untouchable out of Concordia) £27,000

Lot 17: Spinning Top OS (by Quintero La Silla out of Tinka’s Showtime) £12,500

Lot 18: Tinka’s Lady (by Big Star out of Tinka’s Serenade) £30,000

Lot 19: Millfield Casallina (by Casall ASK out of Millfield Tina) £28,000

Lot 20: Cavalier HF (by Diamant De Semilly out of Remi Cavalleri) £40,000

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

For Pleasure three-year-old is top lot at Kingsman Elite Sport Auction

Penny Richardson — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 11:29:45 +0000

The top lot of the first sport horse auction to be held during the international showjumping show at Keysoe was a scopey For Pleasure x Dynamo gelding.

He was sold to a phone buyer from the USA for £24,000 during the sale in which 10 of 14 three-year-olds put forward found new homes.

A large audience arrived for the evening event yesterday (3 July) hosted by Kingsman Equine, a Gloucestershire-based company founded specifically to source sport horses and run elite auctions.

Showjumper Carron Nicol took two new horses home to Warwickshire. She first paid £14,500 for a black Nouma DAuzay daughter, a big mare with plenty of jump. Then the enormous-jumping grey gelding Diablo, by Durango VDL, went into Carron’s shopping basket for £14,000.

“I’m delighted because I’d earmarked both these horses before the auction,” she said. “I love a black horse and it’s a real bonus that the mare is already backed, while Diablo was my absolute favourite when I looked at the catalogue.

“I haven’t had to pay a fortune for either of them and they both have lovely characters. Temperament means a lot to me because my horses are part of the family.”

Continued below…

(Image credit: Kingsman Elite Auction)

Top lot at Tattersalls event horse sale fetches €37,000 as Oliver Townend buys two

Six horses found new homes at the sale at Tattersalls Horse Trials, with top British event rider Oliver Townend among

(Image credit: Kingsman Elite Auction)

Kingsman Elite Sport Auction prices

Lot 1: Valor Z (Vagrant Z x Chellano Z stallion) £9,500 not sold

Lot 2: Lazora (Lantino x Ferro mare) £7,500

Lot 3: Lady Balu (Bubalu VDL x Tolan R mare) £17,000 not sold

Lot 4: Camillus S Z (Cicero Z x Chin Chin stallion) £15,000

Lot 5: Lola (Durango VDL x Conterno Grande mare) £6,000 not sold

Lot 6: For Your Pleasure (For Pleasure x Dynamo gelding) £24,000

Lot 7: Lacarda (Dallas VDL x Aerobic mare) £13,000

Lot 8: Action Time Z (Action Breaker x Indoctro stallion) £17,000

Lot 9: Formidable SLR Z (For Pleasure x Carthago Z stallion) £12,000

Lot 10: Corazon Z (Cicero z x Negro stallion) £10,000

Lot 11: not forward

Lot 12: Unnamed (Nouma D’Auzay x Quidam’s Rubin mare) £14,500

Lot 13: not forward

Lot 14: Unnamed (I’m Special De Muze x Clinton gelding) £7,500

Lot 15: Diablo (Durango VDL x Harley VDL gelding) £14,000

Lot 16: Unnamed (Quasimodo Z x Mister Blue gelding) £9,500 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.

Top lot at Tattersalls event horse sale fetches €37,000 as Oliver Townend buys two

Pippa Roome — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 10:05:07 +0000

The top lot fetched €37,000 at the Goresbridge Tattersalls Ireland Select Event Horse Sale, held on Thursday evening (30 May) at Tattersalls International Horse Trials and Country Fair.

DJ O’Sullivan was the buyer of the top lot, lot four, a four-year-old gelding called Dobby, consigned by Michael Heery. The grey is by Diacontinus — a grandson of Diamant De Semilly — out of a Stakkato mare who is a sibling to graded showjumpers.

The crowd at the sale saw 14 potential young event horses, selected by former top rider Karen Dixon and Irish event horse agent Sally Parkyn, go through the ring. Six were sold — with an aggregate of €126,000 and an average of €21,00 — while eight failed to make their reserves.

