Which embryo will be the most popular on Friday 31 March in the Flanders Embryo Auction? Gerald Lenaerts, who normally has an answer for everything, does not want to burn his fingers this time with a prediction. “I honestly could not tell you. The collection is very impressive”, he says. Together with Luk Van Puymbroeck he selected 25 as yet unborn foals.
New audience
The embryo auction would have taken place in Norway during an international show, but since the event was cancelled the auction will now be handled at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium. A familiar location for the Flanders team, but the target group is entirely new.
“The auction will be held during a popular international junior show with, on the Friday of the sale, several international classes. For us this is a totally new public. We could not miss this opportunity. After all, how wonderful is this mix of the best junior riders and the future showjumping talents that we offer?”
Six Chacco Blue’s
Flanders Foal Auction brings along great names. Chacco Blue is main supplier with six products, followed by Balou du Reventon (3) and Comme il Faut, Emerald and Eldorado van de Zeshoek (2 each).
“We have some more embryos out of sport mares, mares that already produced 1.60m Grand Prix horses and with grandams that were themselves active at top level.”
For example, out of the 1.60m Grand Prix mare Sea Coast Ferly there is a Chacco Blue embryo. Ferly already produced a 1.60m Grand Prix horse and comes from the celebrated Narcotique de Muze II (1.60m Grand Prix under Eric Lamaze).
For the first time two embryos out of Gamine de la Pomme (Darco) will be auctioned, a Comme il Faut (filly) and a Baloubet du Rouet (sex unknown). Gerald Lenaerts is extremely enthusiastic about this damline. “Gamine already produced a 1.55m Grand Prix horse and she is a half-sister to the successful 1.60m horses Gentiane de la Pomme and Dalila de la Pomme. In addition, the grandam and great-grandam of the embryo jumped at 1.60m level.”
Expectations are high, as well, for the embryo by Dominator Z out of the (half)sister of Mumbai and Opium JW van de Moerhoeve. And what to think of an Eldorado van de Zeshoek out of the half-sister to Itot du Chateau, a Chacco Blue out of the full sister of Emerald or the Cartello VDL out of the half-sister of four 1.60m Grand Prix horses, including Levis de Muze. “We could recommend them all one by one. The offer is rvery strong.”
Rob Ehrens guest speaker
Auctioneer Louis De Cleene is accompanied by guest speaker Rob Ehrens, nowadays national coach of Japan and trainer of several riders. The auction can be followed live and online and will start on Friday 31 March at 20.30 hours. More information: www.flandersfoalauction.be