Last week, I got a text from EN’s Editor-in-Chief, Sally Spickard.
“We’ve got a Goresbridge Go For Gold preview to do – any chance you can fit it in?”
First of all, Sally, way to get a girl when she’s vulnerable. I was heading down to Le Lion d’Angers, the home of the World Championships for six- and seven-year-olds, the sort of place that always makes me stop in my tracks and think, ‘my god, wouldn’t it be unbelievable to produce a horse through the grades and get here?’ It’s gorgeously autumnal, it’s beautifully laid out, it’s full of good food and good wine and masses upon masses of rightful emotions as people – owners and riders alike – watch their formerly gangly, unbacked babies step into the first zenith of their careers. It’s dreaming made tangible, and as much as it’s an incredible chance to get first eyes on the future superstars of the sport, it’s also an ineffable reminder of the power of loving a horse so much that you believe in it all the way to the world stage.
So yeah, Sally, I will pick my future superstars, thank you very much, and in a few years’ time when they make it to that bubble of horsey excellence, I will consider it my own personal victory, no matter how annoying that is for everyone who’s actually involved with the horse.
Unrelatedly, anyone know which sugar daddy website is good these days?
The 2026 Goresbridge Go for Gold sale will take place November 9-11 at Barnadown and the Amber Springs Hotel in Co. Wexford, Ireland. For more information, to register as a buyer, or to browse for your own favourites, head to the Goresbridge website.
Lot 3 — Crystalent.
Five-year-old, 165cm gelding (Valent x Bellaney Jewel, by Roselier)
If you’re a sucker for proven breeding and ready athleticism, there’s an early entry in this year’s catalogue that you should cast your eye over. This five-year-old is a full sibling to Oliver Townend’s five-star winner Cooley Rosalent, Olivia Dutton’s excellent Jewelent, who represented the USA at the Under-25 World Championships this summer, and Sofia Sjoborg’s four-star ride Govalent, who has represented Sweden at the European Championships level. None of these horses look similar, despite being full siblings, and Crystalent doesn’t look like any of them – but he does have that characteristic forward-thinking nature and is comfortable and confident hunting his way down to a fence. Buying a five-year-old at auction can be a risk many riders choose not to take, preferring the relatively untouched product that is an unbacked three-year-old, but this clever, canny little guy looks to have been quietly produced by someone who’s stayed out of his way and let him enjoy his natural scope, and I think you could go to big places very quickly with him in the right programme.
Lot 20 — Silvertip JS.
Four-year-old, 168cm gelding (VDL Mattias x Jolly Jewel JS, by Embassy II)
Two things generally tend to be true for me when I’m browsing a sales catalogue: like the twelve-year-old girl I once was, I’m a sucker for a grey, and I’m also quick to be won over by a kind eye. This chap has both in spades, and if you can tell anything from a horse’s expression, you can tell that this one is just a really nice, gentle sort of person to have around. He’s also been around the block a bit already: he was fourth in the Irish Breeders Classic jumping finals, so he’s got a good brain under pressure and in some atmosphere. He’s very, very European in his breeding in quite an old-school sort of way, and I think is a horse who could be useful in a variety of spheres. While you’re working out his niche – top event horse, smart equitation mount, junior jumper, whatever – you’ll really enjoy seeing him hang his head over the stable door and I suspect he’ll be a real pleasure to bring along.
Lot 39.
Three-year-old, 165cm gelding (Castlefield Kingston x Mariko Miss Blue, by Phil VD Wezelse Heihoeve)
Also a grey – sue me – but this unnamed gelding appeals to me in a different way to Silvertip JS. He’s got a real pony countenance: a spritely, sparky expression; an easy, arrogant jump; a short-couple frame with a surprising amount of movement, and all of that, to me, says that this guy could go far on gumption alone. I like to see a young horse go through a jumping chute like he can’t imagine what all the fuss could possibly be about, and that’s how he does it. There’s a sharp curiosity to the way he takes in the world, too, that’s really appealing. I’d like to see how this one’s future unfolds, which is why it’s so annoying that he doesn’t have a name I can keep note of. Whoever buys him, DM me?
Lot 40 — OLSH MBF Captain Grande.
LOT 40: OLSH MBF Captain Grande
Three-year-old, 165cm gelding (Capistrano x Lagrande Bogibo, by Casino Grande)
Fair play to the MBF lot, because they’ve really figured out what works for them – and that’s leggy, light, modern continental types with a cracking bascule and a tonne of what the Americans call ‘chrome’. This chap is a perfect example, and should sell very well. He jumps for fun (and in the sort of shape that will make the hunter market shut up and pay attention), he really moves, and he’s got that big-horse sort of charisma in an appealing 16.1hh frame. This is just a really, really good-looking animal with jumping breeding top and bottom – basically, about as commercial as you can get, so if you’re looking for something smart to produce and resell, this could well be an excellent investment.
Lot 47 — Lowhill Silver Fox.
Three-year-old, 168cm gelding (SIEC Livello x Lowhill Cruisedown, by Touchdown)
For full transparency into my thought process – a weird path to go down, honestly – when I was first picking out my longlist of horses my only note for this one was “adorable, fat little thing.” I mean, first of all, rude. Second of all, he’s not even little. But also, like, look at his tummy rippling as he skips through the chute. He looks like an oversized Connemara (complementary).
I think there’s a tonne of talent and a very evident boatload of good looks here, dadbod or no, and I reckon this is a very interesting horse for a professional – partly because he could do lots of different things, and partly because those Livellos are probably not everyone’s ride. Some of them aren’t anyone’s ride, but I have high hopes for this fellow. Lords knows those lines, top and bottom alike, will give him jump for days, even if they might come with some, erm, extra athleticism sometimes.