Oliver Townend bought two lots. One of these, lot six — consigned by Joanne Curtin and DJ O’Sullivan — fetched the second highest price of the sale at €29,000.

He is an unnamed four-year-old bay gelding by the Baloubet Du Rouet sire Querlybet Hero out of an Ars Vivendi Lady mare. Oliver’s purchase is a half-brother to Makin A Storm, who was fourth in the 2018 Burghley young event horse final ridden by Ros Canter and to international 1.30m showjumper Harlequin Vivendi.

Lot six in the Goresbridge Tattersalls Ireland Select Event Horse Sale 2019. (Image credit: TADHG RYAN)

Oliver also signed for Future Sky (lot five) at €8,000. Consigned by Jason Higgins, he is by Future Trend out of a mare by Chillout. He is related through his damline to Cooley SRS — last year’s Badminton runner-up under Oliver — who has now been renamed WillingaPark Cooley after his sale to Australia’s Terrence Snow of WillingaPark for double Adelaide winner Hazel Shannon to ride.

The other three horses were knocked down at €15,000, €17,000 and €20,000.

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All the horses in the sale were four-year-olds bar two (lots one and two), who were both five. Lot one — a grey by the Cruising son Flex A Bill out of a mare by the US thoroughbred Rich Rebel — was led out unsold at €17,000, while lot two was one of two horses entered who were withdrawn before the sale.

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

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.

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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

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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

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

Martha Terry — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 18:11:44 +0000

It was a Who’s Who of the eventing scene as a host of top riders gathered for this year’s Go for Gold select event horse sale in Gorey, Ireland (12-13 November). Michael Jung, Oliver Townend, Izzy Taylor and Sam Watson were among the 500-odd people attending the auction.

An unnamed three-year-old by OBOS Quality 004 topped the sale at €59,000 (£51,000) and is bound for Britain, having been bought by Sam Ecroyd. The bay gelding combines the jumping prowess of his sire with plenty of thoroughbred blood, via his damsire, the top event stallion Ghareeb.

OBOS Quality offspring were the order of the day — he had seven selected for the sale, although the others proved less popular with buyers.

While this ninth renewal of the sale lacked the show-stopper of last year, when Gurtera Mattie Clover made €130,000, many more horses made their reserve price than in 2017. The overall average of the 48 horses sold was around €20,000, and six going for over €40,000.

Three of the older horses — four- five- and six-year-olds — shared top lot in this category, selling for €40,000 each. Boleybawn Freedom (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Courage II) wowed Monday morning’s crowd at Barnadown Showjumping in Co. Wexford, with his flatwork and showjumping display. His maternal granddam is international showjumper Ardenteggle Flight (by Errigal Flight), and he looks to have inherited that scope. The five-year-old bay gelding will stay in Ireland, with World Equestrian Games team silver medallist Cathal Daniels.

Two four-year-olds joined Boleybawn Freedom on €40,000: a bay filly Kiltubrid Candy (Sligo Candy Boy x Lombardo) and Ballymoyle Pilot, a chestnut gelding by Pappenheimer x Nearly A Nose.

Kiltubrid Candy — whose three-year-old full-brother Kiltubrid Danny later sold for just €16,000 — went to Berkshire-based Italian rider Stella Benatti.

Oliver Townend went home with two whom he will be hoping might emulate his Go for Gold graduate Cooley SRS, runner-up at Badminton this year. Together with Richard Sheane, Oliver paid €45,000 for third-top lot, three-year-old Kilnamac Croga (Courage II x Cruising), a delightful dark grey whose loose-jumping display mirrored his impeccable breeding.

Oliver also bought an unnamed three-year-old by Samgemjee x OBOS Quality 004, with his favoured Ramiro B lines in the sire line, for €15,000.

Continues below…

(Image credit: Lucy Elder)

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(Image credit: Lucy Elder)

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Meanwhile Emily King looks to have a cracker on her hands in MBF All In Time (Emperor Augustus x Ballintogher Leo), a four-year-old who went under the hammer for €30,000.

