IT is the turn of the store horses at Goresbridge next week, where around 500 three-year-olds will come under the hammer over three days.
Always an important date in the calendar for private buyers and pin hookers alike, the sale also gives a traditional benchmark for the subsequent foal sales in October.
The stout catalogue features blacktype pedigrees in abundance, both for the show jumping and eventing disciplines. Among them are siblings to numerous five-star performers, as well as a close relative to the Olympic event horses Cooley Nutcracker and Master Crusoe.
Certainly, most of the influential sires are well represented and, repeating his feat of 12 months ago, it is the Kennedy brothers’ Vivant Van de Heffinck who leads the way. With 20 lots forward, he is a distance from nearest challenger Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet (12), while table newcomers Grand Cru Vd Vijf Eiken and SIEC Livello have 11 apiece.
Monday
Lot 753 Clifden Sally, reg 3 yo b f 16hh by Wido out of Clifden Belle (Grafenstolz). This very well-related filly is out of a sibling to no less than four international event horses, including the New Zealand and Irish squad Nations Cup horse Katchafire (CCI4*), the Irish representative BT Angelo (CCI4*), as well as Day By Day (CCI3*) and Climate Change (CCI3*).
Lot 754 MCG Carrow Kanntic, reg 3 yo b g 16.2hh by Faltic HB out of Carrow Kannan (Kannan). Hailing from a stout jumping family, this gelding is a sibling to the grade A jumper Carrow Cornet, as well as the promising British-based youngster MCG Carrow Cornet. Adding depth, the second dam Castle Flame Girl is a former winner of the six-year-old championship year at the RDS.
Lot 794 Hesh Grand Illusion, reg 3 yo b g by Grand Cru VD Vijf Eiken out of CBS Quinndified (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet). An exceptionally well-related youngster, whose dam is a sister to CBS Khamtastic (1.60m), while the second dam was the top-class Mrs Quinn (1.60m). Others in the immediate family include Shannondale (1.60m), Carroll’s Flight (1.60m), Diamond Saturn (1.40m) etc.
Lot 799 Shannondale Orion, reg 3 yo b f 15.3hh by Canturex out of Shannondale One (Shannondale Sarco). A stoutly-related half-sister to the event horses Shannondale Arnold (CCI4*), ridden by Tom McEwen, and Shannondale Olga. Also bearing an illustrious black pedigree, which features Rioghan Rua (CCI5*) and many others.
Lot 805 Cookstown Echo, reg 3 yo gr g 16.3hh by SIEC Livello out of Princess Ava (Clover Echo). Bred to perform, this gelding is a half-sibling to Cookstown Quidam (1.45m), My Special Lauren (1.35m), HK Canello (1.35m), Cookstown Hero (1.35m) and with many younger progeny coming through the ranks.
Lot 808 DHF Symphony, reg 3 yo b f 15.3hh by Castlefield Kingston out of KHH Emerald Isle (Emerald). A half-brother to the American-based KHH Cooley (1.30m), while the second dam HHS Pinky performed at 1.60m level and has bred Z7 Pink Panther (1.55m). Also from the direct family of Quarryquest Echo (CCI5*), Quarryquest Reflection (1.50m) etc.
Lot 811 Stay Cool, reg 3 yo b f 16.1hh by Coolkeeran out of MHS Acrobat (Quidam Junior). Out of a half-sister to the European young rider gold medallist and 1.60m show jumper MHS La Scala, as well as to the Lanaken silver medallist Ballypatrick Mystique, this filly boasts a strong and immediately recognisable maternal line.
Lot 812 Tullibards What About Yeh, reg 3 yo b f 16.2hh by Tullibards Bennys Legacy out of Tullibards Nightstar Cara (Carabole). A well-related half-sister to the German-based jumper Hick Up (1.45m) and a full-sibling to the promising youngster Tullibards Bennys Nightstar, who was well placed in her age classes as a four and five-year-old. The dam is a sister to the event horse Kilfinnie (CCI5*), ridden by Paul Tapner.
Lot 827 Unnamed, reg 3 yo gr g 16.2hh by Quality Time out of Rubys Rosshaven Flight (Laughtons Flight). A half-brother to the current British Open event champion Class Affair (CCI5*), ridden by Zara Tindall.
Tuesday
Lot 897 Assagart Pure Class, reg 3 yo gr g 16.2hh by Button Sitte out of My Only Hope (Big Sink Hope). Interestingly bred by the up-and-coming sire Button Sitte, this gelding is out of My Only Hope, the winner of the Breeders’ Championship at the RDS (2014 and 2017). She has already bred Assagart Grey Diamond, who is currently competing in America.
Lot 913 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b f 16hh by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Crona CR (Carmargue). Dam Crona CR (1.50m) was competed successfully by Michael Duffy and has bred the five-year-old Kilard Ice T (52 SJI points) as well as the British-based six-year-old Killard Arcadia.
Lot 945 Roger, reg 3 yo gr g 16.2hh by Pointilliste out of Slyguff Ruby (Master Imp). One of a decreasing number of thoroughbred-sired horses in the catalogue, this gelding is a full-brother to the promising six-year-old event horse Poulaphouca (Aoife Clark).
