The Flanders Embryo Auction has become a signature event for many Irish people visiting the Dublin Horse Show. After the prestigious FEI Nations Cup, the third edition at the InterContinental Hotel attracted a large audience and strong buyers. In total, 80% of the collection was sold on the spot. The Cardento out of Gancia de Muze to be born next year brought a whopping €56,000 and the average price came to €28,772.
“An incredible result. It was a very strong collection and it was greatly appreciated. The Irish are clearly interested in bringing home strong damlines. By buying these embryos, they can call themselves breeders next year, which is also interesting. This will allow these foals to compete in Irish championships in the future and that is a big thing here. The embryos have been sold to top riders, investors and breeders,” Gerald Lenaerts and Luk Van Puymbroeck tell us.
Several times, a tough battle ensued between the tables in the hall. Online bidders were not as prominent with only two sales via online bidding. One of these, by the way, was the full sibling of the 1.60m Grand Prix horse Calleryama (Casall x Contender) for 42,000 euros and will be born in Belgium.
Gancia de Muze’s owner Krystle Wienen witnessed the price skyrocket for the Cardento out of her 1.70m Grand Prix mare. Wienen bought Gancia at the age of six and gave the ride to Niels Bruynseels. The follow-up story is familiar to many, as Gancia de Muze won several million euros in prize money. Now retired from competition, she is available for breeding and that was rewarded with 56,000 euros by a Northern Irishman. Last year, her first auctioned embryo in Dublin also brought the top price.
As many as six embryos passed the 35,000 euro mark. The second most expensive at 45,000 euro was Emerald out of the Olympic mare Zeremonie (Cero I), who was so successful with Laura Kraut.
Shane Breen had indicated beforehand that he had his eye on Golden Hawk (the stallion he rode himself at 1.60m GP level) out of the fantastic 1.60m Grand Prix mare Cinca 3 of Michael Duffy and was successful by bidding 42,000 euros. The fact that Cinca 3 jumped 4/0 for Ireland in the Nations Cup with only one foot in the water just a few hours earlier, further confirmed her quality.
For €37,000, the Chacco Blue x Darco mare Geena (1.55m GP) was sold. The full sibling of 1.65m GP horse Like a Diamond vh Schaeck (Diamant de Semilly x Bamako de Muze) delivered 36,000 euros. The Diamant de Semilly x Guidam out of the same dam as Cian O’Connor’s Olympic jumper Kilkenny fetched 35,000 euros.