There were bargains to be had, too. Donal Barnwell scooped up four, with an average price of €11,375. And Michael Jung purchased one of the second cheapest horses of the night, Royal Trend, a three-year-old filly by Future Trend x Cult Hero. Michael, still sporting a sling from breaking his shoulder at Le Lion last month, also bought Kilcandra Ocean Power (BGS Ocean Wave x Bonnie Prince) for €19,000.

Goresbridge Go for Gold 2018 sale results

1	MBF Hats Off	Gelding	6	Valentine Tourres	27,000
2	Dario Fo	Gelding	6	Miranda Loffet	10,000
3	Ballyshan MBF Flash	Gelding	6	Cormac Kennedy	15,000
5	Boleybawn Freedom	Gelding	6	Caithal Daniel	40,000
6	Stonehaven Penhills Cobra	Gelding	5		N/S
7	EPA Murray	Gelding	5	Helen White	24,000
9	Kilcandra Ocean Power	Gelding	5	Michael Jung	19,000
11					W/D
12	Ougtherard Royale	Mare	5	PJ Martin Ltd	16,500
14	Marinas Olivia	Mare	5	James Turner	13,000
15	Cruise Billerough	Gelding	4		N/S
16	Kilcannon Dude	Gelding	4	Samantha Wilson	35,000
17	Ballyneety No Rocket	Gelding	4	Sam Watson	25,000
18	Ken Black	Gelding	4		N/S
19	MBF All In Time	Gelding	4	Emily King	30,000
20	D Millo Express	Gelding	4		N/S
21	Emerald Emoe	Filly	4	Miranda Loffet	22,000
22	Beechfields Nadal	Gelding	4	David Mitson	14,000
23	Grantstown Class	Gelding	4	Donal Barnwell	8,000
24	Kiltubrid Candy	Filly	4	Stella Benatti	40,000
25	Barretstown Wow	Gelding	4	Donal Barnwell	15,000
26	Saunderscourt Furisto	Gelding	4	Donal Barnwell	10,000
27	Unnamed	Gelding	4		N/S
28	Unnamed	Gelding	4	Donal Barnwell	12,500
30					N/S
31	The Ridge Cavalier	Gelding	4	Cormac Kennedy	26,000
32	Ballymoyle Pilot	Gelding	4	Debbie Davies	40,000
33	Unnamed	Filly	4	George Anderson	23,000
34	Camross Cruise	Gelding	4	Sam Ecroyd	11,000
35	Shanroe Peeters	Gelding	4	Sterrebeek Equestrian Farm	28,000
36	Kind Carel	Gelding	4		N/S
37	Kilnamac Croga	Gedling	3	Richard Sheane/Oliver Townend	45,000
38	Unnamed	Gelding	3	Sam Ecroyd	59,000
39	MBF Bite The Bullet	Gedling	3	GHF Equestrian	17,000
40	Kilpatrick Treasure One	Colt	3	John Bannon	8,000
41	Ballynoecastle Q	Gelding	3	Ibby Macpherson	18,000
42	Hereabouts	Gelding	3	D. Morton	17,000
43	FMSH Highway	Gelding	3	Trusted Accounts Ltd	46,000
44	Greannanstown Soolmoy Royal	Gelding	3	David Mitson	17,000
45	Unnamed	Gelding	3	Oliver Townend	15,000
46	Portlaoise Radical Chick	Filly	3	Dominik Burger	8,000
47	Jordan Cobra	Gelding	3	Gearoid Costello	25,000
48	Jaguar	Gelding	3	V. Tourres	27,000
49	RNH Black Tie	Gelding	3	JS U Ltd.	14,500
50	Unnamed			Christine O’Donnell	9,000
51	Dourough Ferro Class Act	Gelding	3	Agnes Fabricius	20,000
52	Kiltubrid Danny	Gelding	3	Patricia Heffernan	16,000
53	GRC Titan	Gelding	3		N/S
54	BP KO Jax	Gelding	3	David Mitson	22,000
55	Unnamed	Gelding	3		N/S
56	HVL Kilcannon	Gelding	3	Susan MacLachlan	10,000
57	Quantized	Gelding	3	J Hornby	7,500
58	Unnamed	Gelding	3	D Morton	15,000
59	MBF Countdown	Gelding	3	Bernie Warfe	17,000
60	Lumiere	Gelding	3		N/S
61	The Last Of Adam	Gelding	3	Nicolai Aldinger	10,000
62	Royal Trend	Filly	3	Michael Jung	8,000
63	Classicals Smartie Pants	Gelding	3	Debbie Davies	11,500
64	Killaloe Flash The Cash	Gelding	3	Vicki Irlam	18,000
65	Keamore OBOS Cruz	Gelding	3		N/S

