Michael Donohoe & Sons
Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny
Telephone: 0599775145
Fax: 0599775541
Email: info@goresbridge.com
Web: www.irishhorse.com
Date: July 7th-9th 2026
Time: 10.00am
Tuesday: Ponies (154) and Older horses (69)
Wednesday: Older horses
Thursday: Four-year-olds
Friday: Three-year-olds
Total lots: 766
Top lot 2025: Brighid O’Connor’s Cece, five-year-old mare by Cornet Obolensky (dam by Canturo) €26,000
IT may be quite an ask to emulate the record-breaking figures of 12 months ago, but next week’s catalogue at Goresbridge appears to be a very stout edition indeed. Running over four full days, the entry of 766 lots exceeds those of last year, and are double the offerings of 2024. The opening day initially features 154 ponies and precedes the first of two sessions of older stock. There are numerous Connemara ponies among the former on offer, including a large collection with solid competition form. The remainder look equally attractive, while the older stock offers a multitude of show jumpers, event horses and hunters.
There are numerous standouts, but especially notable are the number of beautifully-bred fillies. Among these are half siblings to Bennys Kelly (1.50m), Kingsborough Kasper (1.60m), Synique (1.50m) and the Breeders Classic winner Talks Cheap.
Statistically, and repeating his feat of last year, Vivant Van De Heffinck (23) heads the list of covering sires and is closely followed by the similarly popular Sligo Candy Boy (15). Others to feature prominently are Conticco (9) and Castlefield Kingston (8).
Tuesday
Ponies and older horses
Lot 46 Kleerwood Chocolate, reg 5 yo b m 14.1hh (no recorded breeding). A striking chocolate dun, this mare has taken part in pony club activities, has evented and is the winner of 33 SJI points to date. She is thought likely to make an ideal working hunter pony.
Lot 110 Coppenagh Daytona, reg 5 yo dun g 138cm. Hailing from a top performance family, this home-bred gelding has hunter trialled and is currently competing at training shows. He is a half-brother to the 2014 Pony European gold medal-winning Coppenagh Tom Sparrow and also to Coppenagh Spring Sparrow, who has evented on multiple Irish teams at European level.
Lot 123 CLH Candy Spice, reg 5 yo gr m 14.2hh by Sligo Candy Boy out of Swan View Courage Diamond (Courage 11). The winner of 50 SJI points, Candy Spice has competed in SJI shows up to 1.10m. She shows huge scope and ability and, while she could excel in any discipline, she is thought to be an ideal prospect for the RDS six/ seven-year-old class next year.
Wednesday
Competition stock
Lot 221 Olivier, reg 8 yo b g 16.1hh by Just Wimphof out of June (Davino VOD). One of the form stand outs, the KWPN-bred Olivier is the current EI100 national eventing champion. He was also placed second in the CCI* Intro at the Lisgarvan International 2025.
Lot 223 Kildalton Wonder, reg 5 yo gr m 158cm by Gortfree Lakeside Lad out of Kildalton Whisper (Crosstown Dancer). Produced by the students at Kildalton College, this fully-warranted Class 1 ID mare competed as a four-year-old in the small hunters at the RDS. She was also placed second at Bannow and Rathangan show and was a winner at Iverk Show. Described as brave, straightforward and well-schooled across country, she shows plenty of potential for a performance career.
Lot 240 Mosstown Van Louie, reg 5 yo b g 16.2hh by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Mosstown Louise (Luidam). The winner of the Western region event series leg in Tubberbride this March, Louie has competed up to 1.10m level. He has also hunted with the Longford Harriers and the Ballymacad Foxhounds and shows potential to make an eventer, show jumper or working hunter. Well related, his full-sister Mosstown Teensy (Alfie Bradstock GB) was placed in the top 10 at Lanaken last year.
Lot 270 Unnamed, reg br m 16hh by Coolkeeran out of Touched Clover HDC (Harlequin du Carel). A very well-related half-sister to the Hickstead winner Bennys Kelly (1.50m), while the dam is a half-sister to Metropolitan Clover (CCI3*).
Lot 278 Lets Not Talk, reg 9 yo b m 16.2hh by Carrera VDL out of Dreaming (Colin Diamond). A fully-warranted winner of 154 SJI points, this well-related mare is a consistent performer at 1.20m level. Ideal for a young rider or amateur, and with future breeding paddock potential, she is a half-sister to Talks Cheap, winner of the Irish Breeders’ Classic as a five-year-old.
Lot 298 Glidawn Bellini, reg 5 yo b g 17.1hh by Kashmir Van Schuttershof out of Catinka (Cornet Obolensky). A beautifully-bred individual, whose dam is a full-sister to the Gothenburg World Cup five-star finalist Conte Bellini (1.60m) and also a half-sister to Monte Bellini (1.60m). Described as an exceptional horse with a great temperament, he has a big future and is highly regarded.
Lot 312 LSS Myla Blue, reg 5 yo b m by Chacco Blue out of Unique (Guidam). Bred to perform and currently competing at 1.10m level, this mare is out of the national Grand Prix mare Unique, who has already bred Synique (1.50m).
Hunters
Lot 228 Biggie Smalls, reg 6 yo b g 16.2hh by Gin Sling out of Drum Rio (Flintstone). Having evented and competed in training shows, this quiet, sensible gelding has also hunted with the Laois Hunt and Breffni Harriers for two full seasons.
Lot 241 Unnamed, reg 6 yo gr g 16.3hh by King Alton out of Jillian’s Lady (Shanavour Pride). This fully-warranted hunter has followed the Glasson Farmers hounds for two seasons.
