Spruce Meadows Canada One - Saturday

The test was tough for today’s $50,000 RBC Cup. The Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) designed course had 16 jumping efforts over 600 metres in a time allowed of 90 seconds.

If the time allowed was not getting the riders, the water, the skinny or the triple combination were. D’Ambrosio had a multitude of tricks up his sleeve today, demanding that horse/rider combinations be prepared for all that he had to offer.

Today there were only two up to the challenge, Canadians Yann Candele and John Anderson. They are a consistent pair, but not the most celebrated of today’s field.

Canadian Olympian Eric Lamaze was clear until the last fence got the best of him and his Dutch Warmblood gelding, Undercontract, they finished with four faults and a fourth place finish. Joining Lamaze in the four fault group was his Olympic team mate Ian Millar and American Olympian Beezie Madden.

With the rest of their competitors being taken out by the course it was up to Yann Candele and John Anderson to jump-off for first position. The jump-off course was shorter than the first round but posed an equally difficult test.

Candele and his mare Pitareusa were the first in the jump-off. Candele rounded his mount around the eight jump-off obstacles with ease. They finished the RBC Cup double clear and set a jump-off time to beat of 41.03 seconds.

Anderson rode in under pressure. He would have to ride his gelding Terrific clear and faster than Candele’s time if he was going to win. The pressure got the better of the pair at the end of the course. They knocked the triple down and retired. Anderson lost the RBC Cup and a bet with Candele. “When we go golfing on Monday I’m going to have to play with a pink ball,” explained Anderson after the competition.

It was a satisfying win for Candele who took on a difficult course and finished on top. “The course was tough enough, as you saw with just two clear rounds,” said Candele after the victory. “The riders were worried about both the tough, technical course and the clock and I think that made it even tougher. It was a great win for me because it’s been a tough Spruce Meadows Tour so far.”

RBC Cup top 10

1-         Yann Candele           CAN               Pitareusa

2-         John Anderson          CAN               Terrific

3-         Beezie Madden         USA                Authentic

4-         Eric Lamaze              CAN               Undercontract

5-         Leslie Howard           USA                Raimond W

6-         Antionio Maurer        MEX                Callao

7-         Antonio Chedraui      MEX                Don Porfirio

8-         Kent Farrington        USA                Uceko

9-         Ian Millar                  CAN               Redefin

10-       Keean White             CAN               Celena Z