NB: these results above are provisional and may be subject to change.

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

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

Pippa Roome — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 13:40:12 +0000

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

Caroline Powell was the successful highest bidder for the top lot at the Monart Sale in Ireland last week (5-7 November). The New Zealand Olympic event rider purchased three-year-old CBI Aldo (above) for €45,000.

Lot 95 in the catalogue, CBI Aldo is by the KWPN stallion Goodluck VDL, out of an Irish sport horse mare called KMS Eclipse, who is by KWPN sire Ramon. He was sold by JJ Bowe, who was also responsible for five other horses who found new owners in the sale.

“We went intending to buy and we marked him as a nice mover and jumper, but he wasn’t really on our list until we saw him jumping. He looked amazing when he was shown on Tuesday,” said Caroline.

Caroline also took home lot 136, three-year-old Munthers Boy, a grey by the thoroughbred Munther out of a Ricardo Z mare. He was sold by Ryan O’Gorman at €21,500.

Caroline said that foals and yearlings by Munther caught her eye when she visited Dublin Horse Show this year.

“They were beautiful, so I was interested when I saw there was a horse by Munther. We thought he looked nice on the video and he was even better in the flesh, so he came home, although we had to leave before that part of the auction to get home, so we were speeding up the road bidding by phone,” said Caroline, who added that both horses will stay in Ireland to be backed before they join her.

“I’m very lucky to have some great owners and to have these lovely horses; they will certainly make the winter less tiresome and be very exciting for next year.”

Monart boasted a 75% clearance rate of the 109 horses who came forward for auction this year, with an average price of €10,850.

German star Michael Jung signed for lot 5 — an unnamed bay three-year-old by the thoroughbred Pointilliste out of a Master Imp mare — at €26,000 and lot 138, another unnamed three-year-old by a thoroughbred. This son of Sirillio went for €8,000.

British world number one Oliver Townend added one potential future star to his stable in the shape of an unnamed four-year-old bay mare by the Guidam son Letter Land. She has schooled cross-country and is jumping a course of fences, according to the sale catalogue, and changed hands for €8,500.

Article continues below…

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Other buyers at Monart included Bill and Jenny Levett, Mary King, Austin O’Connor, Sam Watson, Kevin McNab, Lauren Blades, Rosie Fry, Kathryn Robinson, Astier Nicolas, J-P Sheffield and Julia Dungworth.

