Michael Donohoe & Sons
Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny
Telephone: 0599775145
Fax: 0599775541
Email: info@goresbridge.com
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: Wednesday, March 6th, 2024.
Time: 10.30am. Ponies (24), older Horses, four-year-olds and three-year-olds.
Total lots: 227 lots.
Last year’s top lot: Higgins and MBF Sport Horses’ Sunhill MBF, four-year-old filly by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet (dam by Windsor Castle) €16,500.
UNDER the new tenure of Ed Donohoe, Goresbridge stages its first renewal of the year next Wednesday. Running over one day, the catalogue is a bumper one and, having recently taken over the family business, Donohoe will be encouraged to note that the edition offers a full session of 227 lots.
The earlier start of 10.30am kicks off with a strong entry of ponies, among which are several with show jumping form. The following older horse division also features numerous lots with competition or hunting mileage, while a wide selection of four-year-olds and a few three-year-olds will bring the sale to a close.
It comes as no surprise to see the stallion list headed by last year’s sale topping sire, Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet, as well as the influential Vivant Van de Heffinck. With eight lots apiece, the duo hold sway over the Kylemore Stud’s Tyson (6), while also strongly represented are Lagans OBOS Quality and his late sire, OBOS Quality.
Ponies
Lot 4 Clongeen Larry, reg 6 yo b g 148cm. Consigned by a regular sale topping yard, Clongeen Larry is a young jumping pony, who has clocked up 70 SJI points since last July. A super prospect for the age classes this season, he is currently competing at 1.10m level and is well hunted with both the Island Foxhounds and the Bray Harriers.
Lot 12 Bottoms Up, reg 4 yo b g 14.2hh by Darko Nite out of Malta (Semper Odem). A very well-related individual, this fully warranted young gelding is a half-brother to the Canadian WEG show jumping representative Darkos Promise (1.60m). Described as a FEI pony for the future, he has just embarked on his jumping career to win eight SJI points (not yet recorded).
Lot 21 Spot Des Mures, reg 7 yo dn m 12.2hh. A real all-rounder and measured for the coming season, this mare shows great potential as a jumping pony. Already with four SJI points and well placed in the Millstreet Pony Discovery championship, she has also pony clubbed, attended pony camp, and taken part in dressage competitions.
Competition horses
Lot 26 Cheops Du Toultia Z, reg 14 yo b g 16.2hh by Copin Van De Broy out of Madona PK (Eros Platiere). A beautifully bred schoolmaster with 190 SJI points won to date, this gelding is by the Mechelen World Cup grand final (CSI5*) winning stallion, Copin Van De Broy. He is a full-brother to Cannonball Du Toultia Z (1.60m) and Again Du Toultia Z (1.45m) and is considered ideal for a nervous rider and a perfect conveyance for the RDS Children On Horses qualifiers.
Lot 29 PJS Hope For More, reg 6 yo gr g 16.2hh by Womanizer out of PJS Hope (Big Sink Hope). Described as an easy ride, this gelding competed in the Millstreet Discovery class as a four-year-old and has evented in Eventing Ireland EI90 classes.
Lot 32 Second Choice, reg 11 yo b m 16.3hh by Oldtown KC out of Recuerdame (Harlequin du Carel). An easy mare with 82 SJI points to her name, Second Choice is the first progeny out of the exceptionally well-related grade A jumping mare Recuerdame (1.45m). A future broodmare prospect, siblings to the dam include three international performers, namely the event horses Mischievous (CCI4*-L), ridden by Italian international Alberto Giugni, Don Meeco (CCI4*-L), partnered by British rider Katie Barber, and the Irish pairing of Cathal Daniels and Full of Mischief (CCI3*).
Lot 37 Unnamed, reg 5 yo ch g 16.2hh by OBOS Quality out of Nash Mint (Nash Me). One for the future could be this well-bred gelding, who has competed in training shows and lightly hunted. Bred to perform, he is a full-brother to the British-based event horse Hazleton Quality (CCI4*) and to Loughnatousa Fred (CCI2*), who in 2022 was placed fourth in the final of the prestigious Nexgen Young Horse championship at Hickstead.
Lot 51 MBF Musical Note, reg 5 yo br m by Jorado out of Vivian Lee (Ars Vivendi). One from a large consignment from MBF Sport Horses, this filly is by one of the leading sale topping sires Jorado, and is the first foal out of the Lanaken campaigner Vivian Lee (1.35m) ridden by Tholm Keane. Broken late in her four-year-old year, she has been produced slowly and shows a huge amount of scope and jumping ability.
Lot 61 Bella 18, reg 7 yo b m 15.3hh by Cobra out of Diamond Chin May (Diamond Chin). Suitable for a junior, Bella 18 is fully warranted, with a career total of 32 SJI points. She has produced double clear rounds in numerous 1m leagues, including the Hollypark junior championship, Duffy’s and Necarne.
Lot 82 VDL Miss Quality, reg 9 yo ch m 165cm by OBOS Quality out of Newtown Arkansas (By VDL Arkansas). The winner of 35 SJI points to date, this mare has competed to 1.30m level and is suitable for either an amateur or a young rider.
