AS the sales action hots up and heads into the traditionally busy autumn season, next week marks the first leg of Goresbridge’s flagship September fixture. Kicking off on Wednesday, and running through until Friday, the opening three days focuses on the ponies and the ridden sector.
Some 535 lots (1025 in total) will come under the hammer over these first sessions, and while this is a significant reduction from previous years, it runs in line with breeding figures and current trends.
In contrast, it appears that the quality has strengthened among the older stock, and among them are a number of proven performers from a variety of equestrian spheres.
The list of leading covering sires changes between the two weeks, but standing out among the ridden horses, and with nine progeny forward, is the Ballymureen Stud resident Ars Vivendi. The popular OBOS Quality and the newcomer thoroughbred Pointilliste are also well represented with seven on offer, as is Lux Z who has six.
PONIES
Lot 15 Carrowmore Colm, reg 7yo gr g 146cms by Smokey Idea out of Esker Lady (Laerkens Cascade Dawn). The first notable of the 41 ponies on offer is this fully warranted Connemara pony, the winner of 19 SJI points to date. A good mover, he has also evented and thought suitable to excel in any sphere.
Lot 24 Blennerville Daisy, reg 6yo sk m 148cms. The winner of the working hunter at the Newmarket on Fergus show, this pony regularly takes part in show jumping competitions, and is quiet in all respects.
Lot 27 Meelickisland Darkie, reg 7yo b m 145cms by Cloughhill Island out of Orthaille (Moy Hazy Cove). Another of the popular native breed, this experienced performer has hunted with the Woodstown Harriers and the Waterford Foxhounds for four seasons. Considered a top-class prospect, she has also hunter trialled, taken part in Pony Club and evented, proving easy in every way.
COMPETITION HORSES
Lot 50 Cloverhill Sligo, reg 5yo ch g 16.3hh by Mermus R out of Clover Lighting (Clover Hill). Placed fifth in his age qualifier at Cavan last autumn, this high-class gelding is the winner of 12 SJI points to date. Well related, he is a half-brother to the former national six-year-old champion and RDS runner-up One Cool Cookie (John McGuinness), as well as the Geoff Curran-ridden event horse Lassban Clover Roller.
Lot 58 She Ra, reg 6yo gr m 16hh by Womanizer out of Kildalton Petal (Ghareeb). This mare has amassed 25 SJI points to date and won in classes up to and including 1.20m. A good mover, she has hunted, has schooled well across country and could succeed in any discipline.
Lot 62 Stellor Skipon, reg 5yo gr g 16.1hh by Chillout out of Carravilla Girl (not recorded). One of the standout lots in the catalogue, this gelding won his EI90 class on his first run under E.I rules, and was placed fourth on his debut outing at EI100 level. He qualified for the Future Event Horse class at the RDS, and is currently show jumping at 1.10m level. Bred to event, he is a full-brother to the advanced event horse Shearwater Sportsfield (Oliver Townend).
Lot 68 Lenamore Lux, reg 10yo b m 165cms by Lux Z out of Gleeson Clover Brigade (Clover Brigade). This fully warranted schoolmaster is a competitive grade A show jumper with a career total of 218 SJI points to date. She headed her RUAS 1.30m qualifier last season, and is a winner in amateur hands. She has also evented under EI rules to gain seven EI points, both in senior and junior company.
Lot 139 A Quidam Echo, reg 6yo b g 16.1hh by A Quidam M out of Moy Echo (Clover Echo). The winner of 28 SJI points to date, this gelding was a Cavan Classic five-year-old finalist last year. He is currently competing at 1.10m and 1.20m level, and thought ideal for an amateur or young rider.
Lot 140 Russel Clover, reg 7yo gr g 15.2hh by Russel out of Kilmolash Clover Rhodes (Porter Rhodes). Fully warranted, this diminutive grade B show jumper has a career total of 152 SJI points to date. He won the 1.20m final at Ballyrafter at the close of last season, and delivered clear rounds in his RDS young rider qualifiers this year.
Lot 213 Impy Diamond reg 5yo b g 16.2hh by Nazar out of Oldyard Diamond (Diamond Serpent). Carrying the influential Diamond Serpent as the dam’s sire, this good moving young gelding was placed second in the young event horse class at Balmoral. He has been lightly evented under EI rules, and was placed third on his last outing from four runs.
Lot 260 I’m Gentleman Jack, reg 5yo b g 168cms by Future Trend out of Laharns Laughton (Laughton’s Flight). Recently placed third in the Millstreet National Eventing Discovery, this youngster has also evented at EI 90 level, and show jumped. A half-brother to the up and coming event horse Woodford Reserve.
Lot 299 Baile Beag, reg 5yo b g 16.3hh by Porsch out of Ladies Son (Ginger’s Son). This high-class prospect was placed in the Stepping Stones young horse league, and filled third spot in his hunter class at the RDS last year. A good mover with a big jump, he is likely to make a smart event horse.
Lot 335 MBF Ambassador, reg 5yo ch g 16.1hh by Cruisings Ambassador out of Ballyragget Diamonde (Carrick Diamond Lad). This traditionally bred gelding was placed second in an E190 Try Eventing class at Scarteen. Considered a potential event horse, his second dam was the thoroughbred mare Christies Lass (Amazing Bust).
