Where breeding meets sport

Thursday evening has traditionally belonged to the young horses at the Zangersheide Quality Auction, but this year, for the first time in history, implanted embryos will come under the hammer during the World Championship, and Zangersheide has gone straight to the very top of international sport to assemble the collection.

Seven highly exclusive pregnancies offer access to some of the most coveted genetics in showjumping today, including embryos directly out of two Olympic mares: McLain Ward’s legendary HH Azur and John Whitaker’s Ornellaia. Julia van de Donkhoeve, dam of European Team Champion and double Vice-World Champion Impress-K van ’t Kattenheye Z, is represented with an embryo by Dominator 2000 Z, while another exceptionally rare opportunity brings together United Touch S and China Touch Hero, dam of Don’t Touch Tiji Hero, Devil 2000 Z, Akarad Hero Z and Drummer TN Z.

The three-year-old free-jumpers complete Thursday’s collection, bringing carefully selected talent together with pedigrees firmly rooted in international sport. Aganix du Seigneur Z, Cornet Obolensky, Comme Il Faut, Dominator 2000 Z, Dourkhan Hero Z and Emerald are among the sires represented, backed by dam lines that have already produced horses at the very highest level.
Among the many highlights are Aspen Z, a grandson of Judy Ann Melchior’s World Equestrian Games bronze medallist Cha Cha Z; Codrus 2000 Z, a son of Cornet Obolensky out of the full sister to Christian Ahlmann’s 1.60m D’Aganix 2000 Z; and Cheops Z, by Comme Il Faut out of the full sister to Emerald. Saddle broken and ready to take the next step towards sport with their new owners, all have undergone extensive veterinary examinations and, as an additional service to buyers, are insured until 30 days after the auction.


IMPLANTED EMBRYO by Dominator 2000 Z x Vagabond de la Pomme


 
A future sibling to European Team Champion and double Vice-World Champion Impress-K van ’t Kattenheye Z, sired by the phenomenal Dominator 2000 Z.


IMPLANTED EMBRYO by United Touch S x Chin Chin


 
China Touch Hero, the dam of several international performers and the approved stallions Devil Z, Akarad Hero Z and Drummer TN Z, is represented with an embryo by United Touch S.


#02: ASPEN Z | 2023 | Stallion | Aganix du Seigneur Z x Diamant de Semilly


 
Grandson of Judy Ann Melchior’s World Equestrian Games bronze medallist Cha Cha Z.


#09: DALLAS SM Z | 2023 | Gelding | Dourkhan Hero Z x Harley VDL


 
Careful and modern athlete out of the damline of Quasibelle du Seigneur.


#24: TESSADUELA | 2023 | Mare | Kasanova de la Pomme x Toulon


 
This modern athlete has it all: technique, scope and blood, backed by a highly sportive damline.


Where legends are born


Friday and Saturday evening, some of the best foals in the world will once again canter into the auction ring in Lanaken. The stars of Aachen are well represented, and the collection offers 86 foals from some of the most influential dam lines in the world. No fewer than 17 foals are directly out of mares that have competed at 1.60m level or higher, and throughout the entire collection, proven performance at the highest level runs remarkably close.
This year’s collection also features several genuine auction premieres. For the very first time, we have the honour of auctioning a foal out of Kent Farrington’s 1.60m Grand Prix mare Kaprice, as well as an exceptionally rare filly directly out of Eric Lamaze’s 5* 1.60m Grand Prix mare Derly Chin de Muze, making her a sister to Daniel Deusser’s 1.65m Grand Prix star Killer Queen VDM. Avant-Garde d’Grandin Z, a colt by Aganix du Seigneur Z out of the 5* Grand Prix mare Valkyrie de Talma, marks another auction first.

And the strength of the collection reaches far beyond the premieres. There is a brother to European Team Champion and double Vice-World Champion Impress-K van ’t Kattenheye Z, the full brother to Marlon Modolo Zanotelli’s 1.65m Like a Diamond van het Schaeck, a filly by United Touch S out of the dam of Olympic Quel Homme de Hus, and a foal directly out of Pius Schwizer’s 1.65m performer About a Dream. Max Kühner’s Grand Prix mare Cornetta 11 has a son by Cumano, the dam of Spruce Meadows winner Darry Lou Z is represented by a filly by United Touch S, and a son of Enrique Gonzalez’s 1.65m performer Chacna, sired by Colestus, is yet another example of just how close top-level sport runs through the collection.


#18: ESA DE NYZE Z | Filly | Emerald x Quadrillo


 
A striking sister to Mark Bluman’s Landon de Nyze.


#32: UPPER CLASS Z | Filly | United Touch S x Nabab de Reve


 
Sister to Spruce Meadows’ $3 million Rolex Grand Prix winner Darry Lou Z, sired by Richard Vogel’s United Touch S.


#35: DIAMOND LIKE ME OPTIMUS E4U Z | Colt | Diamant de Semilly x Bamako de Muze


 
Full brother to Marlon Modolo Zanotelli’s 1.65m Grand Prix mare Like a Diamond van het Schaeck.


#21: JACKSPOT SITTE Z | Colt | J-Nius V.V. Z x Heraldik Sitte


 
Extraordinary stallion prospect by J-Nius V.V. Z out of the world-famous damline of Aganix du Seigneur Z.


#62: DESIGN-K VAN KATTENHEYE Z | Colt | Dominator 2000 Z x Vagabond de la Pomme


 
Brother to European Team Champion and double Vice-World Champion Impress-K van ’t Kattenheye Z.


#65: CITY OF TROY Z | Colt | Cornet Obolensky x Echo van’t Spieveld


 
A rare son of Kent Farrington’s 1.60m Grand Prix winner Kaprice, sired by World #1 ranked stallion Cornet Obolensky.


#71: BLISSFUL DERLY’S GIRL VDL Z | Filly | Baltic VDL x For Pleasure


 
Direct daughter of Eric Lamaze’s legendary 5* 1.60m Grand Prix mare Derly Chin de Muze.

The Zangersheide Quality Auction 2026 promises three unforgettable evenings during the World Breeding Championship in Lanaken. Three evenings, three collections and countless opportunities to secure some of the most sought-after showjumping bloodlines and talents available on the market.

Tune in on 17, 18 & 19 September – all three auctions will be streamed live, with online bidding available via www.zangersheide.auction.

For further information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Zangersheide Auction Team at auction@zangersheide.com.

 

ZANGERSHEIDE QUALITY AUCTION - YOUNG HORSES & EMBRYOS:
-    Start of auction Thursday 17.09.2026: 19.30 CEST


ZANGERSHEIDE QUALITY AUCTION – FOALS:
-    Foal presentation: Thursday 17.09.2026 - 13.30 CEST 
-    Start of auction Friday 18.09.2026: 19.30 CEST
-    Start of auction Saturday 19.09.2026: 19.30 CEST