Michael Donohoe & Sons
Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny
Telephone: 0599775145
Fax: 0599775541
Email: info@goresbridge.com
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: Wednesday March 5th – Thursday March 6th 2025
Wednesday: Ponies (66), older horses.
Thursday: Older horses, followed by four-year-olds and three-year-olds.
Total lots: 338 lots plus supplementary catalogue.
Last year’s top lot:
MBF Sport Horses and Higgins Sport Horses’ Petar D, four-year-old gelding by Qatar Ter Saleghem (dam by Victory). €25,000.
CLOSE relations to the legendary jumper Carling King, as well as to top campaigners Mrs Quinn, Mullaghdrin Touch The Stars and Touchable feature among a bumper entry at Goresbridge next week.
The fixture marks the seasonal opener at the Co Kilkenny auction house, which, sporting a significant numerical increase to that of 12 months ago, is now scheduled to run over two days. Among those due to come under the hammer are a wide range of horses and ponies with extensive competition or hunting form, while Thursday’s closing afternoon session focuses on an interesting collection of three and four-year-olds.
Looking at the stallion lists, it comes as no surprise to see the ever-popular Vivant Van de Heffinck (8 lots) in pole position, closely followed by the equally prolific Sligo Candy Boy (7) and OBOS Quality (6).
Ponies
Lot 1 Silverskipa Long, reg 12yo gr m 148cm (breeding not recorded). Kicking off the proceedings is this grade A jumping mare, with career winnings of 371 SJI points. Fully warranted, and only for sale as her rider is now outgrown, she is ready for the coming season.
Lot 30 Belgrove Norrie, reg 7yo pd g 14.2hh. A fully warranted performer and quiet in all respects, this gelding has taken part in pony club activities and has hunted with the Killinick hounds for a full season.
Lot 33 Myblessington Fishe, reg 5yo b m 128cm by Myblessington Mayfly Tomboy. One for the smallest of jockeys, this straightforward mare is measured for the current show jumping season and has already won 20 SJI points. She is safe to ride around the fields, is honest to jump and now ready for her next rider to take on.
Lot 51 Davie, reg 7yo pal g 138cm by Annaghmore Ginger out of Tasty Jessie (Tasty Pride). One from the intermediate height group, and another to carry the valuable ‘quiet to ride’ warranty, Davie has a career total of 116 SJI points.
Competition stock
Lot 68 Belline Ames To Please, reg 7yo b g 16.3hh by Sligo Candy Boy out of Native des Mervilles (Germino D’Elle). One of a sizeable consignment offered by Richard Ames (Belline Estates), this straightforward gelding has racked up plenty of eventing form to win 11 EI points. Thought ideal for either an amateur or a junior, he won the DAFM Studbook series sector (six-year-olds) at Hillcrest last year and has competed to CCI2* level.
Lot 78 Dicksgrove Allure, reg 5yo b g 168cm by All Star 5 out of Creevyquin Carin (Cardento). One for the future could be this warranted gelding, who is the winner of 12 SJI points (9 points recorded to date). He is by the Denis Lynch partnered All Star 5 (by Argentinus) and is showing plenty of potential to make either an event horse or show jumper.
Lot 84 Golden Future, reg 7yo gr m 16.1hh by Future Trend out of Cinderella Sea Quinn (Harlequin du Carel). A well-related performance mare with smart show ring form, Golden Future won the large riding horse class at the Tattersalls summer show and was placed runner up at the RDS. Adding to her CV, she is out of a half-sister to Carneyhaugh Conquistador (CCI2*).
Lot 89 Wolf Gold Rush, reg 6 yo ch g 173cm by Glenhill Gold out of Six Hills Saphire (Brilliant Lad). Being by the recently deceased four-star winning event horse, Glenhill Gold and out of the similarly ranked event mare, Six Hills Saphire, this home-bred gelding is bred to perform. Given time to mature, he has hunted, hunter trialled, and competed in several unaffiliated events.
Lot 103 Carmel Van de Heffinck, reg 5yo b m 16.3hh by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Carmen De (Coolcronan Wood). The fourth progeny out of the Grade A jumping mare Carmen De, this well-bred individual has competed in classes up to 1m, winning the Woodlands Winter League.
Lot 153 Ulysse Van Loheky (not as in catalogue), reg 5yo gr g 165cm by Contantino Van’t Ravennest out of Caria (Corrado). Already the winner of 10 SJI points, this Belgian-bred gelding is a half-sibling to the smart jumpers, Nobel Van Vromboutshoeve Z (1.50m), as well as to Notorius VD Vromboutshoeve Z (1.40m). Well-schooled across country, he could progress as either an event horse or show jumper.
Thursday
Lot 198 Elamo Elite, reg 5 yo ch m 16.2hh by Sir Jim Jim out of Elamo Lux The Business (Lux Z). Attractively bred by the Grand Prix jumping sire Sir Jim Jim, this mare is out of the useful international performer Elamo Lux The Business (1.40m), who in turn is a sibling to Elamo Lux Like A Real One (1.40m). Described as having an exceptional jump, she has been to training shows and schooled cross-country.
