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Consisting of three legs of competition, the 2004 World Cup Final held April 22-25 in Milan, Italy, saw 41 of the world’s biggest names in show jumping competing for international accolades. In the opening speed round on Thursday, Candele had three rails down to put himself in 32nd position overall. However, in Friday’s grand prix class, Candele came back to finish second by the narrowest of margins, three one hundredths of a second, following a seven-horse jump-off. The impressive result catapulted him into 17th place overall in the World Cup standings and ensured him a place in the starting order for Sunday’s Final, a two-round grand prix. Following a day of rest, Candele opened the final two determining rounds on Sunday with a 12-fault effort. In the second round, Candele was working on a clear effort with Mill Creek Sweet Dream when the last fence on course fell, giving them a total of 16 faults over two rounds for a 12th place finish. Totaling the results over three days of competition, Candele finished in 16th place amongst an international field that was topped by his countryman, Bruno Broucqsault riding Dileme de Cephe, who became the first Frenchman to ever win the annual indoor event. “It was a great experience to participate in an event like this and to be able to ride a horse that can compete against the best in the sport,” said Candele whose goal in attending the World Cup Final was to be among the riders who moved forward to Sunday’s Final. “All the hard work you have put into the horse pays off when you have these types of results. I am thrilled with Mill Creek Sweet Dream, she jumped everything easily, but I lacked precision. She would have been clear the whole way through if I had brought her to the right distances. As the jumps got bigger, she just got better and better.” While Candele blamed himself for the lowered rails, owner Phil Henning of Mill Creek Stables had nothing but praise for the 33-year-old athlete. “I think Yann is one of the best riders in the world,” said Henning. “He is an amazing talent and he's done a great job with the horse. She is only nine years old and performed well over very tough courses against many of the best horses and riders in the world. In fact, I am more impressed by who she beat than what her final placing was. As always, this year’s World Cup Final boasted an impressive list of competitors, and Mill Creek Sweet Dream jumped those courses with no problems despite the fact that she is only just starting her career at the international level.” A native of Normandy, France, Candele has been based in Canada since 1999 when he became a trainer at current Canadian Show Jumping Champion Eric Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable in Schomberg, ON. “I believe that Mill Creek Sweet Dream was the only nine-year-old horse competing at the World Cup Final and, for her age, she was spectacular!” said Lamaze. “Phil Henning of Mill Creek Stables has been a big supporter and this result is very exciting! It is a fantastic performance for the horse, and the future is very bright for Yann. “He was nervous the first day and made a few little mistakes, but he has worked hard and you don’t finish second in a class at the World Cup Final if you are not good!” continued Lamaze. “In the five years Yann has been working with me, we’ve gone from having the biggest business in Canada to having the most successful business in Canada.” A Belgian Warmblood mare by Ohio Van De Padenborre, a son of the influential French sire Quidam de Revel, Mill Creek Sweet Dream was purchased as a five-year-old and has been partnered with Candele since she arrived in Canada. Candele also competed in the secondary classes at the World Cup Final riding Mill Creek Marco Taere, a 10-year-old chestnut Belgian Warmblood gelding by Darco. On opening day, Candele enjoyed an early victory when he and Mill Creek Marco Taere won the 1.40 meter speed competition by one one-hundredth of a second. On Saturday, Candele and Mill Creek Marco Taere had one rail down in the 1.50 m Grand Prix to finish 13th from a starting field of 39 riders. Candele enjoyed a successful season on the Canadian World Cup League circuit, winning three of the four World Cup Qualifying events he contested to earn an invitation from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) to the 2004 World Cup Final. Although Candele was also qualified for the 1992 World Cup Final in Del Mar, California, he was unable to compete due to restrictive quarantine requirements for his stallion. Candele first represented France in Nations’ Cup competition at the 2001 Spruce Meadows Masters tournament in Calgary, AB, riding Mill Creek Chardo. The owner of Mill Creek Sweet Dream, Phil Henning of Mill Creek Stables, has numerous horses competing at the grand prix level and continues to develop a large string of up-and-coming young prospects. Henning is a proud supporter of show jumping sport and was recently recognized for his valuable contribution with the 2003 Jump Canada Owner of the Year Award. In 2003, Mill Creek Rosalinde competed at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, under Eric Lamaze and also represented Canada in the $250,000 BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup at the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament. Mill Creek Raphael, whom Henning generously donated to Equine Canada earlier this year, was named to the 2000 Sydney Olympic team and represented Canada at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, before winning his second Canadian Show Jumping Championship title with Lamaze in 2003. Located in Cambridge, ON, Mill Creek Stables is one of Canada’s largest sport horse breeding and sales barns, offering prospects in a variety of disciplines to suit all budgets. For more information, please visit www.millcreekstables.com, call tel: 519 740-1121 or e-mail: phenning@millcreekstables.com. PHOTOGRAPH “Yann Candele and Mill Creek Sweet Dream competing at the 2004 World Cup Final in Milan, Italy.” Photo Credit – Cealy Tetley |
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