“THAT was some show,” exclaimed auctioneer Louis De Cleene as he stepped off the stage just before midnight last Friday, August 8th. And it was an apt description of the vibrant Flanders Embryo Auction in Dublin, where the prices hit a new record.

Two embryos sold for €88,000 and one for €84,000. Although the Irish pushed hard, Brazil’s former Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa signed the contracts on the spot on behalf of his sponsor, Artemis Farms.

The fifth edition of the auction, held in the stunning InterContinental Hotel at the corner of the RDS Dublin Horse Show, is beginning to outgrow its setting. Hundreds of equestrian fans stood and sat packed together, discussing pedigrees, enjoying drinks and following the auction to the very last second. Louis De Cleene had his hands full keeping things under control, part of the charm of Dublin.

The Irish know what they want and embrace the concept of the Flanders Embryo Auction. The buyer earns the title of breeder and the pedigrees of these unborn foals are of top quality. However, American Kristy Clark of Artemis Farms in Wellington also knew exactly what she wanted for her budding breeding programme. She sent her sponsored rider, Rodrigo Pessoa, to secure three embryos, but no one expected she would have to pay €260,000 to get them.

Of the 25 embryos sold (due in 2026), 24 fetched an average of €30,300, another record for Flanders. The first to reach €88,000 was the United Touch S out of McLain Ward’s Azur HH (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve), the most successful mare ever with €4.3 million in prize money.

Sold for €84,000 was the Ermitage Kalone out of the 1.65m Grand Prix mare Like A Diamond Van Het Schaeck (Diamant de Semilly) and the evening’s finale - again €88,000 - was for the full-brother or sister of Christian Kukuk’s Olympic champion Checker 47 (Comme il Faut x Come On).

Irishman James Doyle was just as determined to secure the final lot and took on the challenge, but after a long battle, he conceded and shook Pessoa’s hand to loud applause. Doyle, a valued customer since the first Dublin edition, purchased two other embryos that evening, including the Mylord Carthago out of Qerly Chin’s daughter Toxine de Mars (Dollar de la Pierre) for €33,000.

Start strong

Rodrigo Pessoa was relieved that the mission had been accomplished. “Artemis Farms is an amazing sponsor for me and Kristy Clark is a fantastic person. She’s very passionate and wants to focus a bit more on breeding. Then you’d better start strong, buy something here and hope for a filly. Fillies with these bloodlines rarely come onto the market,” Pessoa commented. “It’s just a pity I probably won’t get to ride them myself,” he laughed, referring to his age.

Three embryos were sold online, the other 21 in the room, with 16 going to Irish buyers. Irish Olympic rider Darragh Kenny bought two: the Emerald x Heartbreaker three-quarters sibling of the 1.60m Grand Prix mare Kalinka van ’t Zorgvliet for €40,000 and the Ermitage Kalone out of the full-sister of his former top horse Romeo 88 (1.65m) for €30,000.

Legacy sibling

Daniel Coyle will be adding the three-quarters sibling of his top horse Legacy (1.65m) to his stable. Sponsor Ariel Grange secured this Chippendale Z x Coriano Z for €17,000. Bertram Allen, together with Aloga Auction, purchased the Pacino x Cornet Obolensky, bred out of the 1.60m Grand Prix mare Areeb O.L. Greg Broderick also secured two future stars.