MOVING towards the midway point in the sales calendar, Goresbridge stages a well-supported renewal next week. Hoping to emulate or better the extraordinary trade of 12 months ago, the three-day fixture offers a larger and stouter catalogue and connections will be optimistic that the demand will hold up well.
Competition horses and ponies of all ages stand out among a quality selection of riding stock, as do a sizeable collection of youngsters with potential. Blacktype pedigrees appear with regularity and, if the model and performance match the page, the trade could be lively.
World-class bloodlines feature again in the list of sires, which in numerical order are headed by Colandro, Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet, Loughehoe Guy and OBOS Quality. All have six progeny apiece, while HHS Cornet, Pointilliste and Sligo Candy Boy have five.
Ponies
Lot 7 Old Meadow Easy Finish, reg 4yo dn g 148cm by Broadriver Pearlescent out of Rosscon Skyfall (Frederiksminde Hazy Match). One of numerous Connemara ponies entered, this home-bred youngster is measured with the SJI for the year. He has hunted with the Roscommon Harriers, will go first or last, and has a bright future ahead of him.
Lot 9 Blakeney’s Realta, reg 5yo gr m 128cm (breeding unrecorded). One for the smallest of the competitive riders, this mare has show jumped to win 45 SJI points, has hunted and been cross-country schooled.
Lot 28 Clondaw Misty, reg 9yo gr m 138cm (no recorded breeding). One of the stand outs in the sector, and the winner of 75 SJI points, Misty is a competitive all-rounder. Well hunted with the Island foxhounds, she has competed in all pony club activities and was a member of the winning Alice Mernagh team competition. She has also won events at under 12 level, hunter trials and in show jumping has headed classes at Cavan and the National Pony Championships in Mullingar.
Lot 39 Dun Well Dora, reg 13yo gr m 14.2hh by Gloves Bobby out of Lecarrow Dawn (Lecarrow Misty). Quiet in all respects, this experienced Connemara mare has a proven jumping record up to 1.20m (538 SJI points) and has competed abroad.
Lot 76 Leucarum Easter Bouquet, reg 5yo gr m 128cm by Leucarum Peter Pan out of Leucarum Roseanna (Leucarum Express). This diminutive performer of Welsh breeding has a career total of 73 SJI points. Fully warranted and easy to manage, she is thought to be ideal for the six and seven-year-old RDS qualifiers next season.
Horses
Lot 79 The Three Amigos, reg 5yo skb g 165cm by Phanten out of Oneida Jacksons Rosa (Jacksons Drift). This eyecatcher has been slowly produced and is showing the potential to progress either as a jumper or an event horse. He successfully competed in the Stepping Stones event horse series last spring and on one occasion this year. He has also been to several training shows and is now ready to be brought on to the next level.
Lot 88 Grove Street Lady, reg 11yo b m 16.2hh by Askol Peter Pan out of Ardenteggle Clover (Ballinvella). A high grade all-rounder, this fully warranted mare is the winner of 27 SJI points to date. Carrying a junior, she was prominent in the pony club and interschools championships during 2021-23 seasons and is a winner of combined training, show jumping and pure dressage at championship level. She also qualified for the combined training class at the RDS in 2022, where she performed well to finish just outside the ribbons.
Lot 102 Tullabeg Matilda, reg 5yo pal m 16.1hh by Tullabeg Fusion out of Aughmore Irokos Dream (Iroko). By the sire of an Olympic event horse, this well-related mare has bred a foal and is a half-sister to MBF Back to Back (Meabh Bolger), who represented Ireland in Le Lion D’Angers in 2022.
Lot 148 Greenhall Emerald, reg 5yo b m 16.3hh by Island Commander out of Greenhall Wishing Well (Crosstown Dancer). Home-bred, this mare was lightly and successfully shown under saddle last year. Her dam is notable as a former ridden Hunter Mare Champion and Reserve Supreme champion at the RDS, while featuring a versatile pedigree, the dam is a full-sister to the CCI3* event horse Cruise Across Town (Harry Dzenis). Adding depth, the extended dam’s line includes several high-class performers both in eventing and show jumping.
Lot 158 Unnamed, reg 5yo b m 168cm by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Glendale Castle Queen (KEC Maximum Joe). A well-bred half-sister to Samphire Queen (1.30m), while the dam is a half-sibling to the Cian O’Connor-ridden Alligator Alley (1.60m).
Older horses, four-year-olds
Lot 176 Castlefield Serena, reg 6yo gr m 17hh by Cornet Obolensky out of Balia Silvia (Balou du Rouet). Bred in the purple, this fully warranted daughter of Cornet Obolensky is out of Amanda Derbyshire’s high class jumper Balia Silvia (1.50m). The winner of 12 SJI points to date, Serena is an athletic and scopey mare, who is showing plenty of potential at this stage in her career.
Lot 179 Ballyshan MBF Louvre, reg 5yo b g 16.1hh by Paris Blue Merelsnest Z out of Ballyshan Vanessa (Verdi). One from a regular sale-topping consigner, this warranted gelding is competing at training shows. From a very good family of top competition horses, the dam is a half-sister to Cooley Nutcracker (Ballyshan Contender), who has recently been named as the travelling reserve for the USA Olympic eventing squad.
