KICKING off the 2022 sales action in the south of the country, Goresbridge stages its opening renewal next Wednesday.

Held for the first time in two years, this March fixture offers a full catalogue of 173 lots, plus a number of supplementary entries. It features a substantial quantity of older horses with hunting and competition form, as well as an attractive group of four-year-olds.

In addition, a small selection of ponies will set the ball rolling in the morning before a smattering of three-year-olds bring the day to a close.

The list of covering sires is more varied than usual, so heading the numerical list for the first time is the Nicky Cousins-owned Tullabeg Fusion. Boosted by the profile of his Olympic event horse son Tullabeg Flamenco, the popular dun has five lots on offer. He leads fellow Tullabeg resident Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet who with four lots forward shares his position with Tyson.

Ponies

Lot 2 Manor Gentle Annie, reg 9yo gr m 148cms by Frederiksminde Hazy Match out of Lockinge Aconite (Lockinge Frederick). The second lot of 26 ponies entered, this experienced mare is a class 1 Connemara. Bred in Clifden, she has class one breeding on both sides of her pedigree and is fully warranted in all respects. She has evented, hunted, show jumped in unregistered leagues and taken part in pony club activities. Described as brave and scopey, she is only for sale as her rider has outgrown her.

Lot 15 reg 6yo dun m 148cms by Coolagh Courageous out of Windgap Sarah (Huntingfield Ruler). Quiet in all respects, this useful sort has hunted with the Mid Antrim hounds when partnered by a 12yo girl. She has also attended pony club, training shows and cross-country. She has been in the same home for the past three years and is said to never disappoint.

Lot 22 Glenamaddy I Love You, reg 5yo gr g 14.2hh by I Love You Melody out of Lissroe Primrose (Laerkens Cascade Dawn). A beautifully bred Connemara, and already with 25 SJI points under his belt, this good moving young gelding is thought to have big potential in any discipline.

Older competition horses

Lot 41 Nerina Rua, reg 5yo gr m 16.2hh by Coupe de Coeur out of Ballywilliam Rosie (unrecorded). This fully warranted performer is the winner of eight SJI points to date. Both easy and careful, yet bold and brave across country, she is a versatile mare suitable for any sphere of sport.

Lot 42 Red Emerald, reg 5yo b m 15.2hh by Golden Master out of Dawn Lady (Highland King). A beautifully bred individual whose dam is a full-sister to the Burghley CCI5* winner Ballincoola (William Fox Pitt). Other half siblings to the dam include the stallion Belleview Swahili as well as several other graded horses. Fully warranted, she has competed in training shows and although not over big, is traditionally bred and has future paddock potential.

Lot 45 Kimblewick Arya, reg 5yo gr m 168cms by Chillout out of Kimblewick Aurora (Cavalier Royale). Attractively bred, this mare competed on the Youngsters Tour last year, and carries a career total of seven SJI points. A good mover, with balanced flat work, she has also schooled across country.

Lot 50 Chica Naika, reg 5yo b m 16 hands by Creevagh Ferro out of Chica Rubia by Couleur Rubin. Quiet in all respects and with 22 SJI points to her name, this mare is described as being an excellent prospect for the age classes at the RDS classes this year. She has already produced double-clear rounds at 1.15m level and is a willing mare with a good temperament.

Lot 54 Sveva Della Caccia, reg 6yo b m 16.3hh by Baloubet du Rouet out of Quality You Della Caccia (Quaprice Bois Margot). The winner of 15 SJI points to date, this smartly bred mare is successfully competing at 1.15m level and is showing the potential to go all the way. She is an ideal prospect for the six-year-old classes this summer and, well-related, could make a broodmare.

Lot 59 Candy Tip Toe, reg 6yo br m by Sligo Candy Boy out of Coastal Cruz (Cruising). Carrying a highly commercial pedigree, this home-bred mare is one of the catalogue standouts. The second foal out of a national Grand Prix jumping mare and fully warranted, she qualified for the RDS as a three-year-old, and has since clocked up 12 SJI points to date.

Lot 73 General, reg 6yo br g 168cms by Cornet Obolensky out of Blackhead Clover Cruise (Cruising). Cruising appears again as the dam’s sire in this fully warranted gelding with three SJI points (not yet recorded). A smart prospect, he has low mileage due to the pandemic, but has competed to 1.10m level and could progress in either discipline.

Lot 90 Quassini Della Caccia, reg 5yo b g 170 cms by Quick Star out of Cassini/Cascha Della Caccia (Cassini). An imported half-brother to Cian O’Connor’s 1.60m performer PSG Final (by Toulon), this big horse has competed up to 1m level showing great ability.

Lot 106 Piltown Pivot, reg 5yo b f 15.3hh by Royal Concorde out of Cavalier Mare (Cavalier Royale). A half-sister to the international jumping pony I. Flex (AKA La Flex) and to the up and coming British campaigned event horse Piltown Harry (Austin O’Connor). This filly has schooled across country and looks to be an ideal junior event type.

