WITH focus turning to foals, next week’s sales action will resume at Goresbridge on Friday. Reduced to just two days this year but commencing at the earlier time of 10.30am, the benchmark sale opens with a mixed selection of broodmares, yearlings and foals, while as usual Saturday is devoted to foals alone.

The catalogue features stock of all bloodlines, pedigrees and disciplines and with new sires hoping to make an impact, it is always an interesting event. Despite the lessening of the duration, the entries are only marginally down from 12 months ago, and there are plenty of stoutly bred and black type foals on offer. Among them is a SEIC Livello-sired colt from Pat Keogh’s ABC consignment, who counts the top international campaigners ABC Quantum Cruise, ABC Private Jet etc as half-brothers.

As always, the index of covering sires makes for interesting reading, and it is the locally based Castlefield Kingston who heads the numerical list with 13 progeny forward. Staying within the vicinity, the Slyguff Stud’s ever popular thoroughbred Pointilliste is also prominent with 12, while stablemate Gibeon makes his first appearance with nine.

Moving to Co Limerick, Vivant Van de Heffinck (12) is again significant, as is Conticco (10), Canturex (8) and Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet (8).

The catalogue picks are too numerous to mention in their entirety and those featured below are just a broad cross section of modern and traditional breeding, both colts and fillies.

Friday

Yearlings

Lot 25, reg 1 yo b f 16 hands by Rock’n Roll Ter Putte out of Paddys Quality (OBOS Quality). In terms of proven maternal bloodlines, the probable standout among the 32 yearlings on offer is this filly. She is a sibling to the former RDS loose jumping performer Paddys Vivant, while the dam is a sister to KEC Georgia and SES Quick Strike (1.30m). The second dam is a sister to 1.60m performers.

Broodmares

Lot 36, reg 6 yo gr m 16.2hh by Sligo Candy Boy out of Sea Lady Maid (Coevers Diamond Boy). A young mare from a contemporary dual purpose family, this six-year-old is a sibling to the UK-based jumper Cruisin Kelly. Her dam is a half-sister to the useful intermediate event horse Knocksharrys Dream (CCI2*), while a full-sister to the second dam bred Lux Lady (1.60m). A mare with a good temperament, she is in foal to Artist V/D Driehoek Z.

Lot 63 Puiseaux, reg 16 yo b m 16.1hh by Puissance out of Clover Pierre (Clover Hill). Featuring coveted old breeding, and by the good event sire Puissance, this mare has bred the international event horse Novaturient (CCI2*) and Pollux De Puise who is show jumping in the UK. Adding to the appeal for those keen to retain Irish lines, she is scanned in foal to Drumhowan’s thoroughbred stallion Rosier.

Lot 96, reg 4 yo ch f 16.2hh by Cruising In Clone out of Guidams Royal (Guidam). Interestingly bred and thoughtfully covered, this mare is out of a half-sister to the championship event horse Leamore Master Plan (CCI5*), as well as to the show jumper Ardragh Touch. She is in foal to HHS Cornet.

Foals

Fillies

Lot 42 Killaloe Catch Me Now, reg ch f f by Madgeslane Luidam out of Killaloe Blasé (Cruising). A filly with a super damline going back to Clover Hill and Milan, she is a sibling to Ted Talks (1.40m) formerly ridden by Susan Fitzpatrick, as well as to the event horse FLS Outlaw and Merllyns Harlequin (1.30m). Dam is a sister to four graded horses including Essence (1.40m).

Lot 50 Ardnacashel Lady Vivant, reg b f f by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Ardnacashel Lady Luidam (Luidam). The winner of the Irish Horse Board’s event foal championship, and out of a former loose jumping finalist.

Lot 120, reg b f f by For Chacco out of Gersinaa (Indoctro). A filly from the KWPN Sina line, out of a full-sister to Pretty Little Liar (1.60m) and a half-sister to Bugatti (1.60m). The grandam has also bred several notable performers including Tirasinaa (1.60m).

Colts

Lot 61 CRF Levantino, reg b c f by SEIC Livello out of Clodette Della Caccia (Quickstar). Nicely bred colt whose dam competed to 1.30m and is a half-sibling to Quarisma Della Caccia (1.60m), Tulord Della Caccia (1.50m), and Chopin Della Caccia (1.50m). Damline includes Contendro I, Corlanda, Corradina and Corland.

Lot 65 Templerainey Luxello, reg b c f by SEIC Livello out of Tina Lux (Lux Z). From a young and contemporary family, this colt is a sibling to the Saoirse Kenny-ridden Kizimikazi (1.40m) and Rock Junior (1.20m). The second dam Jogatina (1.40m) was on the Junior European team back in 2002, and is the dam of the event horse Cooley On Show (CCI5*).

Lot 88 Anna Serengeti, reg b c f by Zambezi out of Grease Lightening R and D (Zirocco Blue VDL). A sibling to this year’s RDS loose jumping champion Annas Resilience, and from a prolific damline of championship jumpers.

Lot 99 reg gr c f by Big Dan Rouet out of Oldtown Gypsy Jazz (Cruising). Another up and coming family, the dam competed in Lanaken under Trevor Breen, and has bred the 2023 RDS qualified five-year-old Jasmine Blue.

Saturday

Fillies

Lot 286, ABC Querida, reg bl f f by Querido VGZ out of ABC Diamond Dilemma (Cruising). A chance to buy into this hugely successful and commercial family, this filly is out of a full-sister to Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser - the dam of ABC Quantum Cruise (1.60m), ABC Private Jet (CSI5*), ABC Caruso (1.45m) and the 2022 six-year-old Lanaken world champion ABC Saving Grace.