Lot 358 Brens Lough, reg 5 yo b m 16.1hh by Dairylough Lord Micdan out of Brennans Island (Heron Island). A complete all-rounder, Brens Lough has competed at training shows and has attended pony club camp with a 12-year-old rider. A stunning hunting mare, she has hunted with both the Killinick Harriers and Wexford Foxhounds for two seasons, where she will go first or last over the toughest of drain country.
Lot 399 Greenfield Lorenza, reg 7 yo b m 15.2hh (breeding not recorded). Having hunted with the Killinick Harriers for three seasons, this fully-warranted mare has also qualified for the pony club eventing championships for the past three years.
Thursday
Four-year-olds
Lot 442 Kadonius Z, 4 yo b g by Kessander Van’t Roostakker Z out of Jolie Rijke (Fire). Correctly produced over the winter, this KWPN-bred gelding won the Western Region eventing league final and looks to have all the attributes to make a high level horse.
Lot 455 Unnamed, reg 4 yo ch g 16.2hh by Ascalon out of Liscannor Elegance (Shannondale Sarco). Hailing from a stout maternal family, the dam won 79 SJI points (1.35m) and is a sister to Shannondale Arlo (CCI4*).
Lot 471 Lynara In Vogue, reg 4 yo b f 160cm by Vittorio out of Lynaras First Design (Ringfort Cruise). An athletic filly with an exceptional jump, she is easy, brave and bold and has been produced slowly. Dam competed to EI110 level and hails from a performance line.
Lot 473 MBF Nearly There, reg 4 yo bl g 16.1hh by Lagans OBOS Quality out of My Crusheen Princess (Colin Diamond). One from a top consignor, this gelding has competed at training shows and will have schooled across the country by time of sale. Fully warranted, he is described as having the ability to make a top eventer or jumper.
Lot 480 Phoenix, reg 4 yo gr g 16.1hh by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Ballycahane Lucy (Harlequin du Carel). A well-related gelding, whose dam (CCI3*) competed at Le Lion d’Angers and has already bred a notable performer (1.20m and CCI2*). This gelding has competed at training shows and hunted with the Limerick Harriers.
Lot 508 Sandfield Ohrado, reg 4 yo gr g 16.2hh by Jorado out of Oh Busted (OBOS Quality). From a regular sale-topping consignor,this attractively-bred grey is a well-balanced, well-handled horse with a bright future ahead in any equestrian discipline.
Lot 524 Kingsborough Willow, reg 4 yo b m 16.1hh by For Kinmar Hero out of Varola (Revenge). Fully warranted and showing great potential, this filly is a half-sister to the Louise Saywell ridden Kingsborough Kasper (1.60m). A good candidate for age classes and excellent across the country, she will excel in any discipline.
Lot 559 Borris Soco, reg 4 yo b g 16.1hh by SHS Soco Blue out of Miss Too Coole (Warrenstown You 2). A half-brother to the CCI4* event horse MGH Jessica, the grade A jumping pony DSH Billy Balou and the impressive six-year-old event horse Borris Cornet Coole (John Tilley), this well-bred youngster also hails from the immediate family of the top jumper Krafty Jack etc.
Friday
Three-year-olds
Lot 631 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b f 16.2hh by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Imperial Dynasty (Master Imp). This well-related filly is not only a half-sister to WEC Imperial Master (1.40m), Lady Imperial (1.30m) and RBS Miss Imperial (1.30m), but with bloodlines appealing to both eventers and show jumpers, she is out of a half-sister to Wingates Paragon (1.50m), Prozac (1.40m) and Sparkling Lil (1.30m), as well as Blidworth Lion Queen, dam of the Lanaken world champion Arrabeg Clover.
Lot 663 OLSH Crutown, reg 3 yo b f 16.0hh by Grand Cru VD Eiken out of Huntstown (Loughehoe Guy). Interestingly bred on the dam’s side, this filly features the premier broodmare Coolmore Starlet (Clover Hill x King Of Diamonds), as the second dam. She was one of the last direct Clover Hill mares and is the dam of the approved stallion Yeats, the international grand prix performer Old Ireland and the international event horse Fernhill Ambassador. Coolmore Starlet is also full-sister to the 1.60m jumpers Double O Seven and Clover Z.
Lot 703 Greenhall Millenium, reg 3 yo ch f 16.2hh by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet out of Greenhall Catwalk (Mermus R). From a high-achieving performance family, this filly’s full-sister qualified for and jumped clear in the four-year-old jumping class at the RDS last year. Her dam is half-sister to several jumpers at 1.45m and 1.30m level and hails from a solid line.
Lot 709 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b g 1.65m by Chelis HC Z out of Miss Nazar (Nazar). By the up and coming sire Chelis HC Z, this gelding is out of a full-sister to the CCI4* event horse The Caped Crusader (Patricia Ryan) and also The Wing Man (CCI3*). Also from the maternal family of Bounce On Down (1.40m), Thalia (1.50m) and Thalia Light (CCI3*).
Lot 723 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b g 16.2hh by Castlefield Kingston out of Ballyquirke Diva (OBOS Quality). A gelding out of a full-sister to Dartan’s Quality Brigade (1.50m), as well as a half-sister to Ballyquirke Tipp Top (1.60m), An-Tonia (1.40m) and Ballyquirke Paddy (1.35m).
Lot 727 Ridgehill Baby Met, reg 3 yo gr f 15.2hh by Gwennic De Goariva out of Ridgehill Metro Cav Girl (Metropole). Featuring the popular Connemara/ sport horse cross, this one is out of a full-sister to the former Italian national seven-year-old event champion Mr Paddington (CCI3*). Another half-brother, I’m so Dignified qualified for the Future Event Horse Class at the RDS last year.