The Monart Sale 2018 prices

Lot	Vendor	Horse	Buyer	Country	Price
001	Jennifer French	Joeys Reward	Johan Westerberg	US	€8,500.00
002	JJ Bowe	Unnamed	Kathryn Robinson	CAN	€13,000.00
003	Shannondale Stud	Shannondale Archie	Jenny & Bill Levett	UK /AUS	€14,000.00
004	Louise Holohan	Good Craic	Alexander Bontemps	GER	€20,000.00
005	Tommy Considine	Unnamed	Michael Jung	GER	€26,000.00
006	JJ Bowe	Unnamed	Rosie Fry	UK	€7,500.00
007	Brian Flynn	MBF Golden Reign	Astier Nicolas	FR	€4,000.00
009	Mary Bolger	Kilcannon Watervalley Guy	JP Sheffield	UK	€10,500.00
011	Henry Foley	Unnamed	Anon	UK	€17,000.00
013	Myles Somers	Unnamed	Astier Nicolas	FR	€20,000.00
014	Richie O’Hara	Kilbunny MP Easy Hat Trick	Fernhill	IRL	€20,000.00
015	Henry Foley	MRF Tiffin	Susan Fitzpatrick	IRL	€11,000.00
019	JJ Bowe	Unnamed	Julia Dungworth	UK	€5,500.00
020	RNG Stud	RNG Q E Two	Nicola Sainz-Xatzis	US	€16,500.00
021	Richie O’Hara	Kilbunny Diamond Ransom	Camilla Earnshaw	UK	€11,000.00
022	Seamus Walsh	Unnamed	Mary King	UK	€13,000.00
024	Willow Sport Horses	Kilcandra Orestus	Fernhill	IRL	€6,500.00
026	Brian Flynn & Jason Higgins	Unnamed	Oliver Townend	UK	€8,500.00
027	MJ Kavanagh	Unnamed	John Bannon	IRL	€4,500.00
030	Henry Foley	Unnamed	Robert Sirch	GER	€7,000.00
031	Mr Denis Delaney	Rossdarragh Hip Hop	Jessica Campbell	UK	€3,000.00
033	Maurice Coleman & Sian Hawkes	Brideview Master Goerge	Jenny & Bill Levett	UK/AUS	€8,000.00
034	Henry Foley	Boleybawn Lecrae	Vicki Irlam	UK	€9,000.00
037	Tinnock Stables	Recontre	Julia Knobel	IRL	€6,000.00
042	Vincent Meaney	Brandy’s Touch	Emma Hyslop	UK	€6,000.00
044	Michael Kelleher	Heraut	Rebecca Curtis	UK	€22,000.00
045	Don Coen	Oldrock Candy	Tom Hennessey	IRL	€11,000.00
051	Hugh Douglas	Unnamed	Lauren Blades	UK	€5,500.00
052	Dan Galavan	Vandan	Katlyn Hewson-Slezak	CAN	€15,000.00
053	Jim Kavanagh	Emperors Clover	Caroline Teich	US	€8,500.00
055	Trade Horse Limited	Unnamed	Isobel Crosbie	UK	€10,000.00
057	James McEvoy	Lisgreen High Action	Janet Wynne	UK	€11,500.00
060	Linda Murphy	Shirsheen Fun Time	Missy Miller	US	€9,000.00
061	Shannondale Stud	Shannondale Cora	Janet Wynne	UK	€6,000.00
062	Dan Galavan	Vantino	Kevin McNab	AUS	€8,000.00
067	Richie O’Hara	Kilbunny Vito	Freya Füllgraebe	GER	€8,000.00
069	Brian Flynn	MBF Special Bond	Jo Felton	UK	€17,000.00
071	Myles Somers	Future Sky	John Bannon	IRL	€10,000.00
073	Nick Cousins	Unnamed	Sarah Lears	UK	€6,500.00
