HEADING into week two of the Goresbridge September sales, it is the three-year-olds who hold centre stage. Offering a bumper catalogue, this edition is an important fixture for commercial and private buyers alike, while the strength of the week’s trade will also influence the subsequent foal dispersals.

With a variety of horses to suit all disciplines, the bloodlines vary, but standing out among them are blacktype pedigrees from both the eventing and show jumping spheres.

The show jumpers are well represented by close maternal relations to numerous 1.60m horses, including Equine America Billy McCain, Ballyquirke Tipp Top and Dermish Cruise, as well as former young horse world champions Columbcille Gipsy and BP Goodfellas. From the world of eventing, there are immediate relations to Andrew Nicholson-ridden five-star winners Armada and Nereo, as well as to fellow top level event horses Coolparks Sarco, Cooley Cross Border, Kilcandra Ocean Power and Clever Trick.

Most of the influential sires are represented in number, and heading the list with a weighty 24 progeny on offer is the newcomer HHS Cornet. The Kennedy brothers recently deceased Vivant Van de Heffinck features prominently with 20 forward, while fellow Kennedy resident Conticco together with Slyguff Stud’s thoroughbred Pointilliste have 15 apiece. Lucky Luck (12) and Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet (12) also make an impact as does Socco Blue with nine.

Monday

Lot 579, reg 3 yo ch f 16.2hh by Jackaroo out of Ballyquirke Brigade (Clover Brigade). Carrying the flag for Jackaroo, this traditionally-bred filly is a half-sister to the jumpers Ballyquirke Tipp Top (1.60m), the dual-purpose Dartans Quality Brigade (1.50m) (CCI4*), An-Tonia (1.30m), Ballyquirke Paddy (1.35m) and the event horse Agatha Raisin (CCI2*).

Lot 582 Shannondale Tokyo, reg 3 yo gr g 16.1hh by Canturex VDF out of Trixi (Quantum). An offering with a top-class European pedigree, this gelding features both Contender and Quidam De Revel in the maternal line. Bred to perform, he is a half-brother to the Jordan Coyle-ridden Lisniska Cool Quality (1.50m), as well as to Cooper 166 (1.45m), Calle Cool (1.40m) and Chapman 68 (1.40m.). Dam is half-sister to the 1.60m horse D’Artagnan.

Lot 603 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b f 16.2hh by Pointilliste out of Greenacres Kings Master Girl (Kings Master). From a traditional eventing family going back to Clover Hill, the third dam bred this year’s Badminton winner and Olympic reserve horse Greenacres Special Cavalier ridden by New Zealander Caroline Powell.

Lot 613 Newmarket Armani, reg 3 yo b g 16.1hh by Newmarket Venture out of Little Brittania (Jaguar Mail). Bred in the purple for eventing on both sides of his pedigree, this gelding is a half-brother to the intermediate event horse Upsi Britannia, winner of the NEXGEN four-year old eventing final in 2022. The dam’s full-brother is the stallion Britannia’s Mail (CCI3*), while standing out in the maternal line as the second dam is the legendary Headly Britannia, the only mare ever to win the five-star showcases at Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky.

Lot 623 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b f 16hh by HHS Cornet out of Rubys Rosshaven Flight (Laughtons Flight). Another well related event prospect is this filly who is a half-sister to Class Affair (CCI5*), currently competing with Zara Tindall.

Lot 653 MB Borderline, reg 3 yo b g 175cms by Creevagh Ferro out of Roll On Diaz (Diamond Roller). By a sire of numerous top event horses, this gelding is out of a full-sister to Cooley Cross Border (CCI4*), ridden in America by Kim Severson, to the British-based Midnight Roller Coaster (CCI4*) as well as to a further two lesser graded international performers.

Lot 705 Tabo, reg 3 yo gr g 16.1hh by Lagans OBOS Quality out of Columbcille Romany (Fiero). An exciting prospect for the age classes next year, this gelding is out of a sibling to Columbcille Gipsy (1.45m), the Lanaken six-year-old champion in 2017.

Tuesday

Lot 756 Bridevalley Daisy, reg 3 yo b f 16.1hh by Hit The Dif out of Ballard Country Girl (Ghareeb). One for the showing fraternity could be this filly who hails from a prolific show winning family. Her dam is a full-sibling to the multiple RDS Champions Ballard Bouncer, Ballard Big Bang and Ballard Jewel. This filly is also a half-sister to Ballard Bridge Boy, runner-up in the four-year-old ridden hunter at the RDS last month.

Lot 779 Cillbhrid Buddy, reg 3 yo ch g 168cms by Pegase Van’t Ruytershof out of Cillbhrid Babe (Luidam). Smartly bred paternally and well related, this youngster is out of a half-sister to Equine America Billy McCain (1.60m), Billy McDermott (1.50m) and several other international jumpers. Also, from the immediate family of Ballypatrick Tangelo (1.45m), Billy Fleance (1.45m) and the event horse Billy McFee (CCI3*).

Lot 798 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b g 165cms by Lucky Luck out of Ballydunne Cruise (Hermes de Reve). Carrying Cruising bloodlines, this gelding is out of a half-sister to the Jessica Burke-ridden CC Captain Cruise AKA Dermish Cruise (1.60m) and from the family of Ballydunne Royal (1.40m), Calluna Candy (1.40m) and Geoff Curran’s puissance specialist Bishops Quarter.