Lot 97 Carrigshawn First Edition, reg 5 yo b g 16.3hh by Carrigshawn Quantum out of Carrigshawn Lucy (Olympic Lux). Home-bred, this slowly produced gelding is a half-brother to the American-based event horse Gortglas Crazy Love (CCI3*), ridden by Joe Meyer. Having been broken and turned away, he is now back in work and ready to start his competition career.
Lot 101 Jackawho, reg 6 yo ch g 168cm by Jackeroo out of Smoocheen Nestor (by Voltaire). Fully warranted and the winner of 6 SJI points to date, this exciting youngster won the EI Combined Training League in Milchem last year. Ridden by an amateur, he has been placed in the EI Starter Stakes league, has won 1m classes at training shows and has successfully been shown in working hunter classes.
Lot 101, Jackawho, won the EI80 combined training league at Milchem Equestrian Centre with rider Rachel Counihan in 2023 \ Marie Ward
Hunters and all-rounders
Lot 46 Cottage Kasmayo, reg 8 yo gr g 16.2hh by WRS Traditional out of Katie Surprise (Kasmayo). Traditionally-bred, this experienced performer has hunted for the past four seasons. Described as a gentleman of a horse and as brave, steady and clever over banks, he has followed the County Limerick Foxhounds, the Scarteen Foxhounds and the Stonehall Harriers. In addition, he has attended pony club, has evented and is jumping up to 1.10m in training shows.
Lot 50 Newmarket Connor, reg 8 yo b g 16.2hh by Newmarket Jewel out of Newmarket Bouncer (Mermus R). A fully warranted and versatile performer, Connor has clocked up 97 SJI points in classes up to 1.20m. He has also hunted with the Duhallow Foxhounds this current season, where he has excelled. A proper horse for hedge and wall type country, he is quiet with hounds and, while he is forward going, he is easily ridden in a snaffle.
Lot 65 Bloomfield Diligence, reg 6 yo ch g 168cm by Future Trend out of Bloomfield Kestral (Rockrimmon Robusticus). A fully warranted, good looking horse with a great attitude, this gelding has hunted with the Ballingore Harriers for two seasons.
Four-year-olds
Lot 136 MBF Floyd, reg 4 yo b g 16.1hh by Maplevalleys Galoubet out of One Grazy Chick (Chacoa). Probably the highlight of the MBF consignment, this young gelding is out of the useful jumping mare One Grazy Chick and features Puissance as the grandsire. Quiet in all respects, he is expected to have a big future ahead of him.
Lot 148 Unnamed, reg 4 yo ch f 16 hands by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of Ballyeden Hero (Cult Hero). A home-bred full-sibling to the Sian Coleman/Daniel Alderson-ridden Blarney Monbeg Pepper (CCI4*), who represented Ireland in Le Lion D’Angers in 2022, and was placed third in the CCI4* at Kronenburg last year.
Lot 156 Unnamed, reg 4 yo b g 168cm by HHS Cornet out of Gifted Echo (by OBOS Quality). Hailing from one of the best Irish performance pedigrees, this gelding has just been broken and is now ready to go on. From the close maternal family of Flo Jo, he is a half- brother to Annaghmore Lui (1.45m), while the dam is a full-sister to Cian O’Connor’s campaigner Echo Beach (CSI5*) and is the dam of the fully approved stallion Beach Ball.
Lot 156's dam is a full sister to Cian O’Connor’s campaigner Echo Beach, pictured in action in 2009
Lot 194 Castleconnell Bring It On, reg 4 yo b g 16.1hh by Vivant Van De Heffinck out of Boney Kelly (Dow Jones Courcel). Bred to perform, this gelding is a half-brother to the American-based CCI4* event horse Big Berry (Matthew Brown), as well as to Shop DJ (CCI2*) and Coen William’s children on horses partner Aishling Clover (1.20m).
Lot 205 Wellview All In, reg 4 yo gr f 16 hands by Numero Cruise out of Geelong Speed Line (Maltstriker). Home-bred, this filly is currently competing in training shows and has schooled across country. Well-related, her half-sister is the good amateur mare Wellview Lucy, who won a 1.20m class on the sunshine tour, as well as amateur classes at the Liverpool and London international fixtures.
Lot 210 Dansalent, reg 4 yo b g 17 hands by Valent out of Dan’s Irish Lamia (Bonnie Prince). Featuring an interesting mix of continental and thoroughbred bloodlines, this gelding is by the prominent 5* approved sire Valent. Bred to perform and described as having the makings of a very good event horse or show jumper, the maternal line includes Bonnie Prince and Clover Hill.
Three-year-olds
Lot 221 Kill Bill, reg 3 yo ch g 163cm by Flex A Bill out of Euro Quality (OBOS Quality). Possibly the pick of the 11 three-year-olds holding entries, this gelding is attractively bred. His dam is a select status broodmare, who is currently competing at 1.30m level in the UK. The second dam Lady Russel is a half-sister to LKD Mini Q (1.40m) Blurred Lines (1.40m) and Loughnatousa Olaf (1.45m).