IT is a busy time for anyone connected with selling sport horses and, with very little let up, the sales’ action resumes at Goresbridge on Tuesday.
Extended to seven full days this year, the flagship renewal opens with a four-day catalogue of 765 lots, consisting of ponies, older stock and four-year-olds.
Each sector has plenty to recommend, with Tuesday dedicated to ponies and performance Connemaras. The older group features several graded show jumpers up to 1.50m level, as well as numerous eventers, proven hunters and leisure horses.
This broad range of lots is reflected in the varied list of covering sires, which - as it was last year - is headed by the Kennedy Brothers’ Vivant Van De Heffinck. This popular sire is represented by 19 individuals, while also standing out are his late stable companion OBOS Quality (10), Sligo Candy Boy (11) and Tyson (10).
Week two will be reviewed in full next week.
Ponies - Tuesday
Lot 4 Catch Me Now, reg 6 yo sk m 14.2hh by unknown out of Catch Me If You Can (Milan). Featuring early in the catalogue, this experienced pony has done it all. A very consistent performer up to and including 1.10m level, she has clocked up 68 SJI points from very few outings. She was placed second in the All-Ireland Inter Schools competition and has hunted with the Killinick hounds for several seasons.
Lot 39 LSR Trinity, reg 7 yo b m 12.2hh. One for the smallest of competitive riders, this fully warranted mare has been in the same home for three years, during which time she has won 69 SJI points. Ridden by a young child, she has attended pony club rallies and camp this year, and has hunted with the Scarteen hounds for two seasons.
Lot 45 Loughhandys Kurt, reg 12 yo dn g 13.2hh. One from the intermediate height group, Kurt carries a wealth of experience. Described as a ‘real gem’ and a confidence-giver, he has won 302 SJI points and competed in all pony club activities.
Connemara Ponies – Tuesday
Lot 108 Ballinaguilkey Pumpkin, reg 4 yo gr g 153cm by Pumpkins Pondi out of Summer Sun (Templebready Fear Bui). With class one breeding on both sides of the pedigree, this beautifully-related pony is a half-sister to the UK-based working hunter champion Ballinaguilkey Minstrel, as well as to the 2024 Forans Eventing league winner Ballinaguilkey Rocco.
Lot 126 Toni Targaryan, reg 4 yo br f 13.3hh by Tullaree Casanova out of Dundrum Lady (Gun Smoke). Another with class one lines going back to Templebready Fear Bui, this home-bred pony is fully warranted and showing plenty of talent. Bred to perform, her dam competed to 1.10m to win 198 SJI points, while the sire competed at the RDS this year.
Lot 137 Glencarrig Knight Pat, reg 7 yo gr g 15.2hh by Glencarrig Knight out of Glencarrig Cara (Glencarrig Patrick). This well-campaigned pony qualified for the Oughterard and Clifden performance classes this season, and was placed third in his RDS qualifier at Rincoola. He was also well placed in the working hunter class at Charleville.
Lot 166 Legends Champion, reg 10 yo gr g 15.2hh by Lonsdale Legend out of Woodfield Princess (Earl of Newbridge). Out of a class one dam, this catalogue stand out has competed in pony club activities and has evented. In the show ring, he qualified for this year’s RDS working hunter as well as the high performance classes in Clifden and at Oughterard. He also won the 1.10m league in Maryville 2024 and was placed fifth in Tattersalls intro pony club national eventing championships in 2023.
Older horses
Wednesday and Thursday
Lot 170 BSH Diamond Reward, reg 6 yo b g 16.3hh by Financial Reward out of Kilcahill Diamond (Colin Diamond). The winner of 31 SJI points to date, this traditionally-bred gelding competed in the young event horse finals at the RDS last year. He has also evented, and produced a double clear round at the EI 100 national championships.
Lot 193 Lammy Mars Star, reg 6 yo ro g 16.2hh by Quite Capitol out of Charlies Midnight Mist (HHS Br Charlton). A well-related winner of 31 SJI points, this gelding has now confidently stepped up to compete in the six/seven-year-old classes. His half-brother Coolishal (Gemma Phelan) jumped in Lanaken as a seven-year-old and this gelding is thought ideal for a young rider hoping to progress up the levels.
Lot 245 Redwood Sky, reg 5 yo b g 17hh by Cougar out of Kilcoltrim Kitten (Ghareeb). Professionally produced, yet ridden at home by an amateur, this gelding has been given time to mature. Brought on slowly, he started his competitive career this year and has completed four EI events, where he has been double clear at both EI 90 and EI 100 classes. He also won the RUAS Young Event Horse qualifier, and has competed in young event horse classes in Millstreet and Tattersalls.
Lot 282 Fortside Clever Candy, reg 10 yo b g 16.3hh by Sligo Candy Boy out of Clever Queen Lux (Lux Z). A catalogue stand out, Fortside Clever Candy is a fully warranted jumper with form up to 1.50m level. Among his numerous successes was a seventh placing in the 1.50m Premier Grand Prix at Maryville in July, while in June he filled the runner-up spot in the 1.40m National GP at Charleville. He has grand prix placings (1.35-1.50m) at both national and international shows and as a six-year-old qualified for the six-year-old final in RDS.
