‘Electric from start to finish’: new record price set at Goresbridge Go For Gold
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.
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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
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.