Sally Parkyn
HEADING into its third sale of the year, next week’s dispersal at Goresbridge offers a catalogue of 476 lots, an increase of 25 from last year. The sale runs over three days and opens with a strong selection of ponies (65), as well as the first batch of older performers.
Among the former are a sizeable collection of ridden Connemara ponies, many of which carry attractive form.
Horses from all spheres and abilities fill the older age category and standing out are a number of very well-related mares. Among these is the beautifully-bred ABC Liberty Belle, who hails from one of the most commercial families of 2015. This trend follows through to the four and three-year-old sectors who complete the sale on Thursday.
Looking at the stallion lists, it is interesting to note the presence of the traditional sires. While Ars Vivendi (Hols) heads the index with eight progeny forward, Loughehoe Guy (ISH) is also prominent with seven. Womanizer (KWPN) is next in line, followed by Captain Clover (ISH), Lancelot (KWPN), OBOS Quality (OLD), Puissance (ISH), Rebel Mountain (ID) and Young Carrabawn (ID) all with five apiece.
PONIES
With the summer fast approaching, the demand for ponies will be at its highest. As a result those with current form will command a premium and among them are:
Lot 17 Aaron’s Echo, reg 6 yo gr g 148cms by Ashfield Echo I Love You out of Killoughters Rose (by Rathcoona Cove). One of a number of performance Connemaras to hold entries, this fully warranted gelding is the winner of 40 (recorded) SJI points to date. He is currently competing up to and including 1.10m classes and is thought to have the ability to go to the top.
Lot 19 Ballville Lady, reg 7 yo gr m 148cms by Gloves Bobby out of Ashbrook Heron (by Tulira Robuck). Only for sale as she is outgrown, Ballville Lady has a career total of 38 SJI points. Successful in the show ring and with the movement to event, this fully-approved Class 1 mare will also have broodmare potential once her competitive days are over.
Lot 38 Cregduff Barney, reg 6 yo gr g 148cms by Currachmore Cashel out of Misty Island (by Island Lad). Another fully warranted performer, this gelding was lightly shown last year. He headed his Connemara working hunter class at Athlone, and was placed second in the potential class at Clifden. Very good across the country, he is thought to be an exciting prospect for the RDS either as a performance pony, a worker or a jumper.
Lot 57 Little Magic Sparrow, reg 6 yo ro m 148cms by Moores Clover (dam by Fleminsfirth). This good-moving, event-type pony has gained four top six placings under EI rules. In addition, she has won 6 SJI points, and has hunted with the Wexford and the Bree hounds for two seasons.
COMPETITION HORSES
Lot 140 Heracruis, reg 7 yo gr m 163cms by Albano out of Kingsaway Cruise (by Cruising). The winner of 48 SJI points to date, the dam of this mare is a half-sister to the top 160m show jumper Heracross, now in America with Paris Sellon.
Lot 165 Pembrook Flight, reg 9 yo bl m by Concorde out of River Valley (by Cavalier Royale). This fully warranted show jumper has competed up to 1.35m and is the winner of 110 SJI points. As a younger horse she was placed in numerous age qualifiers and was placed fourth in her only outing (EI 100) under EI rules.
Lot 218 Waikato Ko, reg 13 yo b m 170cms . Those looking for a school master may like Waikato Ko, a mare with a wealth of form. An intermediate event horse, she has 30 EI points and 23 SJI points, won in classes up to CCI* and to 1.30m levels Fully warranted, she has been in the same home for seven years and has been hunted and shown in working hunters. She is safe and consistent and completed Blair Castle CCI* in 2014.
Lot 309 Springhill Casanova, reg 5 yo b g 170cms by Womanizer out of Clover Lightening (Clover Hill). One for the future, Springhill Casanova is the winner of 18 SJI points to date. Fully warranted he is ready to continue his show jumping career or could also event.
HUNTERS &
ALL-ROUNDERS
Lot 92 Frank, reg 5 yo b g 170cms by Clover Brigade out of Grantstown Millie (by Flagmount King). This traditionally-bred hunter has followed the Woodstown and the Waterford hounds for the past two seasons. He will go first or last and is considered a good prospect for a huntsman.
Lot 145 Grey Mountain Star, reg 6 yo gr g 155cms by Rebel Mountain out of Sadie Grey (by Sammys Pride). Although not over-big, this full Irish Draught took top-three placings in all his ridden hunter classes and was crowned supreme champion at Borris-in-Ossory. An ideal first horse, he has hunted with the Kildare and South County Dublin hounds.
