MICHAEL DONOHOE & SONS.
Address: Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny.
Telephone: 059-9775145 Fax: 059-9775541
Email: goresbridgesales@tinet.ie
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: December 4th, Connemara ponies and Irish Draughts, 1pm; December 5th, Performance Sale., 11am.
Total lots: Performance sale, 160 lots; Connemara and Irish Draughts, 76 lots.
Last year’s top lots: Performance Sale, Vincent Meaney’s g by Rockrimmon Robusticus out of Kilnoe Princess €5,000, John and Julia Crosbie’s 3 yo by Stormhill Miller out of Fox Rock €5,000 and Mary Griffin’s 3 yo g by Womanizer €5,000; Connemara Sale, Sharon Fitton’s 3 yo g by Maam Hero, 2,600; Irish Draught sale, Seamus Merrigan’s Clogeen Twilight, 7 yo m by Dunkerrin Grey Mist out of Pomander, €4,000.
NEXT week’s two-day mixed sale brings the sales year at Goresbridge to a close. Connemara ponies and Irish Draught horses will fill Thursday’s trading, while Friday’s renewal of performance horses and ponies precedes the regular monthly sale on Saturday.
The overall catalogue of 236 shows a sizeable increase from last year’s equivalent fixture and contains a number of interesting and commercial entries. Fully warranted hunters stand out in the sport horse sector, while the younger divisions offer several well-related prospects and some with promising form. In the native breed sectors, the entry is varied, but again a few carry some attractive bloodlines and current form.
With five progeny on offer, Ars Vivendi (5) heads the sport horse stallion list, while the leaders in the specialist divisions are the Irish Draught sires Bellews Mate and Fast Silver (4) and the Connemara Burning Daylight.
PONIES
Lot 1 Deerpark Sugrue, reg 5 yo pal g 148cms. The first of just seven ponies holding entries is Deerpark Sugrue, a young gelding with promising form. Described as suitable to carry either a novice or an experienced rider, he jumped at Millstreet on two occasions this year. A good all-rounder, he has also schooled across country, taken part in charity rides and hunted.
Lot 6 Abbeyward Blackie, reg 12 yo b g 148cms. Those seeking a quiet family cob may be interested in Abbeyward Blackie, who is fully warranted in every way. Regularly ridden on the roads and beaches, he is ready to continue in his work.
HUNTERS
Lot 8 Coady, reg 5 yo gr g 168cms by Gurrane Golden Eye out of Ballyfolan Princess (by Chairmaker). One from a very strong catalogue of proven hunters is Coady, a traditionally-bred gelding with warranted form. Well hunted with the Kill Harriers for two seasons, he will take his place both in the field and up front, and is very brave.
Lot 21, Simon, reg 6 yo b g 170cms by Heigh Ho Dubh out of Sali (by Samiel). This fully warranted hunter could suit anyone seeking a big horse. He has turned out with the Golden Vale for two and a half seasons, and will take his place either at the front or at the rear of the field. He has led a pony whilst hunting and has proven agile over banks and fences.
Lot 48 Eye Down, reg 9 yo b g 173cms by Touchdown out of Clover Pearl (by Clover Hill). The winner of 11 SJI points, this upstanding gelding has hunted with the South Westmeath and North Kildare Farmers hounds for four seasons. He will cross any country and is thought likely to make a good master’s horse.
COMPETITION HORSES
Lot 17 Garrybritt Calvin, reg 9 yo b g 163cms by Tannerhofs Carmelito out of Carmina (by Priamos). A former graduate of the Tattersalls Elite event sale, this gelding is the winner of pre-novice events at Ballinamona and Kilguilkey in 2011. He hasn’t competed this year due to his rider’s exam commitments but jumps up to 1.20m level and is thought to be exceptionally capable.
Lot 20 Glenduff Lad, reg 5 yo gr g 160cms by Rineen Clover out of Glenduff Lass (by Big Sink Hope). This all-rounder has competed in a wide range of activities including hunter trials, pony club and training shows. He has hunted with the Limerick Harriers for two seasons, and has taken part in inter-schools show jumping.
Lot 44 Maxi, reg 5 yo b m 165cms by Coevers Diamond Boy out of Wexford Millennium Diamond (by Harlequin Du Carel). Carrying a prolific winning pedigree, this well-related mare has seen hounds and has competed at training shows. Her dam is a half-sister to the four-star event horse The Wexford Lady, and is from the immediate family of both Rodney Powell’s Burghley CCI**** partner Liquid Ice and the international show jumper Shalom Hall.
Lot 56 GRC Trooper, reg 8 yo b g 165cms by VDL Douglas out of Topprage (by Horage). GRC Trooper has gained 15 SJI points in classes up to 1.20m level. A likely event type, he is a full brother to Mullaghea Miss Douglas (102 SJI points) and was selected for the Go For Gold sale in 2012.
Lot 61, reg 5 yo b g 168cms by Carrick Diamond Lad out of Clover Finest (by Clover Hill). Siblings of this lot include an American-based event horse and an international show jumper. This traditionally-bred gelding looks to have a bright future in either sphere.
