FOR the past two years the March renewal at Goresbridge has produced some high-end returns, and with an attractive catalogue of around 250 lots, next week’s sale looks likely to be similar.
Certainly the content appears to be a strong one, and standing out are a quantity of proven competition horses, as well as a good variety of fully warranted riding horses and hunters. Numbering over 50, the young horses should also make an impact, as the pin-hookers begin to fill their quota for the season ahead.
Many of the commercial stallions are included in the list covering sires, which is headed numerically by the popular dual-purpose sire Ars Vivendi. The Ballymureen Stud inmate has five progeny forward, while the prolific OBOS Quality has four.
Others to feature with three on offer are the thoroughbreds Dilshan, Nazar and Watermill Swatch as well as Castlecomer Q, Ringwood Harley Carol, Lancelot, Lux Z, Mermus R, and Pacino.
PONIES
Lot 15 Hint of Gold, reg 5yo dun m 14.2hh by Fortrane Stuart (dam by Roman Night). From a regular sale-topping vendor, this fully warranted mare has hunted with the Kill and Dungarvan Harriers for one season. In addition, she is very good to jump, has competed in training shows and pony club activities and thought likely to excel in any sphere.
Lot 22 Eileens Bnachaill, reg 4yo gr g 148cms by Glencarrig Prince out of Miss Joyce (Boden Park Finnard). This high-class youngster was broken last year and will have competed in training shows up to the time of sale. He is a correct model and is considered to have the makings of a smart show and working hunter prospect.
Lot 31 Blue, reg 12yo ro g 148cms. Blue has been in the same home for five years and is the winner of 140 SJI points to date. Fully warranted, this athletic performer has also hunter trialled and taken part in pony club activities.
COMPETition HORSES
Lot 45 Sumas Kapachino, reg 5yo b g 17.2hh by Pacino out of Killossery Kiara by VDL Arkansas. One of the last crop from the Nations Cup sire Pacino, this well-related gelding is out of a half-sister to the top show jumpers Killossery, Killossery Kruisette and several others. He has been taken slowly due to his size and thought likely to develop into an excellent performer.
Lot 46 reg 5yo b g 173cms by Puissance out of Vieuwerke (KWPN) by Oklund. One for the showmen could be Bloomfield Badger, a four-year-old hunter winner at Balmoral and the RDS last year. He is showing a talent to jump and is a potentially top-class working hunter.
Lot 49 Ballymountain Cash Crisis, reg 12yo b m 170cms by My O My out of Limerick Pest by Flagmount Diamond. A fully warranted schoolmaster with 282 SJI points, Cash Crisis is an ideal ride for an amateur, young rider or for the children on horses classes. Last year he was placed fourth at the RDS (children on horses) and looks suitable to take a young rider through the ranks. He has also hunter trialled, pony clubbed and hunted with the Carberry hounds.
Lot 55 Ballyogan Vivendi, reg 9yo b g 16.3hh by Ars Vivendi out of Kinelowen. This is another fully warranted, experience individual, with 12 SJI points. Ridden by an 18-year-old girl, he is currently show jumping to 1.20m level and perfect for a young rider or an amateur.
Lot 97 Shanagore Westies Countess, reg 6yo gr m by West Coast Cavalier out of Mission Belle by Gone Fishin. A smart competition mare, Westie has evented and show jumped. She has been placed second and fourth at EI90 level, and ready to progress through the grades.
Lot 136 Luxury Moss, reg 7yo b g 16.3hh by Lux Z out of April Moss by Clover Valley. This good moving gelding is the winner of 19 SJI points to date. He was double clear in two EI100 events (unrecorded) and is ready to progress further.
Lot 155 Kishavanna Cascade, reg 8yo gr g 153cms by Laerkens Cascade Dawn out of Kishavanna Fiona by Monaghanstown Fionn. From the producers of the British-based international event pony Bramblebrough Eoghan, this experienced Connemara is the winner of 3 SJI points. In addition, he has hunted with the Island foxhounds for several seasons, he is a winner and placed affiliated show jumping, arena eventing, performance and working hunter classes. He is sold with a winning qualification and an M and M working hunter (1m) entry for the Northern Ireland festival at the Cavan Equestrian 2018.
Lot 169 Excalibur M2S, reg 5yo b g 168cms by Desir du Chateau out of Emerald Cruising M2S by Cruising. Hailing from a good dam’s line, Excalibur closely relates to the international showjumper Hilton Clover (Clem McMahon) and Mr. Cawley.
Lot 190 Lady Mumbai, reg 9yo ch m 16.2hh by Creggan Emperor out of Darragh Supreme Vision by Supreme Ginger. This class 1 RID mare is the winner of 81 SJI points to date, winning the amateur derby at Cavan in 2016. Described as a schoolmistress for a beginner or a nervous rider, she has also successfully evented under EI rules and hunted for three seasons. Very versatile, she was placed runner up in the ID performance class at the RDS last year, was placed sixth in the working hunter at the same venue and has numerous other wins and placings under her belt.
