Text © World of Showjumping

"I am absolutely delighted with his new owner," Denis Lynch told World of Showjumping after the 10-year-old stallion Dark Chocolate (Casall x Acodetto I) had sold for €2.3 million at the Aloga Auction at Sentower Park in Belgium on Monday night. 

Lynch has brought the talented stallion up from youngster level to jump five-star classes, and the two recorded many top placings during the four seasons they had together. In their last international appearance at Gothenburg Horse Show, Lynch and Dark Chocolate placed seventh in the CSI5*-W 1.55m Gothenburg Trophy and the two also took the runner-up spot in the CSI5*-W 1.55m Championat of Basel at the beginning of the year.

"Dark Chocolate's rideability is extremely good, he is clever and strong in his body," Lynch said about the stallions positive attributes. "I am excited to the see what he and his new rider will achieve in the future." 

"I think it was a bold move to put him in an auction," Lynch explained about his choice to sell the stallion at an auction, a proposal initially brought forward by Bertram Allen – one of the founders of the Aloga Auction. 

Created in 2021 by Harry and Bertram Allen as well as Maxi Lill, the 2024-edition of the Aloga Auction saw Maurice Tebbel and Sönke Rothenberger join the team that in 2022 welcomed Sentower Park's Lauren Meynaerts as part of the auction-squad. Three out of the 19 showjumpers sold above €1 million on Monday night, with the 9-year-old stallion Kiritan (Kannan x For Ever Jump) going for €1.7 million to the U.S. and the 6-year-old stallion Nikora TSH (Aganix du Seigneur x Unaniem) changing hands for €1.9 million – in addition to the €2.3 million paid for Dark Chocolate.