Following the sale of his top horse Half Moon Delphi, British team dressage rider Michael Eilberg has acquired the ride on another superstar, the €2.31million (£1.6m) auction horse, Sa Coeur.
The Oldenburg gelding, who is by the Sandro Hit son Sir Donnerhall out of a Don Davidoff mare, was sold at the high profile December 2012 PSI Auction in Germany.
In the summer of 2012 Sa Coeur stood world young horse champion in the six-year-old division under Eva Möller. This was a repeat of his five-year-old achievements the previous year, hence his hefty price-tag.
As a five-year-old he received a 10/10 for his walk, and an overall score of 9.38, and as a six-year-old finished top with 9.04.
In 2012, behind Sa Coeur, Laura Tomlinson’s new ride Duvals Capri Sonne Jr captured the bronze medal under his former Dutch rider Dinja van Liere.
The leggy bay arrived at the Eilbergs’ Worcestershire yard a few weeks ago and has settled in well. Though Michael said he will “take some time to get to know him and get him in my way of training before taking him out”.
The Eilbergs already have serious horse power at their yard, in the form of another double world young horse champion Woodlander Farouche — who won the invitational Equestrian.com Bolesworth inter I freestyle last week (18 June).
He also rides her grand prix dam Woodlander Dornroschen (Dimaggio x Caprimond), and has recently broken the 70% barrier at the level.
Michael added: “We had a couple of the horses on the lorry recently and I suddenly realised we had millions of pounds in the back. It’s amazing and exciting — but also a bit terrifying.”
Sa Coeur’s Russian owners already have another expensive horse in training with Michael; the €1.1million (£782,000) black stallion Der Designer, a De Niro son out of a Weltmeyer mare. He was the price highlight at the 2011 PSI Auction and has been winning with Michael on the Premier League circuit at small tour.
