“Another great result and an average price of 17,000 euros. We would happily sign for that in advance. The auction was once again entertaining and I think we will see many of these foals successfully in the future. They came into professional hands,” say Luk Van Puymbroeck and Gerald Lenaerts.
More and more Flanders ’embryos’ are breaking through in sport and breeding, as recently two auctioned colts and two embryos at the age of 2.5 years were approved by German studbooks. “It is also inevitable that this group will produce very good horses. Of course, it all depends where they end up, but they will find their way anyway. Quality is discovered at a young age and several horses have already been sold for high amounts. You see that it really pays off to invest in our auctions. Professionals recognise this as well and they bought in abundance tonight,” the auctioneers say.
Similar as a month ago at the Emirates, this Flanders Embryo Auction also had to rely on live visitors. “We did receive quite some online bids as well, but most of them dropped out around 14,000 euros. In total, we only sold three online: two to USA and one to Germany.” Among them, though, one of the auction top-sellers that was sold first and fell into American hands for 26,000 euros. It is the Chacco Blue x Nabab de Reve, bred out of the full sister of Brooklyn Heights (1.65m GP).
Belgians and Dutch invested in ten embryos. A loyal customer from the Netherlands made the winning bid of 26,000 euros by phone for the Heartbreaker x Chacco Blue embryo, bred out of the full sister of the European championship showjumper Chatinue. He also bought the Dominator 2000 Z x Querlybet Hero out of the lineage of Fragance de Chalus for 22,000 euros. The same amount was offered by a Dutch Grand Prix rider for the very interesting Diamant de Semilly x For Pleasure, whose grandam is Walnut de Muze.
Danish visitors purchased three embryos, such as Carrera VDL’s half-brother for 22,000 euros. Like Carrera VDL, this Chacco Blue x Baloubet du Rouet is out of Vantiels Esprit (1.50m jumping), the half-sister of Tinka’s Boy. Irish customers took three embryos. Sentower Park’s owners and another Belgian auction house may also expect a foal soon.
“In the meantime, we are looking forward to the foal season. Embryo auctions have their charm, but nothing beats a beautiful foal in the auction arena. That always gives much more experience,” says Luk Van Puymbroeck.
Flanders Foal Auction 2024 calendar
15 June – Flanders Foal Auction, Sentower Park (BEL)
27 July – Flanders Foal Auction, Holger Hetzel Stables (GER)
August 10 – Flanders Foal Auction, Sentower Park (BEL)
August 16 – Flanders Embryo Auction, Dublin (IRL)
14 September – Flanders Foal Auction, Sentower Park (BEL)