Lot 971 Doonaveeragh James, reg 3 yo b g 16.2hh by Carrera out of Doonaveeragh Amanda (Creevagh Ferro). A well-related gelding, whose dam competed to 1.40m and was placed fifth in the four-year-old finals at the RDS. Her pedigree goes back to Diamond Lad and she counts Doonaveeragh O One (1.60m) as a half-sister.
Lot 982 HS Valiant, reg 3 yo ch g 16.2hh by Valent out of HS Copperhead Cruise (Cruising). By a very sought-after sire and a dual-purpose prospect, this gelding is out of the good jumping mare HS Copperhead Cruise (1.50m), ridden by Alexander Butler.
Lot 984 Kilcorig Viviro, reg 3 yo b g 170cm by Vivant Van De Heffinck out of Kilcorig Belle (Camiro de Haar Z). A well-bred gelding with a versatile pedigree, whose dam competed to 1.40m and who is a sibling to Cooley Lafitte (CCI5*) and the America-based puissance and Derby specialist, Kilcorig Elysium.
Lot 992 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b g 16hh by HHS Cornet out of Slaney Diamond Pointilism (Pointilliste). A gelding out of a sister to the Grand Prix-winning Ballypatrick Esperanza, as well as to the Irish team event horse Master Crusoe (Aoife Clark), who was placed seventh at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Also, to the Oliver Townend-partnered Carden Imp (CCI4*).
1035 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b f 16.1hh by Castlefield Kingston out of Ballyquirke Brigade (Clover Brigade). Hailing from a stout blacktype pedigree, this filly is a half-sibling to no less than five international horses including Ballyquirke Tipp Top (1.60m), An Tonia (1.40m), as well as the event horse Agatha Raisin (Jasper Kelly), who represented Ireland in the European Young Riders event championships last weekend. Also from the immediate family of Dartans Quality Brigade (1.50m).
Wednesday
Lot 1041 Metalbridge Magnum, reg 3 yo b g 15.3hh by Cavalier Land out of Mexico Imp (Master Imp). From an old and very successful event family, this gelding is out of a sister to five international horses, including the Michael Ryan-partnered world cup event horse Master Mexico (CCI4*).
Lot 1052 Ballyshan Conthalou, reg 3 yo b g 15.3hh by Conthalou out of Ballyshan Vanessa (Verdi TN). A very smartly-bred gelding by the Conthargos-sired sire Conthalou out of a half-sister to the Paris Olympic and recent World championship event horse Cooley Nutcracker (Boyd Martin).
Lot 1062 Piltown Dignified, reg 3 yo b f 16.2hh by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of Piltown Marita (Royal Concorde). Described as having the ability to either jump or event at top level, this filly is a half-sister to Piltown Dilema (CCI3*), while the dam is a half-sibling to the American-based jumper Ballyoskill Big Bucks (1.60m).
Lot 1093 Kilcoltrim Bisou, reg 3 yo b g 16hh by Carrabis Z out of Kilcoltrim Kannareth (OBOS Quality). Half-brother to Kilcoltrim Diamond (1.45m), while the dam is a sister to the Hickstead Derby specialist and Nations Cup performer A Touch Imperious (1.60m). Carrying a very versatile pedigree, further FEI-registered siblings to the dam include Kilcoltrim Blue (1.45m) and the young event horse Kilcoltrim Cooley (CCI3*). Very topically, the recent RDS working hunter champion Kilcoltrim Imperious is also a sibling to the dam.
Lot 1121 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b g 16.1hh by Paris Blue Merelsnest out of Tisara Cruise (Cruising). Featuring a dam’s line that goes back to Clover Hill, this gelding is a half-brother to the promising CCI4* event horse Fools in Love (Hayden Hankey).
Lot 1132 Cillbhrid Duke, reg 3 yo b g 16.2hh by Dourkan Hero Z out of Waterside Star (Quickstar). One of several on offer from a regular sale-topping consigner, this exceptionally well-bred gelding is out of a full-sister to the Grand Prix-winning and London Olympic-listed Omega Star (1.55m). In addition, she is a sibling to Beer Hunter (1.60m), winner of the Hickstead speed Derby and from the direct family of the Pan American gold medallist Arctic Monkey.
Lot 1134 Borris Miss Kingston, reg 3 yo b f 15.2hh by Castlefield Kingston out of Miss Too Coole (Warrenstown U 2). Although not overly big, this filly is a half-sister to the event horse MGH Jessica (CCI4*) and to the prolific young event horse champion Borris Cornet Coole. The latter is now competing at international young horse level, having won the Eventing league championship as a four-year-old.
Michael Donohoe & Sons
Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny.
Telephone: 0599775145 Fax: 0599775541
Email: info@goresbridge.com
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: September 7th – 9th 2026
Week two
Three-year-olds.
Time: 10.30am Monday - Wednesday.
Total lots week two: 494 lots plus supplementary catalogue.
Top lot week two 2025: Frank Casey’s Unnamed three-year-old gelding by Mermus R (dam by Passion) €16,000.