AS the year’s biggest sale for foals of all bloodlines, pedigrees and disciplines, next week’s two-day breeding stock renewal at Goresbridge promises to be an interesting affair.
The catalogue of 385 entries is identical to that of 12 months ago and features a comprehensive selection of broodmares, yearlings and foals.
On the back of an inconsistent three-year-old market, the edition is likely to be similarly two-tier, with jumping-bred foals achieving the premium returns. That said, the quality and depth of the pedigrees across the board is high, and standing out among the covering sires is the youngster Lagans OBOS Quality. The Kennedy brother’s stallion was also prominent last year and next week heads the list, with 14 foals on offer. Also well-supported is Conticco (10), as well as newcomers Four Seasons (9) and Castlefield Conthargos (9).
As usual, Friday’s action opens with a selection of broodmares, yearlings and foals, while Saturday’s traditionally strong session is solely confined to foals.
The catalogue picks are too numerous to mention in their entirety and those featured below are just a broad cross-section of modern and traditional breeding, both colts and fillies.
Friday
Yearlings and broodmares
Lot 14, reg 1 yo b f by Sligo Candy Boy out of Ballylynch Marilyn (Porter Rhodes). Bred to event, the dam was an international event mare (CCI2*), as well as having show jumped to 1.20m. Well-related, she is a half-sister to RLE Limbo Kaiser (CCI5*), who is currently competing with Italian young rider Matteo Orlandi.
Lot 21 Centrefire, reg 1 yo gr g by Alicante out of Junderstand (Champs Elysees). The HSI eventing foal champion of 2023, this gelding is out of a thoroughbred mare.
Lot 32 Kingsman Sapphire, reg 1 yo b f by Kingdom out of Argentina Z (Atlantus Z). By the Harry Marshall-ridden Selle Francais-cross jumping sire Kingdom (Quidam du Revel), this filly is a half-sister to Poynstown Dreams (1.45m) and two further graded jumpers. Dam meanwhile is a sibling to Caldo Z and Koriall (1.40m).
Lot 40 Quality Grove, reg 9 yo gr m 16.1hh by OBOS Quality out of Cruise Grove (Cruising). Probably the pick of the broodmares and featuring Cruising as the damsire, this mare is in foal to Grand Cru VD Vijf Eiken. She is a full-sister to the event horse Cooley Foxtrot (CCI4*), who competed at Blenheim last month, while her dam Cruise Grove competed to 1.40m under Joan Greene. The international show jumping mare Money Grove appears as the second dam.
Lot 55 Dame of Stability, reg 12 yo b m 16.2hh by Beowolf out of Quality Dame (OBOS Quality). In foal to Lagans OBOS Quality, this mare is a half-sister to the top British-based show horses Vantage Point, the dual HOYS supreme champion Viewpoint, and Flashpoint.
Foals
Lot 84, reg b c f by Ulgar Mail out of Ask Peig (Askoll Peter Pan). From a contemporary and improving family, this colt is a sibling to Killeaneys Mr T, who was placed runner-up in the Millstreet Ruby 2024 and qualified for the four-year-old class at the RDS last year. The dam, meanwhile, is a sibling to Highly Efficient (1.45m) and Last Request (1.30m). The sire Ulgar Mail is by Corrado 1.
Lot 123 Creevyquin Aganix, reg b f f by Aganix du Seigneur out of Ballintogher Evidence (Cavalier Royale). From a top consigner, this filly is a sibling to Creevyquin Cisco (1.30m), who qualified for the Boomerang final this year, also to Creevyquin Essence (1.35m) and Creevyquin Caoimhe (1.20m), a former joint winner of the Breeders’ Classic five-year-old final. The 1.60m performer Shannondale Ard Ri (Francis Connors) also features as a sibling to the dam, as well as Ballintogher Star (1.30m). The home-produced family also includes Shanroe Select (1.35m) and Eternity (1.30m)
Lot 133 CSF Camilla, reg b f f by Cornerado VDL out of CSF Fair Exchange (Flipper d’Elle). From a versatile family, the dam has already produced CSF Blue Lagoon (1.50m). Also, from the family of Magic Shamrock (1.40m), KEC Jackson (1.45m), as well as the event horses KEC Julie’s Romance (CCI3*), Universal Cooley (CCI3*) and Summerbridge Parc (CCI4*).
Lot 162 Balief Quality Deal, reg gr c f by Quality Time out of Balief Real Deal (Boherdeal Clover). A mix of traditional and modern bloodlines, this colt is the second foal out of a half-sister to the jumpers Ardnehue Captain and ABC Master Mermus. Closely related to the grade A jumpers Killybegs Schubert (1.50m), Ballycullen Hill and Javas Imp.
Lot 174 CSF Phoebe, reg b f f by Tyson out of Kilmono Sash (Vivaldo Van Het Costersveld). Another from the CSF consignment and possibly the pick of the day, the dam jumped up to 1.35m and is a half-sister to Beir Bua (1.50m) and Duganstow Boy (1.50m). Adding further depth, the second dam is a half-sister to Rincoola Rua (1.50m) and Coco Chic (1.40m) and a full-sister to Rincoola Abu (1.60m), who bred the gold medal winning pony Rincoola Babog and Rincoola Milsean (1.60m).
Saturday
Lot 183, reg dn c f by Broadriver Pearlesent out of Castlestrange (Hermes de Reve). Unusually bred, and one for lovers of the dun, this colt is by the perlino sire Broadriver Pearlescent. He carries a stout maternal performance line, being a half-brother to the four-star event horse GSA Lance, as well as to the six-year-old GSA Oscar (1.30m), who competed in the young riders at the RDS earlier this year.
