After three successful embryo auctions in Dublin, the Flanders Foal Auction team knows that the Irish don't show their hand too early but are highly motivated to bring the best bloodlines to Ireland and are always up for a lively evening. These are among the reasons the team is returning for the fourth time to the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin, where 27 embryos will be auctioned today, Friday, August 16, following the FEI Nations Cup. These future foals are expected to be born in 2025. Check www.flandersfoalauction.be.
Expectations are high, especially after taking a look at the pedigrees. Once these foals are born, they are usually no longer for sale. One of the benefits of purchasing a 'Flanders embryo' is that the buyer will be the breeder and can choose any studbook for registration. If the foal is born and registered in Ireland, it can later compete in the popular young horse championships in the country. If an Irish buyer purchases an embryo, Flanders Foal Auction will even cover the cost of transporting the pregnant recipient mare to Ireland.
Olympic ties
What the buyers in Dublin and online expect is something extraordinary. “And we have that again this year. Of course, we hoped that United Touch and Ermitage Kalone would win a medal at the Olympic Games; we have four embryos from each of them. But that's also because we believe in their offspring. There’s even an Ermitage Kalone embryo out of the half-sister of United Touch. We have two embryos with Olympic finalist Dubai du Cedre as their granddam, an embryo from Chacco Blue out of the same dam as Uricas vd Kattevennen, who jumped spectacularly in Paris with Harrie Smolders, and a Balou du Reventon out of the full sister of Romeo 88, who helped Great-Britain secure team gold with Harry Charles," said Gerald Lenaerts and Luk Van Puymbroeck.
Out of Grand Prix mares
Notably, seven embryos are from mares that competed at 1.50m, 1.60m or even 1.70m levels. An exclusive highlight is the Cornet Obolensky embryo out of the 1.70m Grand Prix mare HH Azur (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve), the most successful showjumping horse in history with McLain Ward, having won over four million euros. Azur's dam's full sister produced Dalida van de Zuuthoeve (also by Thunder van de Zuuthoeve) from the Al Shira’aa Stables, another phenomenal horse who was even a candidate for the Olympic Games. In 2023, Dalida helped the United Arab Emirates secure team bronze at the Asian Games.
The 1.70m Grand Prix mare Gancia de Muze (Malito de Rêve), who earned more than two million euros in prize money with Niels Bruynseels, has produced the highest-priced embryo in Dublin for two consecutive years. This year, a United Touch embryo from her will be auctioned. Additionally, there is a Cornet Obolensky embryo out of Calanda 42 (Calido), the 1.60m Grand Prix mare for many years with Marcus Ehning.
Special story
One embryo has a particularly special story: The Pacino (Diamant de Semilly) embryo out of the 1.60m Grand Prix mare Sterrehof’s Ushi. Pacino was a true phenomenon under Irish rider Clements McMahon. He broke through at Nations Cup level at just eight years old but tragically passed away a year later due to complications from colic. Although no frozen semen was available, the owners managed to freeze a straw after his death, resulting in this embryo. Pacino, who has a four-year-old clone, still lives on in the hearts of the Irish. His son, Pacino Amiro, was even named as a reserve for the Olympic Games this summer with Bertram Allen.
In short, the embryos for Dublin are already rich in stories.
View the collection at www.flandersfoalauction.be and mark August 16 in your calendar.