Wellington, FL – April 11, 2012 – Following an extremely successful winter circuit, Equestrian Sport Productions LLC (ESP) continued into five weeks of spring horse shows at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center this week with the ESP Spring 1 Horse Show. With a full line-up of ‘AA’ hunter and four-star jumper competition, the show ran on April 3-7, 2012, and featured a $25,000 Grand Prix and $10,000 Welcome Stake.

The ESP Spring Series circuit will continue on April 11-15 including a $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Stake on Thursday, April 12, and a $25,000 Grand Prix on the grass field at The Stadium (weather permitting) on Sunday, April 15. ʉ۬

Yann Candele and Carlotta Singular La Magnifica Win $25,000 ESP Spring 1 Grand Prix

Canada’s Yann Candele and Carlotta Singular La Magnifica emerged with a victory during week one of Equestrian Sport Production’s spring horse show circuit in the $25,000 ESP Spring 1 Grand Prix held on Saturday morning. Carlotta, a ten-year-old Hanoverian mare by Chasseur x Singular Joter owned by Susan Grange, was returning from six weeks off this winter following a minor injury. Candele and Carlotta won the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 4 at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival and are now making their comeback.


Yann Candele and Carlotta Singular La Magnifica

The course for the $25,000 ESP Spring 1 Grand Prix was set by Eric Hasbrouck. Candele and Carlotta Singular La Magnifica won in a nine-horse jump-off out of 38 starters, the fastest of five double clear rounds after completing the short course in 39.925 seconds.



Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Siri placed second in 40.145 seconds. Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Zino Platinum were a close third with a time of 40.636 seconds. Liza Finsness and Ormsby Hill placed fourth in 44.196 seconds, and Candice King and Hyperion Stud LLC’s Campbell VDL stopped the clock in 46.826 seconds to finish in fifth.


On his winning ride, Candele stated, “She felt very good. She jumped very well at the beginning of the circuit and then she had a little injury; she had a bruise in one foot, so we were cautious. She couldn’t go through the winter, she was off for six weeks, so we are restarting her because she is going to Europe to compete in some Nations Cups.”


“The plan was to start back with the $500,000 class, but she had not jumped, so we stayed on the cautious side and waited to do this week and obviously she jumped well today,” Candele continued. “Today was a good feeling because she is leaving for Europe on Thursday, so we just wanted to see where she was at.”


Carlotta will show at the CSI 4* in Lummen, Belgium, and will continue to Linz, Austria, and then back to Calgary. Candele has been riding the mare for two years now and feels that she is developing well and looks good for a spot on the Canadian Show Jumping Team for this summer’s Olympic Games. “The whole idea is to go to the Olympic Games with her. Obviously right now she is doing nicely,” he said. “Chances are good for the team; if she jumps well in Europe, definitely.”



Yann and Carlotta in their winning presentation

On the week’s grand prix win he noted, “It is nice to have these spring shows when it is quieter to still do some jumping and get her in the ring because she is going to do some serious jumping. It was great before we leave to really know where we are at. It was a friendly course today. The first three went clear and then slowly more at the end and it turned out nine, which was perfect. The jump-off was just nice. I saw the fast four-faulters at the beginning and knew what I had to do; she was good.”


Jumper Highlights

On Thursday, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Everly Chin De La Pomme, owned by Spy Coast Farm LLC, jumped to victory in the $10,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Open Jumper Welcome Stake at the ESP Spring 1 Horse Show. Sweetnam won over young American rider Meagan Nusz and Amalaya Investment’s Dynamo, who finished second and fellow Irishman Paul O’Shea and his own Wizz, who placed third.



Madeline McDermott and Bull Run’s Becky Blue won the South Florida Sport Chassis NAL Low Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Stake during the week. The win in the High Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Stake went to Liza Finsness and Vera Z. 


Cristina Longo and Four Wings Farm LLC’s Andante topped the Tackeria NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic for the week. Emily Rizzo and Little Joey, owned by Tyler Smith, won the Low Child/Adult Classic. The Merrill Lynch M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic saw a victory for Lauren Biddle and Pavaler.


Hunter and Equitation Highlights

Devon De Phillips and Jus II, owned by Ark Partners LLC, earned the championship in the Rich Favor Transport Baby Green Hunter division during the ESP Spring 1 show. Kinsale, owned by DMG Holdings International LLC and ridden by Josee Stedding, finished in
reserve. 


In the Adult Amateur Hunters, Hope Batchelor and Joy Ride, owned by Joanne Copeland, earned the championship with Elizabeth Plummer and Belief in reserve.

     
In the Large Junior Hunter division, Silas V and Brianne Link were the overall winners with
Camden Yards, owned by Allyson Blais and ridden by Liza Finsness, in reserve. The Small Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter championship went to DHS Farms’ Winnetou and Lisa Butzer with Larkspur and Ashley Whitner in reserve.


     
In the ponies, Micaela Kennedy’s First Kiss and Elena De Santi were the Large Pony Hunter champions.  Sterling Silver LLC’s Nightlight Estrada and Emily Rizzo finished in reserve.


In the Small Pony Hunters, Lochmoor Stables’ Firefly and Hana Bieling earned the championship with Orchard Hill’s Double Take, owned by Linda Evans and ridden by Ava Stearns, in reserve.



Katie Jacobs and Deeridge Farm’s Jouet were champion in the Children’s Hunter division with Charles Jacobs and Ranier, owned by CMJ Sporthorse LLC, in reserve.


In the equitation, Liza Finsness and Fedelio topped both the hunter and jumper phases of the WIHS Equitation Classic to win overall. Michael Kocher rode Shiva, owned by Missy Clark and North Run, to the win in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search.
Brianne Link and Spock won the USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal, sponsored by Roland College. Vivian Yowan and Gabrielle Bausano Inc.’s Naf-Naf topped the ASPCA Maclay class.


For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.