BOLESWORTH ELITE HORSE AUCTION GOES GLOBAL
Tuesday 14 June 2016
Irish showjumping star Greg Broderick will have a special role to play at this year's Bolesworth CSI **** International after deciding to mark his Rio Olympics selection with a generous gift to the sport and charity.
A highlight feature of the Bolesworth event, which starts later this week, is the elite horse auction, taking place this year on Friday, June 17.
A dazzling array of yearling talent has been sourced from the best showjumping horse breeders and producers in Europe, and promises to enhance Bolesworth's portfolio in this important area following last year's auction success that generated total sales revenue of almost £200,000.
And lot 15 - the final auction lot this year - will be a colt foal that Greg has donated, with all proceeds being split equally between two charities that are close to his heart - the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation in County Kildare and Dublin's Our Lady's Children's Hospital - with no VAT or commissions taken.
The foal is by Quidam Junior, and a three-quarter brother of Greg's Rio ride, the 10-year-old gelding MHS Going Global, as he puts something back into a sport that has given him so much. Going Global's half-brother, meanwhile is MHS King Joules, a horse ridden into third place by Oliver Townend at this year's Bramham International Horse Trials CCI three-star.
Prior to Friday's auction, members of the public will be given the chance to enter a competition that was launched on Monday to name the foal via social media. Competition details can be found on the Bolesworth, Harthill and Greg's Ballypatrick Stables Facebook pages, with the winner decided on Wednesday.
Greg said: "The foal is a three-quarter brother to one of the best horses in the world at the moment and is fantastically well bred. The mother of the foal was seven-year-old national showjumping champion in Ireland.
"I think the auction at Bolesworth is a great idea - there is no better place to showcase such talent - and the charities are such worthy causes."
And Bolesworth show president Nina Barbour added: "We are delighted that Greg has chosen such a special foal to sell at Bolesworth for a great cause.
"Tickets are still available to attend the auction on Friday, which is also live streamed, and phone bids will be taken live on the night."
Auction highlights include the appearance of bay colt Kingfisher, whose dam Hamara-H is half sister to Hickstead, the brilliant showjumper ridden to 2008 Olympic gold medal glory by Canada's Eric Lamaze, and a prolific global grand prix winner at headline events like Geneva, Spruce Meadows and Rotterdam.
Elsewhere, the dam of chestnut colt Kiss and Ride is closely related to German showjumper Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum's Unbelievable, a regular on the Globall Champions' Tour circuit, while grey colt Millfield Collini's dam Pretty Woman is sister to three grand prix showjumpers.
Further information is available at www.bolesworthinternational.com/elite-auction. or 01829 307676 for any queries.
