By Sonja Grob
Photography: Tim Heide

The last Saturday in July was devoted to the festival of the foals in Donaueschingen. Sixteen so-called ‘Überflieger’, which means high-flyers, presented by the German breeders of sport horses. Riders competing in the tournament on the “Imenhöfen were willing to pay high prices for these young, future cracks. Similarly, stallion keepers made their way from the northern part of the country down to the Black Forest.

It was, however, the first foal into the ring, the athletic and blue-blooded daughter of the Rio 2016 Olympic champion Big Star (Quick Star - Jolanda x Nimmerdor), that reached the top price of €27,000 (US$ 31,466): Pennylyn GE (Big Star - Pennsylvania GE x Cornet Obolensky). One of the most successful stables from Baden-Württemberg purchased the future showjumping hope, bred by Steffen Jahn from Wolfersdorf. Offspring (Origi d’Or - Melodie x Landjunge), a colt bred by Edgar Langen in Remagen changed hands for €20,000 (US$ 23,308) and will make his new home at the Völz stallion station in Schleswig-Holstein.

There was some spirited bidding also for Valana (Vingino - Valentine T x Verdi), a beautiful filly bred by Frank Timmrech from Schwarzholz. Buyers from Austria paid €18,000 (US$ 20,977) for the youngster with the great paces.

The hammer fell at €17,000 (US$ 19,812) for the son of Comme il faut: Come again (Comme il faut - Suerte Blanca x Lancer II) from Gerd Gross, Burladingen – a future hope who will be trained at the stable of a rider competing in the show in Donaueschingen.

It was likely the first foal of the Global Champions Tour and Nations’ Cup star Don VHP Z (Diamant de Semilly - Sara van het Parelshof x Voltaire), to go under the hammer at auction. Bred by Wolf-Dieter Wagner in Stetten, Don Johnson HH (Don VHP Z - Miss Sparrow x Cormint) was sold for €15,500 (US$ 18,064) to another competition rider at the show...