ROUNDING off a busy month of sales, the focus now turns to a two-day sale of sport horses at Goresbridge. Running as the penultimate fixture of the year at the Co Kilkenny complex, the catalogue is slightly lighter than 12 months ago, and as a result will run over two days rather than the usual three.

Despite the reduction, the entry content is stout, with competition pedigrees appearing with regularity across the age groups. It looks solid in Wednesday’s ridden horse sector where, competition horses aside, there are numerous warranted, proven hunters. It is the younger age group that really stands out, however, with contemporary pedigrees coming to the fore.

One to catch the eye is a gelding out of a full-sister to the Olympic and Nations Cup performer Kilkenny, while others include siblings to world class show jumpers and event horses, including Michael Jung’s four-star partner Kilcandra Ocean Power and Ireland’s European championship event horse Clever Trick.

The stallion list is more diverse than usual, and with no clear front runner, it is HHS Cornet and OBOS Quality that head the numerical list with nine progeny apiece. Last year’s leader Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet is well represented and, with eight on offer, shares the placing with Vivant Van De Heffinck.

Ponies

Lot 4 Ballyerk Jessie, reg 4 yo dn g 138cm by Blackmore Flash out of Ballyerk Blondie (Sea Field Silver Dun). One from a regular sale topping pony consigner, this young gelding has attended training shows and pony club. Quiet in all respects, he has also schooled cross-country and looks a smart pony for the future.

Lot 6 Ballyerk Thumb, reg 9 yo gr g 148cm by Ballyerk Sea Field out of Ballerk Cassandra (Clonfert Boy). Another bearing the Ballyerk prefix, this fully warranted nine-year-old has a wealth of competition form. A full Connemara, he has a career total of 35 SJI points, and has been well placed in several jumping leagues.

Lot 10 Clongeen Larry, reg 5 yo b g 148cm. Described as a super prospect for the age classes next season, Larry has show jumped to accumulate 35 SJI points. Fully warranted, scopey and brave, he is also a very good performer across country and has hunted a full season with the Island Foxhounds.

Competition Horses

Lot 28 Diamond Breeze, reg 5 yo gr m 162cm by Balief Guy out of Diamonds Joy (Bright Diamond). One for the showing fraternity, this mare has clocked up a wealth of competition form this season. The winner of the four and five-year-old working hunter class at Tattersalls, and well placed at the RDS, she is a careful jumper and is described as a progressive mare who should go to the top.

Lot 49 Loughville Lux Lui, reg b m 16.2hh by Luidam out of Loughvilles Lady Z (Lux Z). From a regular sale topping vendor, this high-class prospect is the winner of 39 SJI points to date. Competing to 1.10m level, she is well established on the flat and could also go eventing.

Lot 66 Nicole VDV, reg 7 yo b m 16.2hh by Eurocommerce Naples out of Angelica VDV (Lets Go VDV). A good moving mare with 53 SJI points to date, Nicole VDV is competing at 1.20m level. Well related, she hails from the maternal line of Julio V (1.50m) and is likely to make a brood mare prospect when her competition days are over.

Lot 70 Happy Uno, reg 6 yo b m 16.1hh by Numero Uno out of Happy Choice (Aram). This fully warranted mare ticks a lot of boxes for either a junior coming off ponies or for an amateur. The winner of 63 SJI points, she is also well related, being a half-sister to the event horse Altitu (CCI4*), who represented Ireland at the world young horse eventing championships at Le Lion d’Angers on two occasions.

Lot 86 Annyalla Romeo, reg 5 yo ch g 16.1hh by Romanov out of Annyalla Good Relations (Harlequin du Carel). One for the future, and with 16 SJI points to date, this gelding is out of a sister to HH Memphis (1.60m) and the British based Nations Cup horse Santa Cruise (1.60m).

Lot 94 Nibolensky, reg 5 yo b g 165cm by Cornet Obolensky out of Haylouma (Canturano). A Millstreet Discovery finalist last year, and now the winner of 29 SJI points, this smart youngster won the five-year-old Youngster Tour at Holypark. He has competed in classes up to 1.20m and thought suitable for the age classes, and for a lady or a young rider.

Hunters And All Rounders

Lot 19 Jester du Carel, reg 8 yo ch g 168cm by Harlequin du Carel out of Coral Cruise (Cruising). Attractively bred and very versatile, Jester du Carel has clocked up 212 Dressage Ireland points, gaining scores up to 70%. He has competed at Elementary level and, fully warranted, has also hunted for two seasons. He is a full sibling of Coral Du Carel (1.40m).

Lot 26 Echo King Prospect, reg 7 yo gr g 17 hands by Echo King out of Bouncing Queen (Clewbay Bouncer). A full Irish Draught, this gelding won the RDS four and five-year-old performance class in 2021. He has hunted with the North Galway Foxhounds on numerous occasions, and has also carried the whipper in. He is a gentleman in the hunting field.

Lot 45 Moonashuna Ezra, reg 10 yo b g 17 hands by Dondoctro Ryal K out of Nouvelles Dream (Touchdown). An easy ride, this experienced individual has 127 SJI points and has hunted with the Mullinavat Harriers for many seasons. Suitable for a novice rider, he is good over any type of country and is happy to go first or last. In addition, he has won hunter trials at open level.

