“Fantastic,” reflects Gerald Lenaerts. “Not just because of the price, but because this filly will have every opportunity with her new owners.” Together with Luk Van Puymbroeck, he saw 36 of the 40 foals sold for an average price of almost €22,500. Half of the foals were purchased on-site at Sentower Park, while the other half sold online.
“The auction needed a little time to get going, but overall it was another very strong edition. We all worked hard for it and in the end we sold foals to buyers from eleven different countries.”
€44,000 for half-sister Corlou PS
Before the auction, it was difficult to predict which foal would top the sale. Luk Van Puymbroeck, who only a week earlier consigned the €50,000 top seller at Holger Hetzel Stables, and Gerald Lenaerts preferred not to make any predictions.
Co-selector Mark Oude Griep also consigned a foal this time and was rewarded with a price of €44,000. Whispering Angel MOG (United Touch S x Baloubet du Rouet), a half-sister to the 1.55m Grand Prix stallion Corlou PS, will move to Canada.
For €36,000, Unbelievable Touch vh Maaskantje Z (United Touch S x Colander), bred out of the half-sister to Olympic champion Explosion W, will remain in Belgium. He will become a stablemate of Double Trouble JS (Balou du Reventon x Diamant de Semilly), a grandson of the 1.65m Grand Prix mare Imagine de Muze, who sold for €34,000.
Out of 1.60m Grand Prix mares
Cassiopeia van WW Z (Chacco Blue x Thunder van de Zuuthoeve), out of the 1.60m Grand Prix mare Esquina van Klapscheut, was also secured by the Irish buyers of Elaba van Overis Z. The hammer fell at €34,000. “They certainly know what they’re buying,” Lenaerts says with a smile. “I expect great things from these foals.”
Reflecting on Elaba’s dam Ciske van Overis, Lenaerts recalls: “Mark Williams became co-owner when she was still young and she was produced in England. At just eight years old, Ciske jumped her first Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Hamburg with Guy Williams. When we saw the course, we thought, ‘This will be difficult.’ But she jumped brilliantly. Only in the second round she put one foot in the water and she finished seventh. She had everything: scope, carefulness and incredible intelligence.”
From Edwina to the USA
Ciske’s exceptional talent was soon recognised by Jan Tops, after which she came under the saddle of his wife, Edwina Tops-Alexander, as an eight-year-old.
“Edwina had several very successful years with her before Ciske was sold to Double H Farm with the Olympic Games in mind. Rodrigo Pessoa rode her for a short period before leaving the stable. Afterwards, the still very young Maggie McAlary successfully competed Ciske at 1.60m level.
“When she retired from sport, Double H Farm sent her back to us and we now share the foals. The oldest offspring are six years old and look very promising. Earlier in her career she produced one foal, Little Pleasure, who became the most successful six-year-old of her year with Laura Renwick and went on to compete very successfully up to 1.40m level.”
The Flanders Foal Auction team flies to Dublin on Wednesday for the Flanders Embryo Auction, which takes place on Friday evening, August 7. The complete collection is available at www.flandersfoalauction.be. Looking to invest in a foal instead? The final Flanders Foal Auction of the season will take place on September 12 at Sentower Park.