Lot 818 Glensensaw Commander, reg 3 yo gr g 16.2hh by Island Commander out of Glensensaw Bonnie Prince (Bonnie Prince). Having won his qualifier, and as a finalist in the potential young event horse class at the RDS recently, this gelding really impressed. Carrying 70% thoroughbred blood, he is capable of progressing in any sphere.

Lot 867 Kilcandra Doll, reg 3 yo b f 16.1hh by Orestus out of Bonnie Dolly (Bonnie Prince). An exceptionally well related half-sister to Michael Jung’s Nations Cup horse Kilcandra Ocean Power (CCI4*), as well as to the CCI5* performer Kilcandra Bonnie Reward (AKA Clever Trick), ridden by Susie Berry for Ireland.

Lot 910 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b g 16.2hh by Lucky Luck out of Madgeslane Karol (OBOS Quality). Dam competed to 1.45m level, and was a finalist in the seven/eight year-old classes at the RDS. She has already bred the exciting young stallion Madgeslane Luidam, as well as Madgeslane Louis (1.40m) and three further graded jumpers.

Wednesday

Lot 930 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b g 16hh by SHS Soco Blue out of DSH Miss To Nice (Douglas Cavalier). Home-bred, this gelding is a sibling to the useful event horse Willows Freestyle Cavalier, while the dam is a full-sister to the Paul Carberry-owned Brandonview First Edition (1.60m), to the event horse Mr Douglas (CCI2*) and from the immediate family of fellow eventers DHS Lucky Town (CCI4*) and Van Gough (CCI4*).

Lot 944 Carragh See The Light, reg 3 yo b f 16.1hh by Vivant Van De Heffinck out of See The Light (Limmerick). From an up-and-coming family, this filly was placed runner-up in the Millstreet Young Irelander earlier this year, and is a half-sister to the American-based show jumper Caraghs Quality Lady (1.50m), ridden by Shane Sweetnam.

Lot 964 Unnamed, reg 3 yo gr f 16.1hh by Chelis HC Z out of Sillot Sea Beauty (Cruising). This filly is by a Zangersheide-registered stallion who carries 50% thoroughbred blood. Suitable for either discipline, she is a sister to LCC Sapphire who competed at 1.55m level with Antonia Almeida.

Lot 982 Goodwins Ceann Amhain, reg 3 yo bl f 16hh by Rock’n Roll Ter Putte out of Goodwins Babe (Master Imp). Bred for performance in either sphere, this home-bred filly is by Greg Broderick’s young sire out of a traditionally-bred dam by Master Imp. Well-related, she is a sister to the Emily Moloney-ridden Goodwins Queen (1.40m) as well as to the event horses Goodwins Royalty (CCI2* and 1.30m) and Goodwins Woopie (CCI2* and 1.20m). Adding depth, the dam is a sibling to Goodwins 007 (1.50m), to Goodwins Reef (CCI4*) and is from the direct maternal line of the 2022 Lanaken world five-year-old champion BP Goodfellas.

Lot 1052 Romeo KL, reg 3 yo b g 16.2hh by Impressive VDL out of Hilaria BS (Zirocco Blue). Carrying a top European pedigree, the dam is a sibling to the Finnish-ridden Evli Ellington (1.50m) and Golden Boy BS (1.45m), ridden by Polish rider Ayman Allonays. Also featuring in the dam’s line is Katie McVean’s Grand Prix mare Zimorena (1.60m).

Lot 1067 Parkroe Milly, reg 3 yo gr f 16.2hh by Glen Moss (TB) out of Parkroe Teresa (Coevers Diamond Boy). A filly with a good showing record and a likely future event horse, Parkroe Milly headed the All-Ireland two-year-old final of the Limerick Lady last year, and was placed runner-up at the Balmoral show.

Lot 1073 Coolparks Orestus, reg 3 yo b g 164cms by VDL Orestus out of Coolparks Diamonds Sarco (Shanonndale Sarco). Bred to event, this gelding is the third progeny out of a full-sister to the top event horse Coolparks Sarco (CCI5*). Ridden by Piggy French, he was a major winner at four-star level, before landing fourth spot in his first CCI5* at Pau last year. Dam’s oldest progeny (five-year-old) is currently competing at 1.20m level.

Lot 1081 Unnamed, reg 3 yo ch g 169cms by Hos D’O out of Oakville Clover (Clover Flush). A half-brother to a string of graded jumpers, including the smart Master Millar (1.50m) and the five-year-old Bugatti. The latter has racked up numerous double clears in the DAFM Studbook classes under Gemma Phelan, while dam is a sibling to the grade A jumper Coolpark Diamond Lady.

Lot 1084 Mountelliot Princess Nala, reg 3 yo b f 168cms by Quality Time out of Valencia (Remo BT4). Carrying a Spanish damline of the highest class, this filly is out of a sister to Andrew Nicholson’s Andrea BT4 (CCI4*), while the second dam is a full-sister to four, CCI5* event horses including the Fines sired Nereo (Andrew Nicholson), Armada (Oliver Townend), Oplitas (Giovanni Ugolotti) and Fenicio (Andrew Nicholson).

Michael Donohoe & Sons

Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny.

Telephone: 059-9775145 Fax 059-9775541

Email: info@goresbridge.com

Web: www.irishhorse.com

Date: September 9th-11th2024

WEEK TWO

Three-year-olds.

Time: 10.30am Monday – Wednesday.

Total lots week two: 534 lots

Top Lot week two 2023: Jodie and Jerry Skelton’s Borris Cornet Coole, three-year-old gelding by Castlefield Cornet (dam by Warrenstown You 2) €20,000.