CAMERON Hanley’s ESI Toulouse (ISH) and Nickoletta C (OS) are two of the high profile horses added to the catalogue for the Goresbridge Supreme Sale of Showumpers on November 14th-15th.
Hanley purchased the five-year-old Irish Sport Horse ESI Toulouse, who represented the Irish Studbook at the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Lanaken last month under Ger O’Neill, as a four-year-old with the intention of selling him at the Goresbridge sale.
ESI Toulouse is by SIEC Livello (HOLS), who Hanley rode to fourth place at the 2009 European Championships, out of the mare Catina (BWP) and was bred at Andrew Hughes’ Ennisnag Stud in Co Kilkenny.
“I was down at Ger’s early in his four-year-old year and I really liked him so bought him then. We always thought we would put him in the auction so I left him with Ger to produce and he has done a fantastic job with him. Ger is very professional, he gives them the time they need and is all about producing them for the future,” Hanley told The Irish Field.
Hanley has not yet set a reserve on the horse, saying: “There has always been people asking about him but I never put a price on him because we always had this in mind. We haven’t thought about a price for the auction yet, I will talk to Ger about that closer to the time. He looks like he has everything. He reminds me a lot of his father – his carefulness, blood and scope. Whoever buys him will be getting a horse that looks like he will go to the top,” he added.
One of the standout lots of the sales is Nickoletta C, who Hanley owns with his brother Carl. The nine-year-old was added to the sale after O’Neill asked if they would be interested in bringing the 1.50m jumper as one of the star Grand Prix attractions.
“It was through Ger again that she is going to the sale, they want a high profile Grand Prix jumper and, while she is an outstanding horse, that’s the business myself and my brother are in, we have to keep them moving,” he said.
“It is important that we have a good level of horses going to these auctions and we saw the success of it last year with Dougie Douglas, who was sold for €1.4 million. It is also important that we (riders and dealers) all get behind a good auction like this.”
The mare, who is by Nintender (KWPN) out of Lady Capriola, has been produced by Cameron and Carl since she was six. Recently ridden by Eoin McMahon at the Dublin Horse Show in July, she was placed in the 1.50m JLT Dublin Stakes when picking up one time fault.
Hanley, who is currently out of action for six weeks, will be in Barnadown for the supreme sale next month. The 43-year-old dislocated and tore a tendon in his shoulder and underwent surgery three weeks ago.
Michael Duffy from Ballina, Co Mayo, is riding Hanley’s horses while he is sidelined and he hopes to get back in the ring at the four-star Munich indoor show on November 11th.
GERMAN HORSES
Two notable horses in the sale are Battle Cry and Kadari, owned by German-based Gestüt Eichenhain GmbH operation, which recently denied allegations they are linked to a major US legal battle. Battle Cry (KWPN), an eight-year-old mare by Balut Du Rouet, has jumped up to 1.45m level with German rider Harm Lahde. Also campaigned by Lahde up to 1.50m level, Kadari (KWPN), an 11-year-old mare by Karandasj, is Lot 103 in the November sale.