WELL-RELATED
COMPETITION MARES
Lot 42 Kings Joy, reg 9yo b m 16.1hh by Cavalier Two For Joy out of Garveys Girl (unrecorded). This fully warranted mare has been ridden by an amateur and carries a consistent record of 62 SJI points in classes up to 1.10m. Well related, she is a half-sister to the John Floody and Gerard Clarke Jnr-ridden Grand Prix show jumper Kings Best (1160 SJI points), and four other registered performers.
Lot 66 Cino Star, reg 5yo b m 16.2hh by Pacino out of Five Star Clover by Clover Hill. This attractively bred mare is ready to produce further. Well-related, she is a half-sister to the useful Grand Prix gelding Five Star Quality (1.35m) ridden by Gemma Phelan and also Poppy du Carel.
Lot 93 Diamond Infinity, reg 5yo b m by Cassino out of Ryehill Diamond by Diamond Lad. Featuring Diamond Lad as the dam’s sire, this well-bred mare has show jumped to win 22 SJI points to date. She is a sibling to the grade A show jumper Diamond Graaf, while her dam is sister to Nations Cup horse Gerrys Fancy. Looks to be a good prospect for her age classes this season.
Lot 172 Gorsehill Genie, reg 5yo gr m 16.1hh by BGS Ocean View out of Gorsehill Gabi by French Buffet. This traditionally-bred mare carries the bloodlines of Cruising and Master Imp. Well-related, she is the first foal out of Gorsehill Gabi, who is a half-sister to Gorsehill Star (CIC3*), Gorsehill Echo and Gorsehill Cooley (CIC1*).
HUNTERS
Lot 51 Jack For Joy, reg 9yo br g 170cms by Cavalier Two For Joy out of Bonmahon Oyster by Bonmahon Decies. This versatile performer has hunted with the Galway Blazers for three full seasons. Fully warranted, he has carried the joint-master at the front of the field but is equally happy to be at the back. He is a careful jumper, has established flatwork, and is good enough to also event or show.
Lot 56. Blackjack, reg 5yo bl g 15.2hh by Cherokee King. For those looking for a smaller conveyance, Blackjack has hunted with the Kildare, South Westmeath, North Kildare and Carlow Farmers Foxhounds. An easy ride, he will cross any country and has whipped-in with the South Westmeath hounds.
THREE AND
FOUR-YEAR-OLDS
Lot 206 Lissacreasig Brook, reg 4yo bl f 16.3hh by Chippison out of Clovers Optimist by Clover Hill. Bred to perform, this filly is out of a traditionally-bred full-sister to Golden Optimist (1.60m), Barolo (1.60m) and Urrahills Shamrock (1.40m) as well as the 1.30m horses Cooney Island, Aylecotty and Optimistic Clover.
Lot 20 Caraghs Lady Roller, reg 4yo b f 16.1hh by KEC Maximum Joe out of Caraghs Roller by High Roller. This filly has already competed in training shows. Well-related, she is a half-sister to the highly regarded British-based event horse Shadow Inspector ridden by James Somerville, and to the Irish-based Caraghs Lucky Boy (CIC*).
Lot 232 Grantstown Foxy Roxy, reg 4yo ch f 16.1hh by Cobra out of Grantstown Charmer by Desert Knight. Attractively bred, this good moving filly is riding well and ready to produce further. Her dam competed in the amateur show jumping classes at the RDS and is the winner of 60 SJI points. Carrying future paddock value, her dam is a half-sister to the top-class Grand Prix mare Harristown Princess (1.60m) ridden by Paddy O’Donnell, as well as Harristown Gold (1.40m) and two further registered jumpers.
Lot 241 reg 4yo ch f 15.2hh by Road to Happiness out of Karinella Ruby by Iroko. Not over big, but carrying a blacktype pedigree, this filly is out of the two-star event mare Karinella Ruby. Adding real strength however, the maternal grandam is a full-sister to the Burghley winner Lenamore (CCI4*). Thought likely to excel as a junior event horse.
Lot 257 Unnamed, reg 3yo b g 16hh by Watervalley Cool Diamond out of Moyardwood Lady by Mister Lord. Possibly the pick of the three-year-olds could be this gelding, who is a half-brother to the Go For Gold graduate and British-based young event horse Wise Guy.
MICHAEL DONOHOE & SONS
Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny
Telephone: 0599775145 Fax 0599775541
Email: goresbridgesales@tinet.ie
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: 20th – 21st March 2018
Time: 11am. Tuesday: Ponies (36), and Older Horses.
Wednesday: Older Horses, four-year-olds and three-year-olds.
Total lots: 257
Last year’s top lot: Pairic Kelly’s 5yo dun g by Woodstock Hero (dam by Golden Warrior) €10,200.