AS the sales season moves into gear, Goresbridge hosts its annual opener next Wednesday. Running on just one day, as it did 12 months ago, the renewal offers a full capacity catalogue with 199 lots.

Last’s year’s equivalent proved to be one of the strongest sales of the season, and closing with a notable turnover of €780,000 together with a clearance of 80% it will be hard to emulate. However next week’s catalogue looks attractive across the board and the list of covering sires is stout. Standing out among them with five on offer is OBOS Quality, while the thoroughbred Pointilliste is next in line with four. Others well represented include HHS Cornet, Tullabeg Fusion, Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet and Sligo Candy Boy all with the three apiece.

Among the standouts is a three-year-old from the close maternal family of the legendary event mare Headly Britannia, while also featuring in the same age group is a half-brother to the Geoff Curran-ridden eight-year-old DHF Alliance (1.40m).

Ponies

Lot 7 Tom The Tank Engine, reg 6yo sk g 13.2hh. One of 25 ponies on offer, this gelding has plenty of mileage in a variety of disciplines. Only for sale as he is now outgrown, he has competed in the pony club championships as well as the inter schools. In addition, he has hunted with the Killinick Harriers and is fully warranted in all respects.

Lot 8 Whitefield Caramel, reg 16yo ro m 14.1hh. Another fully warranted performer, Caramel has a wealth of experience. Described as a pony that loves to please, she has competed in pony club activities, and has hunted with the Suir Vale Harriers for 10 seasons.

Lot 19 Powder Fox, reg 4yo dn f 138cms. At the other end of the age spectrum, this filly is ready to produce further. She has already hunted with the Golden Vale and, thought likely to make a top class jumping pony, is measured 138cms with the SJI.

Older horses

Competition horses

Lot 26 PL Quality Crusader, reg 7yo b m 16hh by OBOS Quality out of Pageantry (sire unrecorded). Home-bred, this gelding is the first foal out of the event mare Pageantry (CCI2*). Thought an ideal junior/young rider prospect, she has competed up to 1.20m level in both show jumping and eventing.

Lot 35 Eva du Rouet, reg 6yo b m 16.2hh by Kannan out of Belle de Reve Z (Balou du Rouet). The winner of 29 SJI points to date, this classy mare competed in the RDS age qualifiers (1.20m) last year as well as the HSI development series (1.15m). Well related, her Belgian-bred grade A dam jumped to 1.40m and carries a strong maternal pedigree.

Lot 41 Annaghmore Celtico, reg 5yo br g 16.1hh by Celtic Hero BZ out of HHS Paris (Chippison). By one of last year’s sale-topping stallions, this warranted gelding is the winner of 13 SJI points to date. Bred to jump, he is a half-brother to several graded horses, while the dam jumped in the four-year-old classes at RDS and is half-sister to four international horses including HHS Geneva (1.50).

Lot 49 Ballykealy Stella, reg 5yo b m 16.1hh by Big Dan du Rouet out of Levallys Girl (Russel). In her first competitive season (2022) this mare clocked up 22 SJI points and was placed third in the final of the Coilog pro series championship. Sire by Querlybet Hero is an eight-year-old and is competing very successfully at Grand Prix level.

Lot 61 Derryisland Blue, reg 8yo b g 170 cms by Paris Blue Merelsnest Z out of Derryisland Cappachino (Carpaccio). One for the amateurs, this easy gelding has competed successfully up to 1.20m level to win 43 SJI points.

Lot 68 Castleturvin Archie B, reg 6yo b g 15.1hh by Amigo B out of Leam Silver Dream (Quilca Silver). This versatile Connemara cross is the winner of 15 SJI points and has been placed in several leagues. He is also a useful event horse, clocking up plenty of mileage in EI 90 classes, and was placed fifth at Hillcrest.

Lot 75 Euro Quality, reg 6yo b m 166cms by OBOS Quality out of Lady Russel (Russel). Having bred a foal, this high-class mare has since clocked up six SJI points in classes up to 1.10m level. Well related, her dam Lady Russel is sibling to Loughnatousa Olaf (1.45m), Blurred Lines (1.40m) and LKD Mini Q (1.35m). The third dam meanwhile, is a full sibling to the former Goresbridge graduate Calover (1.60m) and half-sister several other graded performers. An exciting breeding prospect when her competition days are over, Euro Quality was assessed as a select status broodmare.

Lot 76 Coverfield Lad, reg 5yo gr g 16.2hh by HSF Cardento Royale out of Coverfield Lady (Vangelis). This smart sort competed in the potential event horse class at the RDS as a three-year-old. Last year he delivered a double clear round in the RDS age qualifier and also qualified for the age final at the Cavan July Championships.

