Michael Donohoe & Sons
Address: Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny.
Telephone: 0599775145 Fax 0599775541
Email: info@goresbridge.com
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Dates: July 4th/5th/6th 2023
Time: 11am.
Total lots: 433 including supplementary catalogue
Top Lot 2022. PJ Kearns’ Southfork Quality, 6yo mare by OBOS Quality (dam by Abke) €26,000.
AS the sales season moves into top gear, Goresbridge offers an attractive catalogue for their sport horse renewal next week. Commencing on Tuesday, the three-day edition is divided as usual into age groups, with the opener focusing on ponies and older horses with mileage. Among those offered are a quantity of fully warranted hunters, competition horses and ponies, including a grade A jumping pony and five-year-old half-brothers to Cooley Jump The Q (1.60m) and Ballyoskil Big Bucks (1.60m).
In terms of pedigrees, the four-year-olds also hold up stoutly as does Thursday’s three-year-old session which features close maternal relatives to ABC Quantum Cruise (1.60m), as well as to the Olympian Sumas Zorro, CSF Lagoon (1.50m) etc.
While the stallion list sees some new names in its numerical list, the stand out sire is the Coolballyshan Stud resident Vivant Van Heffinck. With no less than 17 lots forward, he is the clear leader, while others to make an impact include Sligo Candy Boy (7) as well as Castlelawn Captain Junior, HHS Cornet, Golden Master and Lagans OBOS Quality all with five apiece.
Tuesday
Ponies
Lot 5 Bonnie Boo, reg 4yo b f by Cullintra Bonfire out of Kylure Cindy (Templebready Fear Bui). Carrying top Connemara bloodlines, this home-bred filly was broken over the winter and introduced to hounds. Since then, she has successfully competed in several disciplines, winning pony club events and has been well placed in working hunter classes. One for the future, either as a top event pony or a working hunter prospect.
Lot 26 Creevelea Toy Soldier, reg 8yo ch g 128cms by Royal View Casanova out of Creevelea Countessa (Moor Hall Sophisticat). Probably the pick of the first session, this diminutive performer is a grade A show jumper with a career record of 206 SJI points to date. Fully warranted in all respects, he has also hunted with the Woodstown Harriers for two seasons, has attended pony club and, at only eight-years-old, has a bright future ahead of him.
Older horses
Lot 52 Tysons Pride, reg 6yo b m 16.1hh by Tyson out of Captain Pride (Captain Clover). One of four lots by Tyson, this fully warranted mare is competing up to 1.20m to win 34 SJI points. Well related, she is a half-sister to several graded jumpers including the Jessica Burke-ridden international performer Kashino (1.45m).
Lot 67 Captain Castlelawn, reg 5yo b g 16.2hh by Castlelawn Captain Junior out of MMG Arkansas (VDL Arkansas). A truly versatile individual, this gelding is well hunted and is the winner of 11 SJI points. In the former activity, he has hunted with the Glasson Farmers for two seasons, and will cross any country. Fully warranted, he has also carried a young rider to jump to 1.10m level and has qualified for the Cavan Classic age class in September.
Lot 80 Rathcashel Beach, reg 6yo ch m 166cms by Beach Ball out of Vunweel H (Harcos). Having been produced by a young rider, this fully warranted mare has clocked up 47 SJI points. She is thought ideal for the six and seven-year-old classes and, sporting a stout continental dam line, will be a good breeding prospect when her competition days are over.
Lot 92 LLC Sylvie, reg 5yo gr m 16 hands by Numero Cruise out of Barnhill Daisy (Dow Jones Courcel). The winner of the Horse Sport Ireland filly loose jumping competition (Tubberbride EC) as a three-year-old, this mare has progressed to win 27 SJI points to date.
Lot 108 Western Cobra, reg 5yo b g 17 hands by Cobra out of Scialfa (Westerner). One for the eventers could be this gelding who, from just two outings under rules, has delivered double clear rounds. He has also taken part in the Millstreet young event horse classes and could progress in any sphere.
Lot 131 Cornetto Q, reg 6yo gr g 16.1hh by Cornet Obolensky out of Jump The Q (OBOS Quality). Bred in the purple, this high-class gelding is a half-brother to Max Kuhner’s top performer Cooley Jump The Que (1.60m) and to Thomascourt Darco Q (1.30m). Adding further depth, the dam competed to win 127 SJI points and is a sibling to Mark Q (1.60m) as well as to the event horse Ballynaguilkey Fortunas. The winner of 12 SJI points and fully warranted, he is an exciting prospect.
Lot 147 George, reg 14yo ch g 17.2hh by Heigh Ho Silver out of Deep In Thought (Warcraft). For those looking for a real hunting school master George might fit the bill. Guaranteed an easy ride, he has been a master horse for four years, yet has also carried a lady at the back of the field. Described as a gentle giant who knows his job, he has also competed in hunter trials, show jumping and riding club activities.
