On a tropical 1st of July, the definitive selection and photo shoot of the foals for the Belgian Warmblood Foal Auction took place at the Domain Stoeterij d’Heyboght in Beervelde. Thirty of the 110 foals put up for the selection by their breeders in total were retained for the final viewing for the auction on 8 August, to which approximately 26 foals will proceed.
During the viewing rounds, spread out over the towns of Evergem, Lichtaart, Glabbeek and Beervelde to ensure the BWFA is reaching out to the breeders, 110 foals were judged on model, foundation and movements. This is slightly less than the previous year. “But still this is a positive trend,” Auctioneer Dirk Zagers explains, “as in 2014 we had to turn down a lot more breeders because the dam line of their foal was not up to the selection standard of the BWFA. The applicants clearly understood only the very best quality counts if they want to be considered for selection.”
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MOTHERS
This year the BWFA is again relying on proven dam lines. The selected foals feature resounding names in their dam lines such as Sapphire, Via Volo, Domino, Ratina Z and Check Piccobello, Excenel V, Clinton, Valentina van ’t Heike, Olympia and so on. “The dam line has to be exceptional, or you won’t get into the auction,” Zagers again emphasizes. In the sire line, we saw a mix of proven sport stallions, relatively young stallions that do well and hail promising offspring, young stallions and stallions that have proven themselves both in the sport and in breeding. The likes of Cornet Obolensky, Vigo d’Arsouilles, Kannan and Baloubet de Rouet reappear each year, and are not lacking in 2015 either. They are joined by Kafka vd Heffinck, Thunder van de Zuuthoeve, Casall, Emerald and Nabab de Reve. Boyfriend du Seigneur, Old Chap Time, Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve and Chacco Blue are some new names, and Marcus Ehning’s top star Comme il Faut is also making an appearance again.
POSTER BOY
The poster boy of the 2015 auction is Pronto vd Middelstede, a full brother of Jos Verlooy’s Domino (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve out of the mare Queen d’Azur Middelstede). Other highlights to look out for will be a Baloubet du Rouet offspring from the direct dam line of Valentina van ’t Heike, named Popeye. “To have a Baloubet du Rouet offspring is unique in itself, since there are not many around and the quality of the semen is moderate, but the direct dam line of Valentina van ’t Heike makes it really special.” The catalog also includes offspring from the direct dam lines of Ratina Z and Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve. The latter one is by Galantis vh Merelsnest, from the same line that produced McLain Ward’s Sapphire. The final foal to look out for is Palm Beach vd Molendreef, a foal by Kafka vd Heffinck out of the same direct dam line as Beezie Madden’s famous Via Volo vd Molendreef.
BUILDING REFERENCES
“References are important to an auction like the BWFA,” Dirk says. “In 2015, 3 BWFA stallions were approved: Luigi d’Eclipse and Million Dream v/h Schaek for the Zangersheide Studbook and Luigi di Cantero for the SAWHS. Besides, Million Dream was bought by the Holsteiner Verband, a first for a BWP- bred stallion.” There are also several promising 8-year-olds waiting to make their big splash into the international top sport, such as Halifax v/h Kluizebos, Hamilton, Hamlet vd Lindehoeve, Haribo and so on.
THE SUCCESS RATE SAYS IT ALL
The unique selection process and the proven dam lines have enabled the BWFA to create a frame of references with BWFA Ambassadors at the highest levels of the sport. Rik Hemeryck’s top mount Carlitto van ’t Zorgvliet recently jumped into the spotlight, winning the 1.45m Grand Prix at Knokke Hippique. Another successful BWFA Ambassador is Garrincha Hedoniste, who won both the Nations Cup of Odense and the Grand Prix of Milan earlier this year under Wilm Vermeir. Dirk Zagers has the final word: “A top dam line is the key to the success of the BWFA. Looking at these Ambassadors, we have a success rate of 46%. That means 46% of all the horses that have come through here over the years have jumped 1,40m or higher. That is a lot.”
To read more about the horses and the auction go to bwfa.be