Lot 80 MBF Affair, reg 6yo gr g 16.3hh by Pointilliste out of FMSH My Way (Je T’Aime Flamenco). One of a large consignment from MBF Sport Horses, this high class all rounder has hunted and evented. A straightforward individual and very well related, he is out of a half-sister to the five-star event horses Kilronan and Strike Smartly.

Hunters

Lot 34 Benny, reg 7yo gr g 16.2hh by Loch Cruise out of Hillcrest Lady (Cloughjordan Boy). This top class hunter is described as an exceptionally brave performer over any country. Fully warranted and ridden by a novice, he has hunted for three seasons and, with plenty of ability would also make a good eventer or working hunter.

Lot 48 Domo, reg 7yo gr g 17.1hh by Gortavranner Stone out of Gortavranna Cross (Holy Cross). A registered Irish Draught, the fully warranted Domo is a weight carrier with three seasons hunting under his belt.

Lot 86 Amy, reg 6yo gr m 16.3hh by Tors Gentleman Farmer out of Sallys Silver Diamond (Gentle Diamond). Yet another fully warranted Irish Draught, Amy is hunting away with both the Kildare Foxhounds and the South Westmeath Harriers. Snaffle mouthed, and a good mover, she has also competed in training shows.

Lot 124 Fred, reg 10yo br g 168cms. One for a novice, Fred has hunted with the Fingal Harriers for three seasons. He also has mileage in the pony club and eventing, and is described as easy in all respects.

Four-year-olds

Lot 136 Madgeslane Harriot, reg 4yo b f 168cms by HHS Cornet out of Madgeslane Harley (Harlequin du Carel). A high class prospect offered by a regular sale-topping consignor, this good moving filly is likely to make a top eventer or show jumper. Bred to perform and quiet in all respects, her dam is a half-sister to BP Winston (Kevin Gallagher), who represented Ireland in Lanaken in 2021.

Lot 146 Boleybawn Bluebell, reg 4yo b f 16hands by SHS Soco Blue out of Boleybawn Corbell (Courage). One of the catalogue standouts, this well-bred filly is a half-sister to Boleybawn Freedom (Cathal Daniels) who represented Ireland at the world young horse event championships in Le Lion D’Angers in 2019. Adding depth, the dam (by the top event sire Courage) is a sibling to the British-based event horse Boleybawn Aristocrat (CCI4*) while the second dam is the former RDS six-year-old champion Ardenteggle Flight (1.40m).

Lot 158 MBF Keep Wondering, reg 4yo ch g 16.3hh by Wounderwall out of Miss Nicky (Ballygarrett Cross). By the German thoroughbred sire Wounderwall, this professionally produced gelding will be schooled across country by the time of sale. Traditionally bred and a likely top event horse, he is a good mover with a jump to match.

Lot 159 Assagart Rebellion, reg 4 yo b g 168cms by Watar out of Assagart Wonder (Flagmount King). By a highly rated thoroughbred sire, this home-bred gelding was placed fifth in the young horse class at the RDS last year. He is out of the useful jumping mare Assagart Wonder who was placed in four-year-old finals in both Cavan and Kill.

Lot 172 Piltown Barbara, reg 4yo b f 16.2hh by Pointilliste out of unnamed (Cavalier Royale). Showing plenty of potential to perform at a good level, and with a pedigree to match, this filly is a half-sister to the international Grand Prix show jumper I Flex and half-sister to the British-based event horse Piltown Harry (CCI3*).

Lot 173 India, reg 4yo ch f 16.1hh by Island Commander out of Ghareebs Cruise (Ghareeb). Another bred in the purple, this traditionally bred filly is out of a half-sister to the event horses Arklow Puissance (CCI4*) and Claragh Mountain (CCI4*).

Three-year-olds

Lot 191 DHF Vector, reg 3yo b g 16.3hh by Untouchable 27 out of Rosie Bee (Lux Z). One of 24 of the age group on offer, this gelding is a half-brother to the Geoff Curran-ridden eight-year-old DHF Alliance (1.40m) while his dam is the grade A mare and Lanaken campaigner Rosie Bee. A good looking individual, Vector has been shown in hand to be placed fourth at the RDS and headed his class at Wexford last year.

Lot 199 Newmarket Bentley, reg 3yo ch g 15.3hh by Newmarket Venture out of Little Brittania (Jaguar Mail). An interestingly bred individual, whose dam (CCI2*) is a full sister to the stallion Britannias Mail (CCI3*). It is the second dam Headley Britannia that brings real weight to the pedigree however, as one of the best event mares in history when ridden by Lucinda Fredericks, she won an Olympic silver medal at Bejiing, as well as landing the championship titles at Badminton (2007), Burghley (2006) and Kentucky (2009).