“THOSE annoying Irish,” one of the bidders laughed during the Flanders Embryo Auction at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin last Friday, when the lot he wanted to buy on behalf of his client was nabbed by an Irish competitor.
Everyone in the room, which was packed to capacity, knew in advance which embryos would be the ones to watch, but nobody expected them to beat last year’s record. The average price rose from €30,300 to almost €33,000 and the top price of €86,000 was paid for a United Touch S embryo out of the dam of the impressive Grand Prix stallion Impress-K van ’t Kattenheye.
The 2026 auction, held just around the corner from the Dublin Horse Show, will go down in history as the best embryo auction ever held by the organisation with 25 of the 26 embryos sold. There was plenty of online bidding throughout the evening, but the only online winner was the American buyer who clicked the bid button for the €86,000 top lot.
Investments that pay
The embryo auction in Dublin remains a special event, attracting top riders, investors and breeders every year, as well as returning clients who are delighted with their previous purchases. Just one hour before the auction, for example, a Heartbreaker filly out of Chaccloubette (Chacco-Blue) was sold at the Dublin Horse Show for €32,000. One year earlier, the same filly had been knocked down for €12,000 at the Flanders Embryo Auction.
Artemis Equestrian Farm, which purchased three embryos last year, once again sent Rodrigo Pessoa to the auction on their behalf.
The American owner can now look forward to two exceptionally-bred foals in 2027.
For €80,000, they purchased an Impress-K van ’t Kattenheye embryo out of the 1.70m Grand Prix mare Gancia de Muze. For €46,000, they became the owner of an Untouched LB embryo out of the same dam as Bisquetta, the 2025 Dublin Grand Prix winner ridden by Laura Kraut.
James Doyle (left) and Donnchadh Doyle (centre) return to the Flanders Embryo Auction every year. Among their purchases was the full sibling to Picobello van ’t Roosakker, which sold for €71,000
Spectacular finale
Irish buyers purchased no fewer than 20 of the 25 embryos. Among them were clients well-known in the racing world, who have been with Flanders since the very first edition in Dublin and once again shopped enthusiastically.
They brought the evening to a spectacular close with a bid of €71,000 for a full brother or sister to Nations Cup horse Picobello van ’t Roosakker (Kassander van ’t Roosakker).
An Irish lady paid €50,000 for a United Touch S embryo out of the Olympic mare Ornellaia, who was ridden by John Whitaker.
It is clear that Luk Van Puymbroeck and Gerald Lenaerts have once again created something special in Dublin. To get into the Irish spirit, the team had placed a €10 bet the night before the auction. Luk was the lucky one, putting €60 in his pocket after correctly guessing the final price of the most expensive embryo of the evening.
Flanders Embryo Auction 2026: Jeroen Dubbeldam also attended the auction and went through the collection with Ariel Grange
Auction lots
Lot 1 United Touch S x Diaja Gold (Diablue). Selling price: €24,000
Lot 2 Colestus x Chanette (Chacco Blue). Selling price: €19.000
Lot 3 Pacino x Sterrehof’s Ushi (Vigo d’Arsouilles). Selling price: €24,000
Lot 4 Comme Il Faut x Lausanne JPS (Kannan). Selling price: €22,000
Lot 5 Emerald x Idole 111 (Darco). Selling price: €22,000
Lot 6 Chacco Blue x Flash EH Z (For Pleasure). Selling price: €20,000
Lot 7 United Touch S x Ornellaia (For Pleasure). Selling price: €50,000
Lot 8 Embryo Aganix du Seigneur Z x Good Night du Cedre (Vagabond de la Pomme). Selling price: €20,000
Lot 9 Embryo Diamant de Semilly x Celestial Up Too (VDL Douglas). Not sold.
Lot 10 Embryo Kannan x My Way B&V (Emerald van ‘t Ruytershof). Selling price: €40,000
Lot 11 Untouched LB x I-Squalls Estate Ioletta (Takashi van Berkenbroeck).Selling price: €46,000
Lot 12 Chagrin d’Amour x Indra vd Bisschop (Heartbreaker). Selling price: €16,000
Lot 13 Comme Il Faut x Hermione de la Pomme (Nabab de Reve). Selling price: €34,000
Lot 14 United Touch S x Ulka LVP (Uricas van de Kattevennen). Selling price: €20,000
Lot 15 Cornet Obolensky x Charmline JT Z (Canabis Z). Selling price: €14,000
Lot 16 Impress-K van Kattenheye Z x Gancia de Muze (Malito de Reve).Selling price: €80,000
Lot 17 Mosito vh Hellehof x Gin Orange de Muze (Andiamo Z). Selling price: €22,000
Lot 18 Emerald x Ignis van ‘t Lindehof (Toulon). Selling price: €28,000
Lot 19 United Touch S x Julia vd Donkhoeve (Vagabond de la Pomme). Selling price: €86,000
Lot 20 Comme Il Faut x Decibelle du Seigneur (Ogano Sitte). Selling price: €19,000
Lot 21 Ermitage Kalone x Chou Chou Picobello (Contact VD Heffinck). Selling price: €30,000
Lot 22 Chacco Blue x C’est La Vie (Verdi TN). Selling price: €20,000
Lot 23 Heartbreaker x Doris Day van Overis Z (Diamant de Semilly). Selling price: €36,000
Lot 24 Cornet Obolensky x Tina du Forest (Nabab de Reve). Selling price: €24,000
Lot 25 United Touch S x Champagne de Hus (Chellano Z). Selling price: €31,000
Lot 26 Kassander van ‘t Roosakker x My Lady Belle van ‘t Roosakker (Canabis Z). Selling price: €71,000