Lot 157 Clohamon Bouncer, reg 8 yo gr g 175cms by Grange Bouncer out of Grantstown Millie (by Flagmount King). A sibling to Lot 92, this fully warranted performer has whipped-in for four seasons with the Island foxhounds. He has also hunted with the Bree and Wicklow foxhounds, and is ridden by a lady in the field.
PERFORMANCE MARES
Lot 90 ABC Liberty Belle, reg 6 yo b m 163cms by Numero Uno out of Arctic Diamond (Diamond Lad). The winner of 9 SJI points to date, this smartly bred mare is a half-sister to the grade A show jumper and broodmare Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser. She is also a half-sister to Cloneen Diamond, dam of the international show jumper Coolgrange Cruising, and is from the immediate family of the international performer ABC Quantum Cruise, and ABC Private Jet who realised €40,000 at auction last year.
Lot 128, reg 5 yo b m 160cms by Lord Noble out of Felicity’s Pride. This well-bred mare is a full-sister to the three-star international event horse Viscount George, who is currently listed for the Italian squad for Olympic Games 2016. Also a full-sister to Pride of Tredstep, who with Aiden Keogh, represented Ireland at WBFSH world event championships in Lion D’Angers, both in 2014 and 2015.
Lot 159 Coolrock Dark Light, reg 5 yo b m 168cms by Vechta out of Dark Glow (Cavclo). Well related, this mare is from the direct maternal line of A Touch Imperious, who was a member of the winning British Nations Cup team in Odense (2014).
Lot 167, reg 5 yo ch m 163cms by VDL Arkansas out of Rocks Imp (by Master Imp). From a very good family, this mare is a half-sister to the grade C jumper and broodmare Stardust Sadie. Dam is half-sister to Ballingowan Pizazz who was on the winning American team at the Pan Am Games in 2011 and also to Shannondale Titan who completed the CCI**** at Badminton in 2014 and 2015.
Lot 303, reg 5 yo b m 163cms by Ars Vivendi out of Glanduff Diamond (by Diamond Lad). A half-sister to the grade A jumpers LCC Diamond Dazzler and Diamond Lux, as well as the American-based Ohio. Also a full-sibling to the promising Boleybawn Trendy.
FOUR &
THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Lot 353 Ballymurphy Alice, reg 4 yo b f 168cms by Cougar out of Ballymurphy Clover Nellie (by Clover Hill). This filly has already clocked up three SJI points to date. Very well-related, she is a sibling to the grade B show jumper Ballymurphy Rose, while her dam is a sister to the top show jumpers Shannondale and Mrs Quinn.
Lot 393, reg 4 yo b g 170cms by Chippison out of Veras Girl (by Nigrasine). This high class, home-bred prospect is out of a half-sister to the American based, three-star event horse Ballingowan Ginger.
Lot 424, reg 4 yo ch f 168cms by Kroongraaf out of Rubys Rossgavan Flight (by Laughtons Flight). This youngster is competing at training shows and is a half-sister to BGS Class Affair (Maria Byrne) who represented Ireland at Le Lion D’Angers in 2015.
Lot 460, reg 3 yo b g 165cms by Lancelot out of Night Fly (by Malt Striker). This promising three-year-old is a half-brother to KBS July Johnson, who was placed third in the five-year-old Flexible national championship at the RDS last year. Also to the British-based intermediate event horse The Night Traveller and the younger Quality Night.
Lot 466, Ballyvadd Calico, reg 3 yo g 168cms by Cabriole out of Ballyvadd Cruise (by Bahrain Cruise). The attractively related gelding will be suitable for any branch of equestrian sport. He is a half-brother to several up and coming performers, while a sister to the dam is the good amateur show jumper Countess Rock.
MICHAEL DONOHOE & SONS.
Address: Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny.
Telephone: 0599775145 Fax 0599775541
Email: goresbridgesales@tinet.ie
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: May 10th-12th, 2016
Time: Tuesday, 11am, ponies and older horses; Wednesday, 11am, older horses; Thursday, 11am, four-year-olds and three-year-olds.
Total lots: 476
Last year’s top lot: Noel Ryan’s 5 yo ch m by Luidam (dam by Cruising), €16,000