Lot 334, reg b f f by Carrabis Z out of Unanibeath (Courage11). Featuring the very influential event stallion Courage as the sire of the dam, this well-related filly is a half-sister to the three-star winning event horse SBH Big Wall (Izzy Taylor), who represented the Irish Stud Book on two occasions in Le Lion d’Angers, where he was placed fourth and sixth.

Colts

Lot 212 Cornascriebe Commandent, reg gr c f by Corporal VDL out of Cornascriebe Oresta Diamond (VDL Orestus). Dam competed to 1.20m as a five-year-old and has already bred Cornascriebe Emmie, runner-up in the Mullingar International four-year-old final earlier this year. From a stout family, the dam is a half-sister to Cornascriebe Cava Diamond (1.40m), while needing no introduction, the grandam Cornascriebe Diamond is a sister to Royal Athlete (1.60m).

Lot 215, reg b c f by Diarado out of Dance With A Stranger (Crosstown Dancer). Out of a former RDS potential event horse champion and by the top event sire Diarado, this filly is predominantly event bred. The dam is a half-sister to the five-star performer Ridire Dorcha ridden by Oliver Townend as well as to Daenerys (CC12*) and Willows Dark Stranger (CC12*).

Lot 220 Cookstown Diamant, reg b c f by Diamant de Semilly out of Cookstown Lux Good (Lux Z). Dam is a sister to Cookstown Quidam (1.45m), to Ita (1.50m) and to My Special Lauren (1.35m) ridden by Seamus Hughes Kennedy. From a prolific family of jumpers, the immediate damline also features Cuffsgrange Lux Good (1.40m) and Cuffsgrange Cavadora (1.60m).

Lot 269 CSF Cyprus, reg b c f by Castlelawn Cobra 19 out of CSF Fair Exchange (Flipper d’Elle). One from the Connolly family’s high class CSF consignment, this colt is a sibling to CSF Blue Lagoon (1.50m) and CSF Ignacio (1.20m). Also from the family of Magic Shamrock (1.45m). KEC Jackson (1.45m) and the event horses KEC Julie’s Romance (CCI3*), Universal Cooley (CCI3*) and Summerbridge Parc (CCI3*).

Lot 277 Assagart Pure Class, reg gr c f by Button Sitte out of My Only Hope (Big Sink Hope). This colt hails from a family steeped in championship titles. The dam won the Breeders’ Championship at the RDS twice, while her son Assagart Desires and Glory, won the American young horse event championship this year. Another brother, Assagart Lord Love was crowned young horse champion at RDS.

Lot 279, reg b c f by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Max Naughty But Nice (Chacoa). This foal is a half-brother to the current Mullingar Rising Star four-year-old champion KMS Ballygriffin Max, who realised €18,000 at the Goresbridge Select sale last year. Dam of this foal is the winner of numerous championships in the show ring including the reserve spot in the RDS Breeders’ final.

Lot 283, reg b c f by Sligo Candy Boy out of Belfield Ruby (Castlelawn Captain Junior). Dam competed to 1.60m (5*) under Jessica Burke and is a half-sister to the multiple Grand Prix winning Belfields Captain (1.40m).

Lot 299, reg b c f by VDL Bubalu out of Graceful (Lucky Boy). A colt from a current and proven family, dam is a half-sister to the winning Nations Cup jumper Conquestador (1.65m) and to Racy (1.50m) and Arco (1.45m).

Lot 316 ABC Dettori, reg ch c f by SEIC Livello out of Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser (Cruising). A July foal, this beautifully bred colt is undoubtedly one of the catalogue stand-outs. He is a half-brother to five international show jumpers including ABC Quantum Cruise (1.60m), ABC Private Jet (1.50m), ABC Caruso (1.45m) and to the 2022 Lanaken world six-year-old champion ABC Saving Grace.

Lot 345, reg b c f by Pegase Van’t Ruytershof out of Touch Cavalier (Cavalier Royale). The dam of this colt is a full-sister to recent Ballindenisk CCI4*-S winner and Pau CCI5* fifth place finisher Greenacres Special Cavalier (Caroline Powell).

Lot 355 Balief Jim, reg ch c f by Quality Time out of Lazio (Aldato). A well related foal whose half-sister Balief MBF realised €40,000 at Go for Gold Sale. Carrying a versatile pedigree, he is a half-brother to the show horse Balief Imperial, reserve supreme champion at Balmoral, as well as to the British-based Balief de Reve (46 SJI pts) and the event horse Balief Touchdown.

Lot 363, reg. b c f by Castlefield Kingston out of Ballyquirke Diva (OBOS Quality). A well-related foal out of a full-sister to Dartans Quality Brigade (CIC*** and 1.40m) and also to Ballyquirke Tip Top (1.60m). Half-sister to An-Tonia (1.45m) and to Ballyquirke Paddy (1.35m).

Michael Donohoe & Sons

Address: Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny.

Telephone: 0599775145 Fax 0599775541

Email: info@goresbridge.com

Web: www.irishhorse.com

Date: October 13th - 14th 2023

Time: 10.30am each day.

Friday: Broodmares, yearlings and foals.

Saturday: Foals.

Total lots: 385

Last year’s top lot: Dermot O’Sullivan’s unnamed filly foal by Conthargos (dam by Indoctro) €22,000.