Lot 62 — Chilly Willy MTB Z.
Three-year-old, 165cm gelding (Chaccothage Blue PS x Miss Cooper, by Captain Cooper Z)
Again, dipping back into the process behind the picks: I was willing this one to be a nice horse purely so we could all bask together, just for a moment, in that name. It’s no Perseverance Funky Famous Flamborghini but like, it’s not far off, is it? Fortunately for us all, he jumps, he really trots, and if your bits are still cold, you can probably buy knitted underwear somewhere in rural Ireland while you’re in situ for a couple of days of loose-jumping and auction-shopping. Stay cozy; go well.
Lot 63 — Monbeg Airtime.
Three-year-old, 165cm gelding (Avos Jordan Z x Rathlee Candy Lady, by Sligo Candy Boy)
There’s something really appealing about this sweet-faced little horse, who has no problems whatsoever in the scope department and is very happy to go at his own pace – a nice, steady, sensible but athletic one. I imagine there’s actually probably a great turn of speed in there after some production and a little bit of growing time, but what I love is the unhurried, measured way he assesses the task at hand and gets it done. It speaks volumes that his early work so far has been similarly unrushed, and he’s been able to learn where each part of his body is and what he ought to be doing with it. I could see this being a useful purchase for a variety of outcomes: produce him as a junior horse, see how high up the levels he fancies going, or even put him into the show ring, if that’s your sort of thing. You can only tell so much about a brain from a video, but I suspect this is a good one.
Lot 71 — Borris Me Gente.
Three-year-old, 165cm filly (Cormint x Cedarmount Sally, by Vriend)
If presence is what you’re after, this filly has it in spades. There’s plenty of power and movement to play with, plus a tidy, pretty jump – no, her shoulder isn’t the quickest yet over a fence, but that’s the sort of thing that comes along with good production and gymnastics. I’d almost be tempted to produce this for the equitation ring and consider it a seriously solid investment for resale, but I also think there’s a lot to recommend her for staying in the eventing world, too. Plus, wouldn’t it be nice to have a horse who looks like an oil painting in your yard?
Lot 74.
Three-year-old, 165cm gelding (Casallco x Chavamdula PS, by Chacfly PS)
Also very charismatic is this unnamed gelding with serious jumping lines – Casall on top; Chacco Blue on the bottom – and a hind end to prove it. Scope won’t be an issue here, and as a bonus, he’s being backed and ridden away ready for the sale, which means you’ll be one step further along in your own journey to Le Lion. Please just don’t do what one Italian rider did a number of years back and keep his name as ‘Unnamed’. It was only funny that one time.
Lot 77 — Metalbridge Buttons.
Three-year-old, 168cm gelding (Button Sitte x Metalbridge Sandy, by Uskerty Sweet Lad)
Get your bottle of MTG out, because poor Buttons has clearly been out with some mouthy youngsters and has the half-a-tail to prove it. But who needs a set of flowing locks when you’re blessed with this kind of natural balance? This is a horse who could go to the hunter ring (where fake tails are de rigeur anyway, so that won’t be an issue) or could be a lot of fun to produce as an eventer. He seems a sensible type, so could even be a fun project for a capable amateur or junior to produce with their trainer. In any case, this is a very commercial type of horse, and one that will be well-admired at the sale.
Lot 81 — Solsboro Kelpie.
Three-year-old, 168cm filly (Another Pleasure x Cushinstown Cavalier Royale, by Cavalier Royale)
Sometimes you look at a horse and imagine immediately who might put a bid on it. For me, with this lot, that’s Kate Walls – owner of Chris Burton’s Cooley Lands and a very capable eventer in her own right. Call me Cilla Black, but I’d love to matchmake these two, because I think Kelpie is right up her straße. Mind you, she’s also right up mine, so again, sugar daddies, if you’re out there, my phone is always on. This is such an elegant, rangy filly, with lots of sneaky blood: she’s got Master Imp on her dam’s side, which ordinarily would be a point off the board for me because – look, I’ll whisper this here, because I don’t feel safe – I don’t love a Master Imp. But man, can they jump, and he’s far enough back that I don’t feel like I’m being hunted for sport after seeing his name in the pedigree. On the top side there’s some French Thoroughbred breeding that comes via Furioso and down through to For Pleasure, which gives you sharp, clever jumping ability. This one’s top class.
Lot 86 — Flo Bouncer.
Three-year-old, 168cm gelding (Cascari x Bounding Spa, by Grange Bouncer)
Great name, first of all. Let’s get that acknowledged right off the bat. Also very interesting breeding: some very good German jumping lines on top, and a smart bit of Irish and Thoroughbred lineage on the bottom, including the excellent Ghareeb, who was formerly the leading British Eventing sire and was responsible for the likes of Mark Todd’s Coolio. It’s very easy to go to an Irish sale and leave with a lovely horse without a jot of Irish breeding in it, but this is a really nice balance of continental and classic, and it’s working well for him. Another horse here with plenty of scope and athleticism, who is unrushed and unruffled about it. He’s also already backed and ridden away.
Have a look through the catalog yourself here – over 90 gorgeous horses are on offer this year. Videos are available for all horses – free jumping for the youngest and ridden videos for the 4- and 5-year-olds. If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, make sure to pack riding gear as you are also able to book in a time to try a horse yourself.
You can start planning your trip by visiting the Go for Gold website here. If you’re thinking of bidding online or by phone, make sure you register ahead of time to be eligible.
Curious about past graduates of the Go for Gold sale? View them here!
