THE Flanders Embryo Auction has become a signature event for many Irish and overseas visitors to the Dublin Horse Show. After the prestigious FEI Nations Cup, the third edition of the auction at The InterContinental Hotel attracted a large audience last Friday night, and strong buyers. In total, 80% of the collection was sold on the spot. The Cardento, out of Gancia de Muze embryo, to be born next year, brought a whopping €56,000 and the average price came to €28,772.

“An incredible result. It was a very strong collection and it was greatly appreciated. The Irish are clearly interested in bringing home strong damlines. By buying these embryos, they can call themselves breeders next year, which is also interesting.

“This will allow these foals to compete in Irish championships in the future and that is a big thing here. The embryos have been sold to top riders, investors and breeders,” Gerald Lenaerts and Luk Van Puymbroeck stated.

Several times a tough battle ensued between the bidders in the crowded hall. Online bidders were not as prominent this year, with only two sales secured via online bidding. One of these was the full sibling of the 1.60m Grand Prix horse Calleryama (Casall x Contender) for €42,000, which will be born in Belgium.

Gancia de Muze’s owner Krystle Wienen witnessed the price skyrocket for the Cardento embryo, out of her 1.70m Grand Prix mare. Wienen bought Gancia at the age of six and gave the ride to Niels Bruynseels.

The follow-up story is familiar to many, as Gancia de Muze went on to win several million euros in prize money. Now retired from international competition, she is available for breeding and that was rewarded with €56,000 secured from a Northern Irishman.

Last year, her first auctioned embryo in Dublin also brought the top price.

As many as six embryos passed the €35,000 mark. The second most expensive at €45,000 was the Emerald embryo out of the Olympic mare Zeremonie (Cero I), so successful with America’s Laura Kraut.

Tipperary’s Shane Breen had indicated beforehand that he had his eye on Golden Hawk’s embryo (a stallion he rode with such success at 1.60m Grand Prix level) out of Michael Duffy’s fantastic 1.60m Grand Prix mare Cinca 3 and was successful in securing it at €42,000.

The fact that Cinca 3 jumped two rounds for Ireland in the Aga Khan Nations Cup with only one foot in the water just a few hours earlier, further confirmed her quality.

At €37,000, the Chacco Blue x Darco mare Geena (1.55m GP) was sold while the full sibling of 1.65m Grand Prix horse Like a Diamond vh Schaeck (Diamant de Semilly x Bamako de Muze) delivered €36,000.

The Diamant de Semilly x Guidam out of the same dam as Cian O’Connor’s Olympic jumper Kilkenny fetched €35,000.

Visit www.flandersfoalauction.be for more information.