Lot 198 Drumury Rubin, reg 5yo b g 17hh by Jorado out of Couleur Fama SR Z (Couleur Rubin). Exceptionally well-related, this gelding is out of a 1.50m show jumping dam and is a sibling to similarly smart Barcelona (1.50m). He was placed sixth in the loose jumping at the RDS in 2022.
Lot 227 Jimmy, 4yo gr g 16hh by Fidelgo Du Houssoit out of Chacca Rouge (Chacco Blue). Featuring a stout continental pedigree, the dam competed to 1.30m and is a sibling to numerous international horses including Perfect Rouge (1.60m) and Corleano (1.50m) and from the extended maternal line of the great Dutch Nations Cup performer Kairouan (1.60m). Slowly produced, this high-class prospect is showing lots of potential over a fence and could excel in any discipline.
Lot 251 Grantstown For Sure, reg 4yo bl f 16hh by U Dancer Hero out of Grantstown Heights (Imperial Heights). A home-bred sibling to the Belgian-based event horse Grantstown Cooley (CCI3*, Steve Van Winkel) and also to the smart five-year-old Grantstown Imperial, who has recently qualified to compete in this year’s Burghley Young Event Horse championship.
Lot 291 is out of a sibling to the dam of the great James Kann Cruz pictured here at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Canada with Shane Sweetnam \ FEI/Mackenzie Clarke
Lot 291 CSF Carbonara, reg 4yo b f 163cm by Carrera VDL out of CSF Telly Clover (Ard Vivendi). One of the catalogue picks and sold to dissolve a partnership, this filly hails from an instantly recognisable pedigree. She is a half-sister to Jonathan Smyth’s good eight-year-old CSF Rio, but more significantly is out of a sibling to the dam of the great James Kann Cruz, CSF McGregor, CSF Vince and numerous other international horses.
Lot 299 Ballylinan Twenty Seven, reg 4yo rn g 15.1hh (breeding unrecorded). Cobs have been among the top sellers at recent sales, and standing out among this current selection is this fully warranted gelding with plenty of mileage. Having hunted a full season with the Donegal Harriers, he has also competed in pony club activities, has evented and show jumped. Described as bombproof and a great character, he is likely to excel.
Lot 324 Elusive Stranger, reg 4yo gr g 17hh by Centennial out of Dance With A Stranger (Crosstown Dancer). One for the traditionalists, this warranted gelding has been schooled across country, has been lightly hunted and attended training shows. Bred to event, his dam is a former RDS potential event horse champion and is a sibling to the five-star event horse Ridire Dorcha ridden by Oliver Townend.
Three-year-olds
Lot 340 Shanoo Silver, reg 3yo b g 16.2hh by Orestus out of Shannondale Silver (Cavalier Royale). Featuring Cavalier Royale as the dam’s sire, Shanoo Silver is a full-brother to the Ballindenisk-winning CCI2* event horse BDE Olympic Royale (Ian Cassells), to the 2022 RDS potential event horse champion Take A Chance and to two further graded jumpers and event horses.
Lot 342 Rathduff Ramiros Cornet, reg 3yo br g 16.2hh by HHS Cornet out of Ramiro Clover Lass (Ramiro B). Attractively bred, this well-related gelding is a half-brother to the Lanaken consolation winner Curra Clover (Michael Pender) and also to the event horse Doctors Orders (CC14*- L) ridden by Flora Young.
Lot 380 Piltown Persona, reg 3yo b g 164cm by Ulysses M25 out of Piltown Marita (Royal Concorde). One of a home-bred consignment, this gelding could either event or show jump. His dam is a half-sister to Ballyoskill Big Bucks, an American-based gelding, who is currently competing at 1.60m level with Mia Bagnato. Adding depth, the third dam by Clover Hill, also has progeny at Grand Prix level.
Lot 408 OMHS Touch of Kingston, reg 3yo b f 16hh by Castlefield Kingston out of Touch of Dawn (Touchdown). This beautifully-bred filly is out of a 1.40m grade A jumper, and is a half-sister to the British-based international performer Kann Be Lucky (1.60m).
Lot 446 Unnamed, reg 3yo b g 16hh by Jack The Robin out of Chikari (Kings Master). A traditionally-bred gelding with 83% thoroughbred blood, this potential event horse is a half-brother to the Ian Cassells-ridden five-star campaigner Master Point and from the maternal line of the exciting Inquisitor (runner-up Millstreet CCI2* earlier this month). Home-bred, the dam was also a useful event horse, competing at CCI3* level under George Russell.
Michael Donohoe & Sons
Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny
Telephone: 059-9775145; Fax 059-9775541
Email: info@goresbridge.com
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: July 2nd-4th, 2024
Time: 10.30am
Wednesday: Ponies (77), Older horses
Thursday: Older horses and four-year-olds
Friday: Three-year-olds
Total lots: 451 plus supplementary catalogue
Top Lot 2023. Higgins Sport Horses’s Oliver Twist, four-year-old gelding by Henkie (dam by Idocus), €33,000.