Wellington, FL – January 28, 2011 – Yann Candele of Caledon, CA, won today’s $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge over a starting field of 46 competitors with Liz Currie’s Carolla Z.
The third week of the FTI WEF continues through Sunday, January 30. The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition through April 3, 2011, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit. The highlight jumper class is Saturday night’s $40,000 Surpass Grand Prix, CSI 2* at 7 p.m.
Candele won over a course designed by Olaf Petersen Sr. of Germany. He went early in the order and set a pace that couldn’t be beat in 61.175 seconds. There were 16 clear rounds in the class.
“I was early in the beginning,” Candele said. “I saw the first horse going in, and they were very efficient. I just tried to let her take me and make some short turns. It paid off, obviously! She’s a naturally fast horse.”
Yann Candele and Carolla Z
Pablo Barrios (VEN) and G&C Napoleon were just behind for second place with a clear round in 61.507 seconds. Ronan McGuigan rode Chin Chon, owned by Eduardo F Cepeda, to third place in a time of 63.312 seconds.
Candele has been riding Carolla Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide mare by Cumano x Landadel, for five years. Candele said of the mare, “She won a grand prix in September. We’re just starting her here. She’s had four classes and she was second twice and won the other two. It’s a long circuit and so far she’s been doing very, very well.”
Future plans for the FTI WEF circuit include moving up from the 1.40m division. “We’re planning on doing some 1.45m FEI classes. We’ll go step by step. She’ll go on holiday now because she’s already shown two weeks. She’ll have two weeks off, and we’ll move her up slowly,” Candele explained.
The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival will continue tomorrow with the $40,000 Surpass Grand Prix, CSI 2*, held in the International Arena at 7 p.m., with festivities beginning at 6 p.m.
For full results please visit www.showgroundslive.com and for more information please visit www.equestriansport.com.
Final Results: $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge
1 CAROLLA Z YANN CANDELE LIZ CURRIE: 0/61.175
2 G&C NAPOLEON PABLO BARRIOS G&C FARM: 0/61.507
3 CHIN CHON RONAN MCGUIGAN EDUARDO F CEPEDA: 0/63.312
4 STREET OF DIAMONDS VICTOR AMAYA GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES: 0/64.370
5 WINDE LAURA KRAUT PIN OAK FARM: 0/64.403
6 AMOROSO KATHERINE DINAN GRANT ROAD PARTNERS: 0/67.408
7 OBOURG LISA JACQUIN FLINTWOODE FARMS LLC: 0/68.831
8 NADYLEEN ALEXA LOWE WINDSOR FARM SALES: 0/68.982
9 EMPIRE STATE VICTOR AMAYA GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES: 0/70.053
10 DOZENT KATHERINE NEWMAN MIMI ABEL SMITH: 0/70.183
11 DONNA EVITA LAURA KRAUT THE FREEDOM GROUP: 0/70.442
12 CASA BLANCA LA SILLA LISA JACQUIN FLINTWOODE FARMS LLC: 0/71.984
Photo Credit: Yann Candele and Carolla Z won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge during week 3 at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot, Official Sport Photographer of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, www.sportfot.com. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release. For high resolution images, please send a request to info@jenniferwoodmedia.com .
The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 12 through April 3. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $6 million in prize money will be awarded.
WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,600 employees located in most major business centers in the world, they work closely with clients every day to anticipate, illuminate, and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management and restructuring. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.