Hunters and all-rounders
Lot 77 Gucci, reg 13yo dn g 16.2hh (breeding not recorded). For those looking for a safe and experienced conveyance, Gucci has hunted 10 seasons with the Golden Vale Foxhounds and numerous other packs. Easy, yet brave, he will go either first or last.
Lot 80 Unnamed, reg 7yo gr g by Balty Daniel Romeo out of Sliabh Mish Nancy (Huntingfield Heathcliffe). This easy performer is well-hunted with both the Ormond and Golden Vale hounds.
Lot 94 Fernfield Lass, reg 5yo gr m 15.3hh by Cooloo Crest out of Holycross Lass (Holycross). A full Irish Draught, Fernfield Lass has followed the Killinick Harriers for the past two seasons. She has also taken part in hunter trials and training shows, as well as charity rides and hunt canters.
Lot 112 Blue, reg 6yo gr g 15.2hh (breeding not recorded). Described as a safe and sound hunting machine, Blue has followed the Kildare and South Westmeath hounds for two seasons. Happy to be at the front or with the rear of the field, he is thought to be an ideal mother/daughter share.
Lot 139 Grantstown Tennessee, reg 7yo b g (sire unrecorded) out of Grantstown Bon Voyage (Cobra). This smart all-rounder has been produced slowly through the ranks of unaffiliated show jumping (1.10m), eventing and hunting. Smartly related, he is out of a half-sister to the European championship event horse and five-star campaigner, Grantstown Jackson.
Lot 193 Bang Tidy, reg 9yo gr m 16.1hh by Breeda Mountain out of Cooldiamond Pride (Coolcorran Cool Diamond). Described as the complete all-rounder, the fully warranted Bang Tidy is the winner of 27 SJI points. In addition, she has hunted with the West Waterford hounds and has been well-placed in the show ring.
Four-year-olds
Lot 212 Ballymurphy Troubador, reg 4yo ch g 16.1hh by Cougar out of Ballymurphy Sarah (Laughtons Flight). This well-related, traditionally-bred gelding has competed in training shows and hunter trials. From an old family, he is a full-brother to the jumper Ballymurphy Penhills Lizzie (CSI4*), while the dam is a full-sibling to the multiple Grand Prix winning Mrs Quinn (1.60m), as well as to Shannon Dale (1.50m) and two further international performers.
Lot 220 Unnamed, reg 4yo ch g 16.2hh by Sir Jim Jim out of Tullibards Cotton Jenny (Flexible). One for the future, this gelding competed in the performance loose jumping class at the RDS last year. The second dam is a thoroughbred, making this an ideal dual-purpose prospect.
Lot 223 Briarfield MBF, reg 4yo b g 16.1hh by Tyson out of Abbeyveale Arco (Shannondale Sarco). One of a sizeable consignment from the sale-topping MBF team, this gelding is described as being a real candidate for the young horse classes this year and an exciting prospect to move up the levels.
Lot 234 Ellistown Grey Archie, reg 4yo gr g 16.2hh by Archie The Great Bouncer out of Ellistown Grey Abbey (Fast Silver). As a big winner in the show ring, the Irish Draught-bred Archie was crowned supreme champion at Bannow and Rathangan show in 2023 and also at Adamstown last year. His dam was also a major winner in-hand, winning the Supreme championship at Punchestown Irish Draught show.
Lot 244 Beechfield Vivaldi, reg 4yo b g 168cm by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Cloonacauneen Black Beauty (Ard VDL Douglas). The second foal out of the four-star event horse Cloonacauneen Black Beauty, this high-class gelding was placed at the RDS (middleweight) last year.
Lot 264 Scattery PJ, reg 4yo b g 16 hands by OBOS Quality out of Scattery Honey (Puissance). This fully warranted youngster has been educated on sponsored rides and has schooled across country. An elegant individual, he has enjoyed a successful showing career, during which he won multiple championships, and was placed runner-up at Balmoral.
Lot 272 Bellscross Sweet Treat, reg 4 yo b f 164cm by Sligo Candy Boy out of Bellscross Luxer (Lux Z). Recently backed, this well-related filly is a half-sister to the event horse Bellscross Guy (CCI4*). She is also a full-sister to Bellscross Candy Lady (Paddy O’Donnell) who, as a five-year-old, jumped up to 1.20m level last year and to the American-based event horse, Barrington Candy Lux. Immediate maternal pedigree features both Cruising and King of Diamonds.
Lot 290 Unnamed, reg 4yo gr f 168cm by Courage 11 out of Ricardos Carling Queen (Ricardo Z). By the top event sire Courage, this very attractively-bred filly is a half-sister to the event horse, Drumnaconnell Opium Luz (CCI3*), while adding real depth, the dam is a sibling to the renowned Olympic show jumper, Carling King (Kevin Babington).
Lot 313 Shannondale Merida, reg 4yo gr f 16hh by Canturex VDF out of Shannondale Mena (Guidam). Another beautifully-bred filly, who is a sibling to the Canadian-based Shannondale Gambit (CCI4*), to the British-campaigned event horse Shannondale Sassafras, as well as to Shannondale Excel Star (1.30m). Delving further, the third dam is the great brood mare Irco Rain, dam of the Michael Duffy-ridden Mullaghdrin Touch The Stars (CSIO5*), Touchable (1.40m) and Mullaghdrin Gold Rain (1.60m).