The Russian owned PSI auction price highlight horses Der Designer and Sa Coeur have returned to Hof Kasselmann in Germany after having been in training at Michael Eilberg's yard in Great Britain for three years.
The 11-year old Hanoverian bred stallion Der Designer (by De Niro x Weltmeyer) was acquired by Moscow based Russians Elena Knyaginicheva and Russian eventing rider Georgyi Rtischev for 1.1 million euro at the 2011 PSI Auction in Ankum, Germany. Under Russian rider Inna Tzydrenkova the black licensed stallion competed at the 2012 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, but had to retire in the preliminary test. At the same event Knyaginicheva saw Michael Eilberg win the 6-year old division and World Champion's title with Woodlander Farouche. She approached Michael for the ride on Der Designer and the horse moved to Great Britain in the spring of 2013.
The 10-year old Oldenburg gelding Sa Coeur (by Sir Donnerhall x Don Davidoff) sold for 2.3 million euro to Knyaginicheva at the 2012 PSI Auction. Under Eva Möller the gelding won the 2012 and 2013 World Young Horse Championships in Verden. In the spring of 2015 Sa Coeur joined Der Designer at Eilberg's in the U.K.
Under Michael Eilberg Der Designer made his international show debut in March 2015 at the CDI Barcelona at small tour level. In 2016 they won all small tour classes at the two weeks of competition at the 2016 CDI Valencia in Spain. With Sa Coeur he made his debut at the CDIO Saumur in April 2016 and won the small tour. He also showed the gelding at the CDI Roosendaal in May 2016 and won all three classes entered. Michael went on to grab the title in the British Intermediaire I Championship last September.
Unfortunately, the successful collaboration between Eilberg and Knyaginicheva has now ended. Der Designer left in October 2016 and Sa Coeur followed in January 2017. Both returned to Hof Kasselmann, where they were trained initially for the PSI auction.
"Elena wanted to sell both horses so they went back to Germany," Michael Eilberg told Eurodressage. "(It) was a shame as I had produced both horses ready for Grand Prix this year. I was quite disappointed. I had put such a lot of work in to changing them."
Hof Kasselmann's assistant trainer Insa Hansen made her show debut on Der Designer and Sa Coeur at the local show in Zierow on 7 - 9 April. On Der Designer she finished 3rd in an S-level class with 68.860%. With Sa Coeur she contested three classes at S-level, finishing second twice (69.123% and 68.772%) as well as third (68.202%).
Photos © Digishots - Jon Stroud
Related Links
Eilberg and Sa Coeur Win Inter I Title at 2016 British Championships
Michael Eilberg and Sa Coeur Make Winning Small Tour Debut at 2016 CDIO Saumur
Sa Coeur In Training with Michael Eilberg
Sa Coeur Does the Double in Lacklustre 6-year old Finals at 2013 World Young Horse Championships
Michael Eilberg Has the Ride on Der Designer
Sa Coeur, Price Highlight of 2.3 Million Euro at 2012 PSI Auction
Der Designer Breaks One Million Euro Barrier at 2011 PSI Auction