OFFERING a significantly increased catalogue, the flagship September sales will get underway at Goresbridge next Wednesday. Running over six days (three days in week one), the renewal sports a bumper catalogue, which for the first time includes a special section for ridden Connemara ponies.

With over 80 entries, this new venture has been well supported, with vendors showing their liking for the show casing facilities on offer. This special sale will hold centre stage on Wednesday afternoon following the general pony sector.

Thursday’s sale of older stock features numerous horses with competition form, as well as a selection of proven hunters and leisure horses. Among these are several show jumping schoolmasters, including BBH Alaska and the very experienced Ballynoe Clinton.

Often the banker of the three days, the week draws to a close with Friday’s strong selection of four-year-olds. There are many well-related offerings in this group, many of which already have form.

The stallion lists are varied, but standing out in week one, OBOS Quality leads the field with 12 lots forward. The Tullabeg Stud’s popular Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet is also well represented by 10.

Week two (three-year-olds) will be previewed next week.

Ponies

Lot 14 Myblessington Fishe, reg 4 yo b f 128cms by Myblessington Mayfly Tomboy. Although only four-years-old, this small performer has won 7 SJI points (not yet recorded). Warranted as a quiet ride, she is thought ideal for a good little rider to progress with.

Lot 40 Abbeyville Five, reg 5 yo br g 148cms. A competition pony with plenty of mileage, Abbeyville Five has show jumped to win 17 SJI points. In addition, he has hunted two full seasons with Woodstown Harriers proving happy to go first or last. Fully warranted, he has also competed in hunter trials.

Lot 44 Mystic Magic, reg 10 yo br g 14.2hh. A very experienced campaigner, this warranted gelding has show jumped to win 8 SJI points (1 point recorded) and has evented. He has also followed the Wicklow hounds for three seasons, and taken part in pony club activities.

Lot 54 Kilpatrick Cascade, reg 14 yo gr g by Moorland Snowy River out of Kilpatrick Holly (Monaghanstown Fred). Carrying a wealth of competition form, this gelding has 15 SJI points to date and has evented. A top working hunter, he won the championship at Athlone last year, and the RDS performance class in 2021. Will be sold before lot 95 of the Connemara Section*.

Connemara Pony selection

Lot 54 – *see above.

Lot 98 Tullaree Toto, reg 6 yo b g 138cms by Glencroft Go For Gold out of Melissa Du Villon (Quignon du Parc). Hailing from a French dam’s line and with Class 1 breeding throughout, this high-class gelding has been produced by the breeder. He has clocked up 47 SJI points to date and is showing good potential for the bigger tracks. Well-related, he is a half-brother to Willow O’Connor’s grade A jumping pony Tullaree Casanova.

Lot 116 Rookwood Ranger, reg 5 yo gr g 14.2hh by Banks Timber out of Gleatan Lizzie (Currachmore Cashel). Described as an easy ride, this smart youngster has qualified for the RDS for the past two years and was placed fourth at Balmoral. He is showing great potential over solid fences and happily carries a side saddle.

Lot 125 Fudge, reg 4 yo gr g 12.2hh by Annaghmore Ginger out of Bilboa Gypsey (Meelickisland Connie). With a Class 1 pedigree, this small individual has evented, show jumped and pony clubbed. He was placed second in the four/five-year-old Millstreet Discovery class last month, has qualified for the Mullingar series equivalent and has 30 SJI points won to date.

Lot 161 Logroe Lass, reg 5 yo gr m 148cms by Robe Earl out of Lough Owel Temple Bailey (Smokey Duncan). Carrying Class 1 bloodlines throughout, this young pony is already the winner of 50 SJI points. She is currently competing at 1.10m level with a 13-year-old boy and is thought to have real potential for six/seven-year-old RDS qualifiers next year. Adding to her CV, she has hunted one season with North Galway Foxhounds.

Older horses

Competition stock

Lot 186 BBH Alaska, reg 7 yo gr m 16.1hh by Asca Z out of BBH Clover (Clover Flush). Described as a likely amateur, Children On Horses or young rider prospect, BBH Alaska is the winner of 189 SJI points. Fit and ready to go, she is currently placed and winning classes up to 1.30m level and, very rideable, is a good mover and a careful jumper.

Lot 198 Willows Freestyle Cavalier, reg 5 yo br g by Freestyle Van de Wolfsakker out of DSH Miss To Nice (Douglas Cavalier). This versatile, fully warranted gelding has evented under EI rules and is the winner of 85 SJI points. He holds a good record under both disciplines, has competed in the Stepping Stones Series and thought to be a serious prospect for the young horse event championships in Le Lion d’Angers next year.

Lot 274 Ballynoe Clinton, reg 10 yo b g 170cms by Clinton Jack out of Knightsbridge (Ars Vivendi). A grade A jumper with 419 SJI points, Jack is currently jumping up to 1.30/1.35m level. This season he has been placed in the national Balmoral championship (1.30m) as well as in similar classes at Cavan and Barnadown. He qualified for the young rider’s classes at the RDS in 2022, has been placed in Europe and is a top horse for a young rider.