Older all rounders and hunters

Lot 49 Rosscon Belfast, reg 5yo gr g 17 hands by Ballygarrett Cross out of Cloonfane Countess (Castana). Carrying a notable Irish Draught pedigree stemming from Holy Cross and Merry Mate lines, Belfast is a quality, working hunter model. Fully warranted and a good mover, this high-class prospect has competed in training shows and has hunted with the East Galway hounds.

Lot 52 Tiny, reg 5yo gr g 178 cms by Ceide Prince out of Bunratty Princess (Grey Macha). A big heavyweight, this Irish Draught gelding has followed hounds on six occasions, and will be hunted to date. An easy ride, he is thought to be a likely master’s horse and is showing plenty of ability both on the flat and over a pole.

Lot 92 Cloonboo Chiko Caesar, reg 12yo gr g 155cms by Ballydoolagh Chiko out of Cavenue Lady (Windy’s Boy). A sort rarely on the open market, this full Connemara cob has hunted for seven full seasons. In the same home for eight years, he is quiet in all respects and only for sale due to his owner’s retirement.

Four-year-olds

Lot 113 MBF Jackpot, reg 4yo br g 16.2 by Tolan R out of Limericks Girl (Limerick). An offering from one of last year’s top consigners, this versatile gelding looks to be a likely prospect for the age classes this year. Carrying Euphemism as the sire of the second dam, he has plenty of blood in the pedigree, while both Tolan R and Limerick are proven sires in either field. This gelding will be schooled cross country and jumping a course of fences by time of the sale.

Lot 117 Unnamed, reg 4yo gr g 165 cms by Condios out of Krafty Mai (Krafty Clover). Featuring a dam line going back to Clover Hill and Flagmount King, this gelding is a half-brother to the British-based Woo Hoo, winner of the Nextgen Young event horse class (2020) under Caroline Powell.

Lot 118 Bimini, reg 4yo ch g 16.3hh by Presidential Ball out of New Years Sindy (Taloubet VDL). Very well related, this future prospect is a half-brother to the CCI5* event horse Kananaski (Richard Coney), as well as to the jumpers Gifted New Year (1.30m) and Emerald Sunshine. Adding depth, the dam is a sister to multiple FEI horses (jumping and eventing), including Diamond Will (CCI3*) and Cavaleve (1.40m).

Lot 129 My Malbays Star Quality, reg 4yo b g 16.3hh by Lagans OBOS Quality out of Bleach Loche (Aldatus Z). Showing the breeding and the potential to make a jumper or an event horse, this slowly produced gelding is out of a full-sister to the Eddie Moloney-ridden Macushla R (1.60m), Lux Excel (1.40m) and event horse HHS Foracruise (CCI3*). A smart blood horse with a good canter, he is quiet in all respects.

Lot 144 Kellys OBOS, reg 4yo b f 165cms by OBOS Quality out of Boney Kelly (Dow Jones Courcel). Described as quiet and easy, this filly is a sister to the highly rated American-based event horse Big Berry (by Road To Happiness) who is successfully competing at CCI4*. Also, to the British-based event horse Shop DJ (CCI2*) and the Coen Williams-partnered jumper Aislings Clover (1.30m).

Lot 147 Dixie, reg 4yo gr f 168cms by Coolkeeran out of Cindy 42 (Cardento). By one of last year’s sale-topping sires, this filly is the second offspring out of the Swedish-bred jumping mare Cindy 42. Highly rated, she is thought an ideal contender for age classes in whatever discipline she aims for.

Lot 158 Buffalo Soldier, reg 4yo b g 16.1hh by Tullabeg Fusion out of Run The Risk (Flemensfirth). Attractively bred, by an Olympic sire out of a National Hunt mare, this gelding carries 73% thoroughbred blood. He has competed at training shows and, fully warranted, is showing the attributes to make a top-class event horse.

Three-year-olds

Lot 164 Newmarket Purdy, reg 3yo br g 16.3hh by Berkley Cruise out of Newmarket Clare Lady (Newmarket Jewel). Well related, this gelding is a half-brother to the smart event mare Newmarket Sensation (CCI2* and 1.20m SJ). His dam jumped to 1.50m under Francis Connors, while the second dam Newmarket Clare (1.40m) was a top speed derby mare, with numerous wins under her belt.

Lot 165 Kingsman Maximus, reg 3yo b g 17 hands by Chaman out of Argentina Z (Atlantus Z). Bred to jump, this is a half-brother to the 1.45m jumper Poynstown Dreams (Womanizer), while the dam is a sibling to Caldo Z (1.50m) and Koriall Z (1.40m). .

Lot 170 Otravola, reg 3yo b f 16 hands by Van Gogh out of Utravola (Baloubet du Rouet). From an illustrious family, this well-bred filly is a sibling to four international showjumpers including Carbani (1.50m) and Mr Fuchs (1.50m).

MICHAEL DONOHOE & SONS

Address: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny

Telephone: 0599775145 Fax 0599775541

Email: info@goresbridge.com

Web: www.irishhorse.com

Date: Wednesday, March 2nd 2022.

Time: 11am. Ponies (26), older horses, four-year-olds and three-year-olds.

Total lots: 173 plus supplementary catalogue.

Last year’s top lot: No corresponding sale.