Lot 291 Golden Puissance, reg 13 yo b g 16.2hh by Puissance out of Golden Ace (Horace). A very competitive gelding with 291 SJI points to date, Golden Puissance qualified for the RDS young riders classes on two occasions, and was placed seventh and fifth in the National Championships. In addition, he was placed sixth in the national children on horses championships, as well as qualifying for the same class at the RDS. Most recently, he filled third place in the 1.10m finals at the Millstreet Summer Horse Show this summer.
Lot 341 Creevagh Hilfiger, reg 8 yo ch g 16.3hh by Camiro de Haar Z out of Creevagh Freda (Creevagh Ferro). A top all-rounder, this gelding has successfully competed in EI and pony club events. Fully warranted, he won his qualifier for the young riders event class at the RDS in 2023, and was placed third in the finals. He carries a full list of achievements together with a career total of 10 SJI points.
Lot 377 Elanor, reg 5 yo gr m 16.2hh by Colandro out of Karel (Mylord Cathargo). A modern type of mare, the home-bred Elanor is currently competing up to 1.10m. Showing huge promise, she has run in three events at EI 100 level, completing on her dressage score on each occasion.
Hunters and all-rounders
Lot 177 Unnamed, reg 8 yo ch g 16.1hh by Exquis Powerfee out of Miss Low (Agherlow). A half-brother to the Swiss-based event horse Colandro Low, this seasoned hunter has hunted with the Wicklow hounds for four seasons. Ridden by a teenager, he will cross any country and is only for sale as his rider is moving to college.
Lot 178 Diamond Machine, reg 8 yo b g 16.2hh by Diamond Mind out of Gortnagoona Lass (Carrabawn View). For those looking for a full Irish Draught, this gelding has hunted with the Limerick Harriers and the Laois foxhounds for two seasons.
Lot 289 Unnamed, reg 12 yo b m 16.1hh by Yeats out of Peoples Honour (City Honours). A traditionally-bred thoroughbred/ID cross, this mare has been in hunt service with the Kilkenny foxhounds for four seasons.
Four-year-olds
Friday
Lot 643 CHF Canturo Cruise, reg 4 yo b f 16.1hh by HSF Canturo Lui out of Puma Cruise (Cougar). Quiet in all respects, this well-bred filly is a half-sister to CHF Captain Jacob (CCI3*) as well as to CHF Miss Stetter (232 SJI points) and the five-year-old CHF Ballyturn Cruise. A quality filly with great ability, she could either event or show jump.
Lot 645 Unnamed, reg 4 yo b f 16.1hh by Sligo Candy Boy out of Kiltubrid Heather (Lombardo). A beautifully-related half-sister to the Mark Todd-ridden Kiltubrid Rhapsody (CCI5*) and a full-sister to Kiltubrid Ruby (1.30m) and the American-based event horse Kiltubrid Harley.
Lot 652 Locarnabue, reg 4 yo gr f 16hh by Wido out of Laharina (Mackey Boy). The winner of the four-year-old working hunter at Charleville this year, the fully warranted Locarnabue has hunted with The Duhallow Foxhounds proving to be very well-mannered.
Lot 672 MBF Tawnydun, reg 4 yo dn g 16.1hh by Tawnydun Aengus out of Royal Alstroemeria (Intikhab). By a son of Templebready Fear Bui out of a mare by a thoroughbred, this dun gelding is offered by a regular sale-topping consignor. Always the most commercial of colours, this fully warranted individual is described as suitable for any equestrian discipline.
Lot 723 Cornatus, reg 4 yo br g 16.1hh by Cornerado VDL out of Rosslodge Pearl (Aldatus Z). A fully warranted half-brother to Sunday Session, who was an RDS young event horse finalist and a €38,000 graduate of the 2023 Go For Gold sale. Currently competing in training shows and schooling cross-country.
Lot 739 KEC Delukka, reg 4 yo br g 16.3hh by Lagans OBOS Quality out of KEC Maximum Della (KEC Maximum Joe). From a five-star family, this gelding is out of a sister to the event horse KEC Deakon (CCI5*) as well as to a further eight graded performers. This gelding has three big paces, and is showing plenty of ability.
Michael Donohoe & Sons
Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny.
Telephone: 0599775145
Fax: 0599775541
Email: info@goresbridge.com
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: September 2nd – 10th, 2025
Week One – September 2nd - 5th, 2025.
Time: 10.30am
Tuesday: Ponies (Lot 1-101) Connemara ponies (Lots 102-167).
Wednesday: Horses: Five-year-olds and upwards.
Thursday: Five-year-olds and upwards and four-year-olds.
Friday: Four-year-olds
Total lots week one: 765 lots.
Top lots
week one 2024
Older horses: Tara Brandon’s Captain Smokey, five-year-old grey gelding by Castlelawn Captain Junior (dam by Ricardo Z) €20,000.
Four-year-olds: Gerard Clarke’s Drishoge Cruz Control, four-year-old gelding by Jorado (dam by Zazou) €23,500.
Ponies: Jerry Lenihan’s Seafield Be Special, four-year-old 148cm gelding by Ganesh Hero Z (dam by Moores Clover) €17,000.