Lot 61 Welcome Light, reg 10 yo gr g 17.1hh by Welcome Emperor out of Ballyveil Lass (White Clover). Another fully warranted hunter, this big gelding has hunted hounds for three seasons and whipped in for two. Quiet in all respects, he is ready for the coming season.

Four-Year-Olds

Lot 103 Cristabelle, reg 4 yo gr f 15.3hh by Cristo out of My Moygara Rose (Flexible). Currently competing in training shows, this exceptionally well-related filly hails from a dam’s line of international show jumpers. Having huge paddock potential, her dam is a sister to Solerina (1.60m), Rincarina (1.55m), Flexability (1.50m) and also last year’s Breeders Classic five-year-old champion Laurina.

Lot 108 Prospect Silver, reg 4 yo gr g 16.2hh by Glanntana out of Friary Jane (Huntingfield Rebel). This quality Irish Draught gelding qualified for the four and five-year old performance class at the RDS. He was placed sixth in the equivalent class in Balmoral and has hunted with North Galway Foxhounds.

Lot 118 Kylemore Kid, reg 4 yo b g by Vigo d’Arsouilles out of MHS Kylemore (Cardento). A smartly bred gelding whose dam is a full-sister to international show jumper, Kilkenny. More immediately, he is a brother to Kylemore Lady (Kannan) who was placed at the RDS as a five-year-old and represented Ireland in Lanaken in 2021.

Lot 123 Multi Task, reg 4 yo b g 16.2hh by Coolcronan Wood out of Rahan Vinnie (Vinnie Roe). Traditionally bred to event, this correctly produced gelding has won at EI 90 level, and placed on every outing.

Three-Year-Olds

Lot 180 Unnamed, reg 3 yo b f by Winston out of Unanibeath (Courage). Featuring the influential Courage as the dam sire, this filly is a half-sister to Big Wall (CCI3*) who under Izzy Taylor, competed in Le Lion d’Angers on two occasions.

Lot 181 CBI Daenerys, reg 3 yo b f 16.2hh by Chacco Blue out of CSF Karina (Kroongraaf). Well related, out of a sibling to CSF Royal Cruz (1.50m), CSF Mr. Kroon (1.50m) and Sera Vue (1.45m). Also, to the Darragh Ryan ridden Lanaken silver medallist CSF Sir George.

Lot 201 Parkmore Vita, reg 3 yo b f 17 hands by Vivant Van de Heffinck out of Parkmore Evita (Ghareeb). A dual-purpose show or performance filly, whose dam was the legendary RDS and Balmoral champion broodmare Parkmore Evita. She in turn is a half- sister to Parkmore Lux (1.60m).

Lot 235 Unnamed, reg b g 16.1hh by Cavalier Lands out of Quality Jewel (OBOS Quality). Bred to event at the top level, the dam is a full-sister to the much-admired Arklow Puissance (CCI5*) who was placed eighth at Burghley last month.

Lot 259 Redwood Sky, reg 3 yo b g 17 hands by Cougar out of Kilcoltrim Kitten (Ghareeb). A traditionally bred half-brother to the Pan American Games listed event horse Kilcoltrim Kit Kat, while the dam is a sister to Kilcoltrim Jacko (CCI3*).

Lot 271 Newmarket Brittanie, reg 3 yo ch g 16.2hh by Newmarket Venture out of Little Brittania (Jaguar Mail). A very interesting lot, whose second dam is the Badminton and Kentucky five-star winning event horse Headley Britannia. Dam competed to two-star level and is full-sister to the up-and-coming stallion Britannia’s Mail.

Lot 274 Unnamed, 3 yo b g 16.1hh by Risohorse Locorotondo out of Olympic Corners (Olympic Lux). This well-related gelding is a half-brother to the event horses Hi Tech (CCI4*), and to Baymax (CCI3*). The dam meanwhile is a sibling to I Spye (CCI3*) and closely related to the young rider squad event horse TLB Interactive.

Lot 284 Memory Lane, reg 3 yo b f 16.1hh by Island Commander out of Hankalaine (Hankalo). This filly has been successfully shown this year, winning the three-year-old All-Ireland Championship at Dungarvan and placed reserve filly at the RDS. Dam was crowned the overall RDS champion broodmare on two occasions, and has bred the event horse Mellow Lane (CCI3*) currently ridden by Emily King.

Lot 326 Kilcandra Jumping Jack, reg 3 yo ch g 16.1hh by Orestus out of Bonnie Dolly (Bonnie Prince). From one of Ireland’s most notable eventing families, this gelding is a half-brother to the Michael Jung partnered Kilcandra Ocean Power (CCI4*) and to Ireland’s European championship event horse Clever Trick (CCI4*) ridden by Susie Berry.

Details

Michael Donohoe and Sons

Address: Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny

Telephone: 059-9775145 Fax 059-9775541

Email: info@goresbridge.com

Web: www.irishhorse.com

Date: October, 24th and 25th, 2023

Time: 11am

Tuesday: Ponies (18), older horses and four-year-olds

Wednesday: Three-year-olds

Total lots: 346 plus supplementary catalogue

Last year’s top lot: Gina Heaps’ Carrowgar Heraldo, five-year-old gelding by Herald 111 x Flagmount King, €23,000