Lot 71 Prince Chapman, reg 8 yo sk g 155cms. This show cob headed his class (working hunter cob section) at Charleville show this year. Well campaigned, he has hunted on numerous occasions and has safely completed the Athlacca ride clear on two occasions. Fully warranted, he is described as being safe across any country.
Lot 86 Littlewood Lancer, reg 10 yo b m 168cms by Lancer out of Doreen (by Dunhill). German-bred, this useful mare has clocked up 125 SJI points in classes up to 1.20m level. Thought ideal for an amateur or a young rider, she won this year’s 1.10m open derby at the AIRC national championships. Described as very honest, she was also placed second in the national 1.10m championship at Mullingar, and placed fourth in the amateur qualifier at Boswell in July.
THREE & FOUR YEAR OLDS.
Lot 116 Clinstown Annie, reg 4 yo b f 168cms by Z Wellie 72 out of Clinstown Lady (by Embla Statesman). Consigned by the stallion’s former owner, this filly has already embarked on her competitive career. Fully warranted, she has gained seven SJI points and thought suitable to contest the age classes next season.
Lot 128 Healys King Sirillo, reg 3 yo b g 165cms by Sirillo out of Derrevarragh Candle (by Candle King). This well-related individual is a half-brother to the English-based event horse Healys King Arkansas, the 1.30m show jumper Nykko and also to the grade B show jumper Glenlassie (190 SJI points). The grandam, Candra, show jumped internationally to 1.50m level, gaining 350 SJI points.
Lot 132 Sea Mojo, reg 3 yo b g by Flex A Bill out of Sea Condios Cavalier (by Condios). The only entry by the former World Cup winning show jumper Flex A Bill, this gelding is a half-brother to the promising event horse Sea Nationwide, who competed in the British breeding championships at Osberton last month.
Lot 139, reg 3 yo ch f 165cms by Quidam Jnr out of Cape May (by Diamond Serpent). Hailing from one of the countries most recognisable dam’s lines, this filly has valuable paddock value alone. She is a full sister to the recent Emerald winner MHS Automatic ridden by Greg Broderick and a half-sister to the 1.60m performer Royal Anthem. She is also from the immediate family of the international show jumper Royal Athlete.
Lot 148, reg 3 yo br g 165cms by Ars Vivendi out of Ballyglasheen Cavatina (by Cavalier Royale). Bred to perform, this gelding is a half-brother to two graded show jumpers including the promising five-year-old Seskin John.
Lot 149, reg 3 yo b g 165cms by Cavalier Royale out of MHS Harlequin Di Busted (Harlequin Du Carel). A rare young offering by Cavalier Royale, this gelding is a first foal, and is another to carry an old and very successful pedigree.
Lot 158, reg b g 3 yo 165cms by Askoll Peter Pan out of Elterali (by Cavalier Royale). From a regular sale topping consigner, this gelding is a half-brother to the international CSI*** show jumper Mirdads Boooraaq Alrahmaaan (2006).
CONNEMARA PONIES
Lot 5, Derinoghran Prince, reg 6 yo gr g 153cms by Mountain Cascade out of Meldar (by Carra Cashel). A breed winner at Killusty Show as a four and five-year-old, this performance gelding has progressed to event. He was well placed at intermediate riding club level, and has hunter trialled and show jumped. He is thought likely to be an ideal candidate for the RDS performance classes.
Lot 7, Tudor Rose, reg 5 yo mare 148cms by Oisin out of Tudor Dolly (by Templebready Fear Bui). This class 1 mare is one of the last Oisin female progeny, while her dam is by the top performance sire Templebready Fear Bui. She is a smart prospect for riding or breeding.
Lot 23, Kilclammon Shadess, reg 2 yo gr f 142cms by Springfield Shadow out of Robe Princess (by Earlson). The pick of the younger stock could be this filly, who has been successful in the show ring and filled sixth spot in the All Ireland two-year-old filly class at Ballinasloe.
IRISH DRAUGHTS
Lot 39 Coolboy Sive, reg 5 yo ch m by Sir Rivie out of Holly Oak (by Merry Mate). Well campaigned under saddle, this mare was placed second in her age class at Wicklow. She progressed to fill fifth spot in the hunter mare class at Tattersalls, and was similarly placed at the RDS. She has hunted with the Bray Harriers this season and has bred one foal.
Lot 63 Ballyocean Princess, reg 4 yo gr f 168cms by Kilcotton Cross out of Carrickrock Classic (by Attwood Black Laughton). A high-class young RID filly, Ballyocean Princess carries an appealing outcross pedigree. She is graded Class 1 and has been covered by the highly regarded thoroughbred stallion Road To Happiness.
Lot 68 Clew Bay Heather, reg 3 yo gr f 165cms by Clew Bay Bouncer out of Ballintaffy Lady (by Grosvenor Lad). This attractively-bred young filly is a full sister to Clew Bay Baroness, the All Ireland champion as a yearling, two and three-year-old. She is scanned in foal to Fast Silver.
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