074	Anna Kavanagh	Ballyorney Buladh Bos	Jethro Thompson	UK	€5,000.00
075	Mary Brooks	Unnamed	Sulzer Felix	SWI	€7,000.00
077	Robert Hartigans	Unnamed	Vicki Irlam	UK	€7,000.00
078	James McEvoy	Unnamed	Sulzer Felix	SWI	€10,000.00
079	Michael Griffin	Unnamed	Nicola Holmes	UK	€13,500.00
080	Frank Casey	Forans Avatar	Alana Sparrow	UK	€16,000.00
081	Brandon View Stud	Unnamed	Susan Fitzpatrick	IRL	€11,000.00
084	Henry Foley	Unnamed	Trish Ryan	IRL	€9,000.00
085	Shannondale Stud	Shannondale Eltro	Charlotte Gibson	UK	€8,000.00
086	Imelda Dillon	Alladdin	Sonya Cunningham	UK	€3,500.00
087	Ringfort Sport Horses	Ringfort L’Allegro	Austin O’Connor	IRL	€27,500.00
088	Rita Morgan & Linda Murphy	First Venture	Karl Slezak	CAN	€10,000.00
090	Willow Sport Horses	Gran Torino	Peachstone Syndicate	US	€9,500.00
091	Gortglas Sport Horses	Gortglas Diamonds In The Sky	Johanna Sirch	GER	€15,500.00
094	Julie Radden	Ballinglen Supreme	Sulzer Felix	SWI	€11,000.00
095	JJ Bowe	CBI Aldo	Caroline Powell	NZ	€45,000.00
096	Mike Comerford	MRF Coco Loco	John Bannon	IRL	€7,500.00
097	Michael Murphy	Unnamed	Clasing Equestrian	US	€9,000.00
098	Richie O’Hara	Poynstown Jaguar	Karl Slezak	CAN	€9,000.00
101	Lindsay Graham	Shanbeg To Differ	Kevin McNab	AUS	€7,000.00
102	Sean Barron	Unnamed	Ros Morgan	UK	€5,500.00
103	Seamus Drea	DSH Quinton	Vicki Irlam	UK	€12,500.00
105	Trade Horse Limited	Unnamed	Alexander Bontemps	GER	€20,000.00
107	Brian Flynn	Boleybawn Genevieve	Tiana Coudray/Jatial Ltd	US	€3,000.00
109	Nick Cousins	Unnamed	Sharon King	US	€8,000.00
110	Alan O Brien	OSH Dream On	Oaks Farm	US	€4,500.00
111	Shannondale Stud	Shannondale Rolex	Julia Fairbank	UK	€14,000.00
115	Myles Somers	Unnamed	Michael Hall	UK	€10,500.00
117	Brandon View Stud	FMSH Happy Days	T O Jones	UK	€4,500.00
119	Richard O’Hara	Kilbunny Royale	Alexandria Hambro	UK	€7,000.00
123	Jason Higgins	Unnamed	NC Aviation Ltd	UK	€25,500.00
125	John & Julia Crosbie	Louis	Vicki Irlam	UK	€9,500.00
128	Tommy Considine	Unnamed	Graham Smith	UK	€5,000.00
131	Shannondale Stud	Shannondale Iris	Carole Kirkham	UK	€7,000.00
132	Thomas Merrigan	Unnamed	Sophie White	UK	€4,500.00
133	JJ Bowe	Unnamed	Sam Watson	IRL	€4,000.00
136	Ryan O Gorman	Munthers Boy	Caroline Powell	NZ	€21,500.00
137	Willow Sport Horses	Cavaletti Clover	Sonya Cunningham	UK	€3,000.00
138	JJ Bowe	Unnamed	Michael Jung	GER	€8,000.00
140	Lassban Sport Horses IRL	Lassban Royal Minstrel	Karl Slezak	CAN	€14,000.00

