Michael Donohoe & Sons
Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny.
Telephone: 0599775145
Fax: 0599775541
Email: info@goresbridge.com
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Thursday, December 4th: Show jumping ponies and ponies. 94 Lots.
Friday, December 5th: Performance Sale. 240 lots.
Saturday, December 6th: Broodmares, foals and yearlings.
Time: Day 1: 1pm.
Day 2: 10am.
Day 3: 10am.
Total lots: 536
Top Lot 2024: Cian Melia’s The Chaser, six-year-old 128cm gelding by Gladiator (dam by Gerry Got Talent) €32,000.
BRINGING a strong year’s trading to a close, Goresbridge stages its final sport horse sale at the end of next week. Running over three days, and with a catalogue of 536 lots, the mixed edition offers ponies and performance stock, as well as broodmares and foals.
While every day features a quantity of notable individuals, it is Thursday’s opening pony session that really stands out. Last year’s record-breaking top price of €32,000 has garnered added interest and, with 47 jumping ponies (and also 57 general ponies) there for sale, trade should be lively. This stand alone sale will begin showcasing at 10am and commence selling at 1pm. The organisers hope that pony riders will use the opportunity to trial the ponies, as there will be facilities (with show jumps) set up in one of the outdoor arenas.
Friday’s performance sale will be a bumper renewal and, as a result of the increased entry, the session will kick off at 10am. Saturday meanwhile focuses on breeding stock, including mares and foals, and once again will begin at the earlier time of 10am.
Show jumping ponies
Lot 1 Castlefield Misty, reg 10 yo b m 128cm. Kicking off a high-class selection with a good one, this fully-warranted and life-measured pony has a career total of 420 SJI points. In the same home for three years, she has given her young jockey confidence to move from 70cm to 1m level, and has similarly given the same fun on the hunting field.
Lot 5 Kestrals Strawberry Bon Bon, reg 7 yo sk m 128cm. Another from the smallest height group, this mare has carried her current rider to Grade A ranking in just two years. The winner of 252 SJI points, she has won numerous classes including Interschools, Munster Arena Eventing 70s league in 2024 and qualified for the National championships in Mullingar both this year and last.
Lot 11 Grantstown In It To Win. reg 5 yo gr g 128cm. Described as a top candidate for the RDS six/seven-year-olds next season, this young pony has already clocked up 100 SJI points. The winner of the 128cm Pony Discovery class at Millstreet, he was also placed in the top five of the Mullingar equivalent.
Lot 22 Rossdarragh Clashreagh Sia, reg 7 yo gr m 148cm by Rossdarragh Hip Hop out of Rossdarragh Faye (Garrison Royale). This low mileage jumping pony has competed to 1.10m level to win 34 SJI points. Sadly for sale as her rider has outgrown her, she is a very scopey individual and one destined for the top tracks with further production.
Lot 27 Cushlough Queen, reg 8 yo cr m 148cm by Earlson out of Cong Rebel Lady (Honey Dew Hazel). A stand out cremello mare, Cushlough Queen has a career total of 239 SJI points. Life measured, she is described as talented, willing, scopey, brave and honest.
Lot 42 Grantstown Dazzle, reg 7 yo b m 148cm by Mermus R out of Grantstown Razzle Dazzle. This athletic performer has accrued 220 SJI points won in classes up to 1.30m. A winner of the Boomerang classes and RDS qualified last year, he is a pony with a bright future.
Ponies
Lot 67 Corbeagh Jane, reg 6 yo b/d g 14.2hh by Ballygarris Dun Shadow out of Rocklands Princess (Rocklands Prince). A Class 1 chocolate dun Connemara gelding, described as a great all-rounder suitable for any job.
Lot 80 Bracklin Christy, reg 11 yo gr g 14.1hh. A fully-warranted all-rounder, Christy has competed in a variety of disciplines and has hunted for three seasons with the South Westmeath hounds. An ideal second pony, he has always been handled and ridden by children.
Lot 87 Blakehill Majestic, reg 7 yo b g 14.2hh by Cnocban Casanova out of Gloves Doreen (Coosheen Stormboy). A top-level Class 1 Connemara gelding with competitive form in working hunter classes and M&M classes both in the UK and Ireland.
FRIDAY
Performance sale
Lot 100 My Queen of Diamonds, reg 7 yo gr m 15.2hh by Keamore Diamond Clover out of Roundwood Rose (Gortlea Ruler). For traditionalists and Irish Draught enthusiasts, this mare has competition form at both the RDS and Balmoral, as well as at training shows and riding club.
Lot 111 Orestus Diamond, reg 8 yo b m 16.1hh by Orestus Hollow out of Ariels Diamond (Guidam). A fully-warranted, versatile performer with 15 SJI points to date. A real all-rounder, she has taken part in pony club activities, an RDS qualifier for combined training and has hunted.
Lot 145 Limestone Harley Time, reg 12 yo b g by Harlequin du Carel out of Kyle Mist (Try Time). Described as the perfect schoolmaster for a rider looking to progress to 1.30m level or regional Grand Prix, this gelding is the winner of 227 SJI points. A true gentleman to handle and a real confidence builder, he has already helped numerous riders transition from ponies to horses and climb the ranks.
Lot 150 Phil Flight, reg 5 yo gr m 15.2hh by Phil VD Wezelse out of Ardenteggle Flight (Errigal Flight). Although not overly big, this beautifully-bred mare has competed in hunter trials, training shows and pony club. Carrying a top pedigree, her grade A jumping dam was a former national six-year-old champion who also competed in Lanaken. Counting as siblings meanwhile, are the event horse Boleybawn Aristocrat (CCI4*) and Boleybawn Corbell dam of Boleybawn Freedom (CCI3*) and others.
