Last week’s two-day mixed renewal wrapped up a busy and positive year at Goresbridge. Continuing this general upturn, the final sales of native breeds and performance stock again attracted a strong overseas attendance and closing the year on a positive note, both dispersals delivered improved returns.

The solid trade for well-produced horses has been a constant in 2015, and standing out to top Friday’s figures was Anna Smith’s smart Strattonstown If Only at €8,400. The six-year-old gelding of unrecorded breeding looked a versatile sort under saddle and appeared well-bought by Co Cork customer Liam O’Shea.

Another to impress at €7,800 was Keith Roche and Jason Higgins’s four-year-old Rambo. The well-related son of Heritage Fortunas (dam by Cavalier Royale) jumped exceptionally well prior to sale and was knocked down to Hampshire event horse owner John Bevan.

While a cluster of older horses changed hands for around the €4,000 mark, trade was more selective in the three-year-old sector. As the quality varied, the buyers grew scarcer but not so for Ann Murphy’s gelding by Verdi (dam by Furisto) who headed his age group at €6,000. Homebred, as was his dam and grandam, the gelding was secured by Lorraine Homer, daughter of leading English showman David Tatlow. Another to make an impact at €4,250 was the successful in-hand campaigner Baile Beag (by Porsch). Local buyer Bobby Moore signed for this smart sort, who was placed at the RDS last year.

A solid if understated trade for ponies led to a good clearance of 89% together with a top return of €2,600.

Overall, the performance sale turnover illustrated an improved turnover from 2014, while the overall clearance rate dipped slightly to a still healthy 63% (65% in 2014).

CONNEMARA PONIES AND IRISH DRAUGHT STOCK.

The sale opened on Thursday, when a small catalogue of registered native breeds attracted a strong attendance of devotees. Despite the monsoon-like conditions, there was an appetite to do business and the resulting figures illustrated an improvement in both sectors. Demand was again strongest for the ridden and performance lots, with the Connemara division producing top price of €4,200 (€3,000 in 2014), a clearance rate of 67% (42%) and an average of €1,148 (€987).

Although the clearance rate dipped to 40% (44%) on the appearance of the Irish Draught stock, their returns delivered a healthy sale-topper at €4,000 (€2,800) together with an average of €1,469 (€1,242).

Heading the 24 Connemara ponies forward at €4,200 was June O’Hanlon’s six-year-old gelding Kyleroe Arril by Coolin America (dam by Coral Lad). The well-hunted performer stood well in excess of 15hh, and it was his height that proved the attraction for successful buyer and producer Gerty Tynan-Daly.

A further seven lots recorded four-figure returns, the best of which was the €2,500 paid for Belinda O’Brien’s Garry Boy, a four-year-old gelding by Killyon King (dam by Windy’s Boy).

Another of the age group to impress was Jenny Wardell’s athletic gelding by Kanagh King at €1,900, while heading the breeding stock was the seven-year-old broodmare by Glencarrig Lexis (Abbeyleix Owen) at €1,000.

Finally, and topping the foals at a modest €375, was the well-related filly foal City View Snowflake, by Brock Blizzard (dam by Glen Valley Grey).

Although the following Irish Draughts were short on numbers, the session included some smart individuals and a resulting lively trade. Gill Fisher’s potential hunter, a roan filly by Luke Skywalker (dam by Dunkerrin Loganberry) topped the figures at €4,000, while the highlight of the filly foals was Anne Loughnane’s Mogeely Irish Rarity by Crannagh Hero (dam by Coille Mor Hill). A full-sister to the former RDS reserve performance champion Loughnatousa Angelo, she was eventually secured by Brendan O’Connor at €1,800. A show-winning filly foal by Shenandoah Prince Holly (dam by Windgap Blue) also caught the eye at €1,250, as did Richard Melbourne’s colt foal by Killinick Bouncer at €1,200.