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

Two-year-old warmblood stallion sells for €2,010,000

Polly Bryan — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 07:11:51 +0000

A two-year-old stallion has made history at the Hanoverian licensing and stallion sale in Verden, selling for more than €2million (£1.78million) on Saturday 27 October.

The unnamed premium stallion by Vivaldi, out of a state premium mare Desiree, by Dancier, was bought by the new Schockemöhle-Helgstrand Dressage collaboration, with Andreas Helgstrand placing the winning bid of €2,010,000 (£1,789,320) after a 20-minute bidding war with Norway’s Kristin Andresen.

“Another achievement of this new joint cooperation between Schockemöhle and Helgstrand is the beautiful and harmoniously moving Vivaldi x Dancier,” said the Schockemöhle stallion station.

Please be patient while waiting for the video below to load. If it fails to load correctly on your device, click here to view.

Hannoveraner Hengstkörung 2018 – Sensation in Verden!Hannoveraner Hengstkörung 2018 – Sensation in Verden ???Unglaubliche 2.010.000 Euro gab es für den Vivaldi/Dancier-Sohn aus der Zucht von Ulrike Buurmann und ausgestellt von der Hengsthaltung Kemper. Wir gratulieren den neuen Besitzer! ?Posted by Hannoveraner Verband e.V. on Saturday, October 27, 2018

The stunning liver chestnut, who particularly impressed with his fantastic movement, was bred in Hesse, Germany, by Ulrike Buurman, who said she was “thrilled to be known internationally as an excellent breeder”.

Ulrike sold him at just a few days old to Ernst and Rosi Kemper at Hengsthaltung Kemper in Heiden, Germany, who presented him in Verden.

The Vivaldi son is the most expensive horse ever bought at a stallion licensing auction, the previous record being €1.2million, also paid by Andreas Helgstrand for Revolution in 2015. Revolution (Rocky Lee x Rouletto) was this year’s winner of the world championship for five-year-old horses in Ermelo.

The best-selling warmblood of all time, however, is still the Australian-bred Hanoverian SPH Dante, who was sold to Russia as a six-year-old for €2.8million at the 2014 PSI auction.

Schockemöhle-Helgstrand, along with Joop van Uytert, also purchased a second premium stallion at the sale, this time a Lord Leatherdale x Boston son for €800,000.

Continued below…

(Image credit: Tammo Ernst)

Foal sells for €81,000 at elite dressage auction

The top-priced foal was purchased by the owner of many top grand prix horses

(Image credit: Tammo Ernst)

Bugatti sells for €180,000 at elite auction

Top prices achieved in Verden, home to the Hanoverian Elite Auction

(Image credit: Tammo Ernst)

In total, 46 dressage stallions were licensed for breeding over the weekend, with 12 of these given the status of premium stallion. Of the 12, three were by Vivaldi.

Seven jumping stallions were also given premium status and it was Ireland’s Cian O’Connor who became the proud new owner of the top-priced showjumper at the subsequent auction — a dark bay premium stallion by Kannan x Stolzenberg, bred and presented by Ulrich Heuer. He was sold to Cian for €150,000 (£134,000).

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

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

Alex Robinson — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 15:30:41 +0000

The annual autumn cob sales held at The Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells saw a six-year-old Welsh section C be knocked down for a record breaking sale high of £45,000 on the final day of the auction.

Tyrllawn Rolls-Royce, a chestnut stallion by Moorcroft The Master out of Tyrllawn Elegant Lady, was sold by his breeder Justin Walters who had shown him in-hand as a youngster with much success, including winning the Royal Welsh. He is also the youngest stallion to ever win the Welsh Pony and Cob Society sire ratings.

This season the six-year-old stallion has been produced under saddle by native specialist Aimme Devane, who rode him to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and also land the ridden Welsh C championship at the Royal Welsh.

Purchasing Rolls-Royce for this world record-breaking sum was Bill and Dawn Groom, who breed Welsh ponies and cobs under their Dorneyrow prefix.

Justin Walters and team produce in-hand ponies for Bill and Dawn Groom, Justin leading out their Tyrllawn Princess Teegan to land a championship at the Royal Welsh in July.

“I have always admired him and have used him on my own mares,” said Dawn, who notes that two of her foals by him have won at the Royal Welsh. “I didn’t have any intention of buying at the sale, but my husband Bill had other ideas and bought him as a Christmas gift.

“He will be covering mares for a while before coming out in-hand in the near future.”

Continued below…

(Image credit: rebecca penny)

Foal sells for €81,000 at elite dressage auction

The top-priced foal was purchased by the owner of many top grand prix horses

(Image credit: rebecca penny)

Record prices at Royal Welsh sale

A four-year-old Welsh section C stallion makes record breaking price of £14,500 at Brightwells Royal Welsh Sale

Also in the money during the three-day sale was Stuart Mcneal’s three-year-old Welsh section D colt Danyreglwys Jac Daniels, who left the ring after being sold for £15,500 to the Alford Family.

The Welsh breed’s previous world record was set in 2012 when the two-year-old cob Thorneyside Golden Boy sold for £22,000 at the major reduction sale held by the Thorneyside Stud at the autumn cob sales.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday.