Four-year-olds
Lot 205 Livello, reg 4 yo b f 16.2hh by SIEC Livello out of Greenacres Orestus (Orestus). Well-related, out of a sister to the CCI3* event horse Greenacres Trumps, this filly is easy in every way and should have a big future ahead of her.
Lot 220 Killerisk Our Tadgh, reg 4 yo b g 16.1hh by HHS Cornet out of Killerisk Sarah (Harlequin du Carel). The winner of 4 SJI points to date, this gelding is out of a sibling to the Grand Prix winning Killerisk Can Ya, as well as a further three graded performers, while the second dam attained 105 SJI points.
Lot 238 Pele, reg 4 yo b g 16.1hh by Lagans OBOS Quality out of Curraghgraigue Vella Erri (Errigal Flight). An offering from a regular sale-topping vendor, this gelding has competed at training shows. An attractive, kind blood-type individual, he shows the potential for any branch of equestrian sport.
Lot 249 Grantstown Lucky Luck, reg 4 yo b f 16.1hh by Lucky Luck out of Grantstown Deise Queen (Luidam). Probably the pick of the age group, Grantstown Lucky Luck has a career total of 15 SJI points. Well-related, the second dam was the successful Children on Horses mare Grantstown Charmer, while the multiple Grand Prix winning Harristown Princess also features in the immediate pedigree.
Three-year-olds
Lot 271 Kilcannon Surprise, reg 3 yo b f by Bravour VDL out of ESI Amazing Grace (Quidam Junior). Featuring an exceptionally strong damline, this filly is out of a half-sister to the event horses ESI Baltic Breeze (CCI4*) and Monbeg Senna (CCI5*). Adding further blacktype depth, the second dam is a sibling to the Olympic jumper MHS Going Global, as well as to MHS Everything (1.50m), MHS High Hopes (1.6m) and MHS King Joules (CCI5*).
Lot 274 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b g by Hiello out of Tullabeg B (Ramiro B). A well-related half-brother to Tullabeg Flynn (1.50m), as well as to the Aoife Clark-ridden event horse Monbeg Ainslie.
Lot 289 Spink Christo, reg 3 yo ch g 16.1hh by Clonaslee Captain Cristo out of Spink Princess (Shenandoah Prince Holly). This gelding counts the highly-rated British-based event horse Spink Piloth 11 as a half-brother, and also the smart seven-year-old jumper Spink Piloth.
Lot 297 Balief Bisschop, reg 3yo gr g 16.1hh by Saxon VD Bisschop out of HHS All Diamond (Aldato). Stoutly bred, the dam competed to 1.35m and has already produced the American-based event horse MBF Balief, as well as the six-year-old jumper Balief Capri (106 SJI points) and the younger Balief QT. The second dam meanwhile is the Grand Prix jumper Craven A (1.50m), who is a sibling to Double O Seven (1.60m), Clover Z (1.50m) and HHS Geneva (1.50m).
Lot 321 Newmarket Emma, reg 3 yo bl f 16.2hh by Contendro out of Newmarket Annie (Newmarket Venture). Out of a full-sister to top event horse Annie Clover (CCI5*), as well as to Newmarket Patriot, winner of the Breeders’ Classic five-year-old championship in 2021 and Gurtera Jimmy Clover (CCI3*L).
SATURDAY
Mares
Lot 415 Obolensky of Boherdeel, reg 13 yo gr m 16.2hh by Corland out of Ulani-M (Quickstar). A chance to buy into a well-bred mare, who is in foal to Call Me Number One.
Lot 419 Destine To Be, reg 7 yo b m 16.2hh by Luidam out of Little Miss Darco (Darco). Top quality young broodmare scanned in foal to Emerald Van’t Ruytershof and with a dam’s line going back to Darco, Cavalier Royale and Cruising.
Yearlings and foals
Lot 408 Sumas Season, reg 1 yo br g by Four Seasons out of Sumas Liza With A Z (Castlefield Cornet). The pick of the yearlings could be Sumas Season, who is out of a half-sister to the talented young eventer Sumas Tina Turner (bronze medallist in Lion D’Angers) and also to Sumas Knockout (1.50m).
Lot 425 Cushinstown Cruising, reg b f f by Caracas out of Cavalier Cushinstown Cruis (Cavalier Royale). A sibling to Solsboro Zeus, winner of the Joseph Widger Cup at the RDS in 2024, as well as to this year’s yearling champion in Balmoral.
Lot 428 Unnamed, reg ch c f by Count On Me out of Shes Diaz (Diamond Roller). An athletic individual out of a full-sister to Cooley Cross Border (CCI5*) and Midnight Rollercoaster (CCIO4*).
Lot 465 Casparelle, reg gr f f by Caspar 232 out of Badjari (Skippy). Out of a 1.35m jumping mare and by an Olympic jumping sire, this filly is a sibling to Mentolado, winner of the Maryville DAFM five-year-old final. The maternal pedigree also features Akita (1.55m), Ushar (1.50m) and Wingo Plffitco (1.50m).
Lot 512 Whitehall The Imperial March, reg bl c f by Sligo Candy Boy out of Cloongoona Delight (Castlelawn Captain Junior). Already a big winner in the show ring, this colt was crowned champion colt foal in both Athenry and Athlone Shows and qualified for the ISA All-Ireland Colt Foal Championship Final. Dam is an ISH Select mare who jumped to 1.20m before injury ended her career.