Hunters and all rounders

Lot 280 Maplevalleys Baby Galoubet, reg 7 yo dn m 15.2hh by Maplevalleys Galoubet out of Jilly Baby. Described as a real eye catcher, this dun mare has hunted with the Suir Vale Harriers for two seasons. She has proved very brave across the country, will go first or last and, having also show jumped, is the winner of 1 SJI point.

Lot 291 Viking, reg 6 yo b g 16.2hh (no recorded breeding). A very experienced conveyance, Viking has hunted with Laois, Island and East Galway hounds where he is happy to go anywhere in the field. He is exceptionally brave across country, and delivered a clear round at the Kildare performance hunter show.

Lot 312 Ballybucks Grandpa, reg 5 yo gr g 16.1hh by Clooncauneen Grandpa out of Ballybuck Diamond (Spriggan). By an Irish Draught sire and with a damline going back to Diamond Lad, this fully warranted gelding was placed in Balmoral and the RDS in the four-year-old old working hunter classes. He has show jumped to 1.05m level, and enjoyed a season’s hunting as a three-year-old.

Lot 323 Percy, reg 10 yo b g 16hh by Kilberan Mike out of Miniore Silver Lady (Silver Banner). Quiet in all respects, the very experienced Percy hunted with the Killinick Harriers for five seasons, and carried the Master for one.

Lot 1111 Hollyrock Danny Boy, reg 5 yo ch g 168cms by Mountain Diamond out of Biggars Crest (Sea Crest). One from the supplementary catalogue, this Irish Draught gelding headed the four and five-year-old performance ID class at Balmoral show earlier this year and clocked up several further wins and championships. Having also hunted, he has a bright future ahead of him.

Four-year-olds

Lot 415 Tinnascolly Magic, reg 4 yo b g 17.2hh by HHS Cornet out of Cullintra Holly (Capo Est). A high class ridden show horse in the making, this gelding was placed third in the prestigious All-Ireland three-year old Championship at Bannow and Rathanagan Show last year, and was placed second in the middle/heavy weight class at the RDS. A super mover with a jump to match, he should be backed by time of sale.

Lot 436 Lissatava King, reg 4 yo bl g 16.1hh by Echo King out of Lissatava Rebel (Creevagh Grey Rebel). Fully warranted, and already well hunted, this gelding has followed the Tipperary, Scarteen, Wexford and Golden Vale foxhounds. Always finding a fifth leg, he is an easy ride and very good across all country.

Lot 453 MBF Killoran, reg 4 yo b g 16.1hh by Lagans OBOS Quality out of Killoran Amanda (Cabriole). One from regular sale topping vendors, the smart Killoran has competed at training shows and is quiet in all respects. An attractive, good moving gelding with bloodlines going back to Clover Hill, he is a likely top-class jumper or an event horse.

Lot 472 Quarrycrest Crusader, reg 4 yo ch g 16.1hh by Ringfort Cruise out of Quarrycrest Moon Dance (Beach Ball). From a top producer, this well related gelding has competed in training shows and schooled cross country. A likely competitive event horse, he is out of a half-sister to the WEG event team gold medallist Quarrycrest Echo (Piggy French), as well as to Quarrycrest Reflection who jumped on both the Italian and Norwegian Junior Nations Cup squads.

Lot 513 Caragh Lizzo, reg 4 yo b f 16.2hh by Vivant Van De Heffinck out of See The Light (Limmerick). A fully warranted filly with a good temperament, Lizzo is a half-sister to the American-based show jumper Caraghs Quality Lady (1.50m) ridden by Shane Sweetnam. She has competed in a few shows this summer, and looks an ideal prospect for either show jumping or eventing.

Lot 540 Unnamed, reg 4 yo br g 166cms by Ganesh Hero out of Janis B (Radolin). A well-bred youngster, this fully warranted gelding has competed in training shows. His five-year-old half-brother Seafield Celt competed in the RDS young event horse finals earlier this month, while another half- sibling, MBF Celtic Claddagh, won the four-year-old national show jumping championship in RDS 2021, before progressing to realise €49,000 at the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale.

Michael Donohoe & Sons

Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny.

Telephone: 059-9775145 Fax 059-9775541

Email: info@goresbridge.com

Web: www.irishhorse.com

Date: September 4th - 11th 2024

Week one – September 4th - 6th 2024.

Time: 10.30am

Wednesday: Connemara ponies (95-175) and ponies (1-94) plus supplementary sheet.

Thursday: Horses: Five-year-olds and upwards.

Friday: Four-year-olds.

Total lots week one: 580 lots (including supplementary catalogue).

Top Lot Week One 2023: Sarah McClelland’s RRS Joe, five-year-old gelding by Lancelot (dam by Colin Diamond) €18,000.