Lot 207, reg b c f by Dourkhan Hero 2 out of Sea Top Lady (Lux Z). Sire won the silver medal at Lankan two years ago, while the dam has produced Andrew Bourns top performer Sea Top Blue (1.60m) and is a half-sister to two further international jumpers.
Lot 211 UPS Northern Light, reg gr c f by Dorian Grey out of Marley C (Tyson). From a progressive and top-class family, the dam of this colt shared first place in the HSI four-year-old finals. Her half-brother is the former Go For Gold graduate Pablo C (1.50m) currently jumping with Niamh McEvoy, while her dam Chino C is a full-sister to Hilton Pacifico (1.60m), as well as to the event horse Master Douglas (CCI4*) and Serpico (1.60m).
Lot 219 reg b c f by Chalypso out of Miss Baloubet (Baloubet du Rouet). A half-brother to the Swedish-based Baloubet Mystique (1.35m), as well as to the five-year-old Olive Clarke partnered Valedictorian (1.20m). The dam Miss Baloubet (1.35m) competed under Catherine Thornton, and was placed third in the seven-year-old class at the RDS. From the direct family of Carrow Cruise (1.50m), Billy Lemon (1.55m) and the event horse Billy Landretti (CCI4*).
Lot 220 Powerado RF, reg b c f by Eldorado Van De Zeshoek out of Brillante (Casco). From a top continental bloodline, this colt is a sibling to numerous top show jumpers, among which are Z Ice Cube Z (1.60m), Helaiza (1.45m), Chellasco (1.45m) and Kalin De Espoir (1.35m),
Lot 232, reg gr c f by Canturex VDFZ out of Lucky Lucys Crest (Ascalon). Bred in the purple for eventing, this colt is out of a half-sister to the ultra-consistent five-star event horse Capels Hollow Drift, ridden by Tom Jackson. Also, to the four-star campaigners With Love and Triple Point and the show jumper Shelby Five Hundred.
Lot 243 reg b f f by Alicante out of Couple of Diamonds (Numero Uno). A half-sister to the smart Maximum Numero TOO HSH (Sven Hadley) winner of the six-year-old qualifier at Valkenswaard last week. From the family of Mullentine Loughgall (1.50m), Clarkes Ferro (1.60m), Point Two Elvis (1.50m) and Olympic Lady (1.50m).
Lot 245 ABC Rock Anthem, reg b c f by Hardrock Z out of ABC Tiny Dancer (Mermus R). One of the obvious catalogue stand outs, this colt hails from one of the best dam lines in the book. His dam is a half-sister to no less than five top international show jumpers, including ABC Quantum Cruise (1.60m), ABC Private Jet (1.60m), ABC Cortana Cruise and former Lanaken six-year-old world champion ABC Saving Grace. This foal is a half-brother to the very promising six-year-old ABC JP Jameson (Harry Wood) and the younger ABC Jaytee Flamenco (Marta Hughes Bravo). Going back a generation, the second dam by Cruising won the Cavan Classic as a five-year-old.
Lot 255 UPS Rock On, reg b f f by Hardrock Z out of Drumhowan Pippa (Vechta). A late July foal, this filly is a sibling to the very smart RDS six-year-old finalist UPS Angelo, as well as to Pippa Accord (1.35m), Emoe Pixie (1.30m) and Emoe Alice (1.35m). The dam is also a sibling to the event horse Drumhowna Magic (CCI4*), who represented team GB in Le Lion d’Angers as a seven-year-old.
Lot 274, reg b f f by Conthargos out of Gypsy Lux Valier (Lux Z). From a recognisable family, the dam is a full-sister to Good Lux Lucy (1.50m) and has already produced the Melanie Davidson-ridden seven-year-old Gypsy Prince (1.35m) and the four-year-old Holly Park. The second dam Donogue Cavalier, has bred Donogue Doctor George (1.40m), as well as Donogue Ladies Man (1.35m).
Lot 279 Amaretto LR, reg b c f by Andiamo Semilly out of CBI Bella Donna (Zapatero VDL). The dam competed to 1.50m with Vincent Byrne and was the national six-year-old champion in 2021. Others in the maternal family include Wodiena Van De Somme (1.60m), Regina Van De Somme (1.50m), as well as the recent Lanaken campaigner Rosconnell Tango (Leah Stack) and Ardragh Me O Moy (Darragh Kenny).
Lot 286, reg b f f by Bravour VDL out of Twilight Cruise (Cruising). One for the eventing fraternity, this well-related filly has Cruising as the dam’s sire and is a sibling to a three-year-old, who realised €40,000 at the Go For Gold last year. Another half-brother is Dunrath Reward (CCI 2*), while adding real depth, the dam is a sister to First Mate (CCI5*), Buccaneer (CCI4*) and Bosun (CCI4*).
Lot 308 Littlefield Dessie, reg b c f by Moylough Legacy out of Littlefield Ruby (Let The Lion Roar). One for the traditionalists, this colt is out of a full-brother to 2019 yearling winner at the RDS. Another sibling to the dam, Emperors Legion competed at CCI* level with Ian Hannon. Grandam by Clonakilty Hero.
Michael Donohoe & Sons
Address: Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny.
Telephone: 059 9775145 Fax 0599775541
Email: info@goresbridge.com
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: 11th – 12thOctober 2024
Time: 10.30am each day.
Friday: Broodmares, yearlings and foals.
Saturday: Foals
Total lots: 385
Last year’s top lot: Pat Kehoe’s ABC Dettori, colt foal by Livello (dam by Cruising) €16,500.