HUNTERS AND
ALL ROUNDERS
Lot 82 Drumbilla Seeker, reg 6yo gr g 17hh by Drumbilla Star out of Seeking Shelter (Glacial Storm). This quality gelding has hunted with three packs of hounds over the past three seasons. He is used to crossing any country, including hedges, wire and ditches. He will happily go away from the field and open his own country or stand at the back and wait his turn. Easy to ride and well established on the flat, he has also competed in events and show jumping.
Lot 153 Ruthstown Classic, reg 6yo b g 16.3hh by Kroongraaf out of Pike Road Kit (Kiltealy Spring). A versatile sort, this gelding has hunted with the North Kilkenny Foxhounds for two seasons. He competed in the middleweight class at the RDS this year, and has been placed in intermediate riding club events.
Lot 259 Bayview Harry, reg 5yo gr g 16.2hh by Prescotts Diamond out of Wilya Everlearn (Great Palm). This traditionally bred gelding is a winner of working hunter classes, and was placed second in the Traditional class at Thomastown show. He was also placed in all his four runs in AIRC events, and has qualified for the AIRC national intermediate dressage finals and placed in show jumping leagues (1m).
Lot 294 Hill Clover, reg 6yo b g 17hh by Techina Tweak out of Hillside Clover Flight (Cloneen Clover). A fully warranted individual, Hill Clover hunted with the Shillelagh and Wicklow Foxhounds for two seasons. He was ridden by the field master last season and, proving to be a calm performer, will go in front or behind.
FOUR-YEAR-OLDS
Lot 377 Mushroom Murphy, reg 4yo dn f 15.2hh by Abbeyfield Comet out of Seabreeze Daisy (Cloneen Clover). A popular Connemara ISH cross, this filly has already clocked up some useful event form. She won the EI 90 class at Punchestown horse trials and was placed sixth in the ISH four-year-old series at Grove Horse Trials.
Lot 389 Erne Diamond Touch, reg 4yo gr g 17hh by Cara Touche out of Erne Breeze (Able Albert). From a well-known family, this gelding is showing good potential to jump. His dam competed to 1.20m under Francis Connors, and aside from this gelding has bred the up and coming 1.25m show jumper Erne Cruising Breeze (85 SJI points). The grandam, Erne Diamond, has bred a number of horses jumping at 1.40m including the Italian-based Erne Brigade. Dam is also a sibling to of the good broodmare Diamond Pennie.
Lot 402 Velar, reg 4yo ch f 16.2hh by Simba out of DS Royal Touch (Touchdown). This filly was placed fifth at the RDS last year, and this season under saddle, she filled fifth spot in the Young Event Horse qualifier at Scarteen.
Lot 418 Ricardo Storm, reg 4yo b g 16.2hh by Ricardo Z out of Millers Oats (Stormhill Miller). The winner of two SJI points to date, this gelding has competed in Cavan, Ballinasloe and Mullingar. He has been well schooled across country, is working well on the flat and showing great promise.
Lot 475, reg 4yo ro g 16.2hh by Pointilliste out of Temple Crest (Tomgar Power Crest). By the up and coming thoroughbred sire Pointilliste, this traditionally bred gelding has been lightly competed and let off to mature. He is a full-brother to the winner of Limerick Lady class at Limerick show 2016.
Lot 488 Coolkirky Tarzan, reg 4yo b g 16.3hh by West Coast Cavalier out of Leaping Lara (Rantis Diamond). This youngster competed in two RDS young event horse qualifiers and qualified for the finals of the Stepping Stones series.
Lot 510 Cuffesgrange Royal Exchange, reg 4yo bl g 16.2 hh by Royal Concorde out of Coolmore Joyita (Puissance). Out of a HSI select broodmare, whose progeny include the CSI4* Grand Prix horse Cuba Libre (Rebecca McGoldrick) and the CCI4* event horse and 1.50m show jumper Fernhill Quality Street.
Lot 512 Eclipse Bay, reg 4yo b g 16.2hh by Chinook Eclipse out of Ochil Belle (Ghareeb). Fully warranted and lightly produced, this well related gelding is the first foal out of Ochil Belle, whose direct damline goes back to the family of Royal Athlete (1.60m). Carrying one of the country’s most recognised pedigrees, others to feature include MHS Going Global (1.60), Royal Anthem (1.55m), MHS Automatic (1.50m) and MHS King Joules (CIC3*).
MICHAEL DONOHOE & SONS.
Address: Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny.
Telephone: 0599775145 Fax 0599775541
Email: goresbridgesales@tinet.ie
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: September 6th – 13th 2017
WEEK ONE
Time: 11am.
Wednesday: Ponies: Horses: five-year-old and upwards.
Thursday: Horses: five-year-olds and upwards.
Friday: Four-year-olds.
Total lots week one: 535
2016 Top Lot (Week One): David Corcoran’s Green Street Elite, 7yo g by Zandeur (dam by Captain Clover). €13,500