March 5, 2006 – Cambridge, Ontario – When the bidding closed in the 2006 Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association (CWBHA) Stallion Service Auction on February 19, it was Mill Creek Stables that had attracted the highest bid among more than 50 of the country’s top stallions.

Mill Creek Stables of Cambridge, ON, had offered a breeding to any one of its three stallions for the 2006 Stallion Service Auction and when the gavel fell, the winning bid of $1,800 emerged as the highest price paid. All participants in the Canadian Warmblood Stallion Service Auction, first launched in 2000, donated one breeding to the annual on-line auction. This year, the money raised will be used to fund two initiatives – the Canadian Performance Futurities program that will be launched in 2006, and the Canadian Warmblood Foal Futurities.

"It was a thrill to learn that our stallions had attracted the highest bid at this year’s on-line auction, and it was even nicer to know that we are gaining an international reputation with the winning bid coming from California," said Phil Henning, owner of Mill Creek Stables. "I also feel that, with both Kaiser de la Cour and Millesime du Valy being Champion Stallions at their Canadian Warmblood inspections, it is important to give something back to this organization that works so hard on behalf of the breeders."

The purchaser of the Mill Creek Stables breeding lot has the choice between its three stallions, Kaiser de la Cour, Millesime du Valy, and Sancho. However, it is Kaiser de la Cour who has been garnering the most attention - the buyers of a donated breeding at a recent Canadian Equestrian Team fundraiser were none other than Ian and Lynn Millar.

Indeed, successful buyer Jill Burnell of Gray Fox Farm in Petaluma, California, was thinking of the selle francais stallion when she placed the winning bid, which ties the auction record of $1,800 set in 2005.

"It was his jump that attracted me when I saw Kaiser de la Cour's picture," explained Burnell who breeds exclusively for the hunter market. "I have 11 hunter mares, and I am hoping to get a hunter from Kaiser. I have heard from friends in Canada that he has beautiful hunter movement, except that he jumps the moon! I am hoping to get a top class hunter, but at the very least I will get a horse that jumps well. And Kaiser is just as cute as a button with his flaxen mane and tail. I am very excited, and very happy that the Canadian Warmblood offers this service."

Imported from France, Kaiser de la Cour is by Verdi by Narcos II, while his dam, Ulane de la Cour, is by Kayack. He is currently posting clear rounds in the 1.45m jumper division and preparing to enter the 1.50m ranks in Wellington, FL, under the watchful eye of Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa. Kaiser de le Cour proved his performance ability early on in the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series, winning the $10,000 Five-Year-Old National Championship at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show. His accolades extend beyond the competition ring, however, as he was also named the Grand Champion at the 2003 Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association (CWBHA) Stallion Inspection.

In 2005, Mill Creek Stables again claimed the Grand Champion title at the CWBHA Stallion Inspection, this time with Kaiser de la Cour’s half-brother, Millesime du Valy, a chestnut selle francais stallion by Verdi by Narcos II out of a Matador Du Bois dam. Born in France in 2000 and imported by Mill Creek Stables as a three-year-old, Millesime du Valy earned scores of 9 for his scope, technique, bascule, rideablity and gallop at the stallion licensing. Proving the testers right, Millesime du Valy went on to be crowned the National Five-Year-Old Young Jumper Reserve Champion at the 2005 CSI-W National Horse Show in Wellington, FL, an impressive accomplishment for a Canadian horse competing among America’s best.

The third breeding stallion currently standing at Mill Creek Stables is Sancho, an Oldenburg stallion by Skorpio out of a Continue dam. Bred by Mill Creek Stables, Sancho is also successfully competing in the Young Horse program, having enjoying impressive results in the Five-Year-Old Division in 2005 and qualifying for the National Young Horse Finals at the Royal Horse Show.

Located less than an hour southwest of Toronto, Mill Creek Stables is one of Canada’s largest sport horse breeding operations and sales barns, offering prospects in a variety of disciplines to suit all budgets. For more information, please visit www.millcreekstables.com, e-mail: phenning@millcreekstables.com or call (519) 740-1121.