Lot 162 Britney, reg 5yo b m 16.2hh by Metropole out of Lux Clover (Lux Z).Offered by the breeder, this is a well-bred mare with both competition and paddock potential. Fully warranted, she has competed at training shows and looks to have a bright future as either a jumper or an event horse. As an added attraction, she is a half-sister to Jordan Coyle’s top performer Ballyoskill Big Bucks (1.60m).
Wednesday
Four-year-olds
Lot 197 Ballyvadd Elegance, reg 4yo b f 16.2hh by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of On A Dream (Ricardo Z). A tall, elegant filly with plenty of jump, she is out of a sister to Cladam Equishop Boleybawn (1.45m), Gucci Z and LCC Puss n Boots (1.30m).
Lot 227 MBF Notions, reg 4yo ch g 16.2hh by Ard VDL Douglas out of Ringing Touch (Touchdown). From the MBF consignment, this gelding is ready to progress to contest the young horse classes. Fully warranted, and with a maternal line going back to the thoroughbred Bonnie Prince, he is a likely top class show jumper or event horse.
Lot 249 Ballyheerin Bay Beauty, reg 4yo b f 168cms by Esprit Van de Hoenderheide out of Ballyheerin Star Girl (NC Amiro). A well related filly, whose dam is a sibling to the Daniel Coyle-partnered Ballyheerin Bay Star (1.55m) and also to Fanadwest Dancer (1.45m).
Lot 251, reg 4yo ch g 17 hands by Castlelawn Captain Junior out of White Kannan (Kannan). A well-bred half-brother to Captain Marko (1.40m), Lakeview Captain Kannan (1.35m) and the Mark Duffy ridden Junior Kannan (1.30m). Also, to the three-star event horses Captain on the Move and Excel Star Double Clover.
Lot 253 Unnamed, reg 4yo b f 16 hands by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Norway Beo (Beowolf). An offering from regular sale-topping vendors, this filly is out of a half-sister to the jumper Norway Venture (1.40m) and the American-based four-star event horse Penhill Celtic.
Lot 286 reg 4yo b f 16.1hh by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Walterstown Girl (Cruising). This filly is a half-sister to the highly rated HSI six-year-old winner and RDS qualified Gortacar Suspicious Minds (1.40m), currently competing with Jodie Creighton.
Thursday
Three-year-olds
Lot 310 Sumas Phileas Fogg, reg 3yo gr g 16.2hh by Phil VD Wezelse Heihoeve out of Sumas Maybe (VDL Arkansas). By a young son of Cornet Obolensky and a catalogue stand out, this gelding is out of the good grade B jumping mare Sumas Maybe who is a half-sister to Sameh El Dahan’s brilliant Olympic partner Sumas Zorro (CSI5*).
Lot 364 Leroy, reg 3yo b g16.2hh by Carrera VDL out of Norrira (Cavalier Royale). Sporting a top-class jumping pedigree, this gelding is a half-brother to the Lanaken medallist CSF Sir George (Darragh Ryan) and to fellow international jumpers CSF Mr Kroon and CSF Royal Cruise.
Lot 377 reg 3yo gr g 16.3hh by Phil VD Wezelse Heihoeve out of Flupi (Lupicor). This smartly bred gelding was placed second in the future event horse sector at the Mayo Roscommon Breeders Group recently.
Lot 380 Tullaher Luka, reg 3yo b g 168cms by Lucarelli out of Aslea Primrose (Flagmount King). A Traditional Irish Sport Horse by the thoroughbred sire Lucarelli, she is a sibling to Tullagher Blaise (1.40m) and the event horse Tullagher Sunrise (CCI3*).
Lot 382 Angel, reg 3yo dn f 16 hands by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Russel Angel (Russel). A good moving dun filly whose dam is a half-sister to the Tholm Keane-partnered Grand Prix horse Future Storm (1.45m) and the event horses Sportsfield Candy (CCI4*) and Doonaveeragh Elise (CCI3*).
Lot 397 Count On Me Cornet, reg 3yo b f 16.2hh by HHS Cornet out of ABC Cruise Countess (Cruising Mickey Finn). A big filly with a super step and jump, she is out of a half-sister to the four-star event horse ABC Arctic Dame, and from the immediate maternal family of ABC Quantum Cruise (1.60m), ABC Private Jet (1.50m) and to Harry Allen’s exciting youngster ABC Saving Grace (1.35m).
Lot 405 ESI Latino, reg 3yo b f 16 hands by Callahan out of ESI Tiger Lily (Quidam Junior). Bred to perform to the highest level, this filly is out of a half-sister to ESI Everest (1.50m) and ESI Cooley (CCI2*) who are both by Callahan. The second dam meanwhile is Cian O’Connor’s well known mare Arabella (1.60m).
Lot 413 CSF Corey, reg 3yo b g 16.2hh by Cohinoor VDL out of CSF Fair Exchange (Flipper D’Elle). A very commercially bred youngster and by a son of Cornet Obolensky, Corey is a half-brother to the Adam Carey-ridden CSF Lagoon (1.50m).