Two Major League Show Jumping teams are making strategic substitutions this week.

The third of ten legs on the 5* tour sees MLSJ stop in Toronto. Eye Candy and Helios, two teams currently ranked in the top three on the MLSJ Power Rankings, have opted to exercise the substitution clause. MLSJ teams are permitted to make two rider substitutions throughout the season.

For Eye Candy, it’s the first substitution ever. Last season, the team found sweet success with staples Jacqueline Steffens, Amy Millar and Paul O’Shea, dominating with League with four wins to bring home the championship title.

This season, we’ve yet to see the “line up of doom” back together again due to scheduling conflicts. Millar missed the first two legs of the MLSJ season while prepping for and competing in the ECCO FEI World Championships in Denmark and Eye Candy missed the podium in both.

The tides may turn in Toronto, however. Hot off Herning and an opening day win at Angelstone Tournaments, Millar is making her first appearance of the season but will ride without the core three. O’Shea and Eye Candy teammate Conor Swail are in Dublin, Ireland this week.

Stepping in for the Irishmen is another Irishman. (Are you sensing a trend here?) O’Shea has tapped Richie Moloney to take the reins. He’ll be riding alongside Millar and Steffens as Eye Candy looks to defend their stage 3 title from 2021.

Or as team captain Erica Hatfield put it: “Thank God Amy’s back.”

©MLSJ/Mackenzie Clark

With two wins under their belt, Helios can afford to roll the dice in Toronto—let’s hope it goes better for them than did the casino-themed draw. The team currently leading the standings lost all their chips at the dealer’s table and will go first in the order on Friday.

To date, all six Helios team members have made an appearance on the League and all six have contributed to wins. Ashlee Bond, Eugenio Garza and Bliss Heers topped the podium at MLSJ Vancouver while teammates Karl Cook, Simon McCarthy and Mark Bluman claimed it at MLSJ Traverse City.

This week in Toronto, MLSJ’s leading team is bringing back a familiar face in Sydney Shulman Desiderio. A member of last season’s A.I.M United, Shulman Desiderio had a breakout year in 2021, winning five 5* classes with the ever speedy Villamoura, four of which were on the MLSJ tour.

Related reading: Villamoura, Mi Amor

For MLSJ Toronto she brings forward Classic Penny and a new last name after recently getting married. The 10 year old mare is also an MLSJ alum. Previously campaigned by Team Lugano’s Erynn Ballard, Classic Penny logged a 1.45m win at MLSJ Traverse City in 2021 and boasts a 35% top 10 finish record with Shulman Desirdo in 2022 (JUMPR App).

The MLSJ Team Competition takes place Friday at 8:30pm ET. Tune in live on MLSJ TV.