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Cian O’Connor told H&H that the top lot was bought for one of his European-based students.

Denis paid tribute to a “class horse”, who he’s enjoyed producing over the past three years.

“His new rider is very talented, she gave him a beautiful trial, the horse loved her and they really clicked together, which is fantastic, so hopefully they’ll go on well together.”

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‘She’s going to be just fabulous’: filly sets record with eye-watering AU$10m price tag

She is currently the sole living offspring of Winx, the exceptional mare who won 25 Group Ones during her racing career.

The auction house has stated that this is a new world record price for a yearling filly. It also sets a new yearling record price in the Southern Hemisphere.

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said he had never seen anything like it.

“You wouldn’t see this anywhere else in the world,’’ Magnier said. “You wouldn’t see the build-up, you wouldn’t see the hype and atmosphere today, I’ve never witnessed anything like it at any auction house around the world.

“It’s just the perfect story. I knew she was going to make a very high figure because somebody is buying history. She is a classic, a collectors’ item and there’s only one person who deserved this today, and that’s Debbie.

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• Scottish Sports Horse Auction at Rockrose Equestrian: this auction first took place in September 2023. There were 30 horses registered for the auction, including yearlings and youngstock, and competition horses across the disciplines.

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“He is standout, a lovely horse – I loved him as a youngster as a store [unbroken three-year-old],” said Anthony. “I have watched his career closely – he has only been running over two miles yet he looks a stayer. He may potentially be a Gold Cup horse, long-term.

“I can’t say what plans Paul will have for the horse and we will see how it all works out, obviously there are the Cheltenham entries and Aintree would be a consideration, but he has been bought really as a chaser of the future.”

Gordon Elliott managed to secure Pied Piper for Windgates Stud on behalf of a new syndicate for €570,000, Staffordshire Knot for €510,000, Sa Fureur for €330,000 and Doctor Elvis for €260,000.

Gordon said: “I was disappointed to lose the big horse, but that is the way it is – hopefully he will be lucky for the new owners. Pied Piper is coming back and we have got all the ones we wanted apart from Caldwell Potter.”

Simon Kerins, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland, said: “First and foremost, I extend my sincere gratitude to Andy and Gemma Brown, as well as Joey Logan, for entrusting us with their dispersal sale, it has been an honour.

“The sale has been a phenomenal success and the figures paid have been mind-blowing. We knew these horses would be in high demand given their proven level of form, and all the big players were here today.

“We look forward to watching today’s sales horses going on to achieve great things on the racecourse, and we hope to see the Browns return to the racing scene in the near future.”

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William Funnell, who started running the Billy Stud auctions in 2017, told H&H British breeding “has come a long way over the last 20 years”.

“Auctions are a good way to show European buyers that there are a lot of uncut diamonds here. And for us at Billy Stud, it’s a way to get our breeding and horses into the marketplace,” he said.

“For a buyer, the auction scenario is great because they can come and see 12 horses, they don’t need to pay for vettings and X-rays because it’s all done for them and if they don’t purchase, it doesn’t cost them anything.”

“By having the London International as a platform, people could do shopping over Christmas and watch the World Cup,” he said.

“It was one of the only ways I could see that we could get Americans or people from the Middle East to come to an auction here – that’s where we miss out, because in Europe anybody in Germany, Belgium, Holland or France can drive to an auction within three hours.”

Shirley Light of the Brendon Stud told H&H the BEST auction, which will return next autumn, was available to stream online and they had bidders from Europe and the US.

“I think auctions are brilliant for the UK horse market,” she said. “It’s about having an experienced team behind them and people trusting that team. For our auction, we had the horses stabled here for two weeks beforehand, so we made sure they were handled and exactly as described.

“The Brilliance team did a great job in London. I think running auctions alongside events is definitely the way to go.”

Sonya Cunningham of Rockrose Equestrian launched the Scottish Sports Horse Auction, which ran in September, because she believed the sales system in Scotland to be “broken”.

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Shirley told H&H the idea “popped out of my head”.