Traverse City, Michigan, USA – August 15, 2022 – Karl Cook (USA) wasn’t going to let the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, end without a grand prix victory. After winning three grand prixs CSI 3* in 2021, the reigning recipient of the CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus sped to the win in Saturday afternoon’s $138,600 CaptiveOne Advisors Grand Prix CSI 3* with his longtime partner Caillou 24.
The track, set by Anderson Lima (BRA) and Nick Granat (USA) was built for the occasion, with elements that caused rails down for several top competitors, but it did produce seven clear rounds.
Of those clear rides, only four navigated to clear jump-off efforts, and Cook set the pace to an unbeatable standard when he raced to a time of 38.77 seconds. He shaved 3.25 seconds off the leading time at the moment, set at 42.02 seconds by Sarah Scheiring (USA) and Bellwyn Farm, LLC’s Anibale de Hus.
Margie Engle (USA) returned last aboard Gladewinds Partners, LLC’s Aston des Etisses in the order and secured a spot between the two in 41.04 seconds and claimed second, while Scheiring took third.
“The jump-off course suited him because he’s got a big stride,” Cook commented on Caillou’s strengths and how they played out in the class. “He can reach quite high speeds and still jump clear. But he’s a little slower in the tight turns, so if it’s tight and winding, I can go as fast as I can go, but I still won’t win. This one had more galloping and swooping style turns. It was about getting a big canter and riding a track that allowed me to pull the reins as little as possible.”
Cook had a sensational summer last year at the Flintfields Horse Park, but this year it’s taken him longer to hit his stride. “It’s a long trip to get here so maybe it takes me a minute to settle in,” he remarked as to why. “Last year and this year, GLEF has been really good to me. The past two weeks I’ve had a rail in each of the grand prixs – little unlucky there – but it’s still going well so I’m always happy to be here.”
Cook admitted that Caillou’s program is extremely specific, and that’s one of the keys to success with the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Casall x San Patrignano Corrado). “He’s a creature of habit so everything is about routine, down to his timing for getting fed,” Cook shared. “He gets fed very accurately. Not because he gets cranky, but he needs that consistency. He has his afternoon program he does; he likes to roll and lay in the sand. But the big thing is consistency. Every day needs to be as identical as possible.”
Cook has had the horse for several years now, but he continues to adapt his style of riding based on what the horse needs at any given moment. With a lull in their success earlier this year, they have meshed yet again producing this top result, along with a second place in Thursday’s Welcome Stake CSI 3*. Now that he feels Caillou going strong again, he plans to aim him at the Major League Show Jumping Grand Prix CSI 5* during the American Gold Cup at Traverse City Fall Horse Shows.
At the conclusion of the class, the Clear for the Cause $15,000 donation was awarded from CaptiveOne to JustWorld. The amount was based on how many times both the CaptiveOne Advisors fence and Justworld fence were both jumped clear in the same round for the duration of GLEF 2022.
As the final class of GLEF to allow riders to accrue points toward the $30,000 CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus, Saturday’s Grand Prix earned Engle valuable points to hold her lead heading into the fall series.
Final Results – $138,600 CaptiveOne Advisors Grand Prix CSI 3*
1) Karl Cook (USA) & Caillou 24: 2007 HOLST gelding by Casall x San Patrignano Corrado, Signe Otsby- 0 / 0 – 38.77
2) Margie Engle (USA) & Aston des Etisses: 2010 SF gelding by Mylord Carthago x Quidam De Revel: Gladewinds Partners, LLC – 0 / 0 – 41.04
3) Sarah Scheiring (USA) & Anibale de Hus: 2010 SF stallion by Conrad x Argentinus, Bellwyn Farm LLC – 0 / 0 – 42.02
4) Freddie Vazquez (PUR)) & Kirschwasser SCF: 2010 BWP gelding by Amaretto D’Arco x Nabab De Reve, Freddie Vazquez – 0 / 0 – 43.03
5) Kent Farrington (USA) & Greya: 2014 OS mare by Colestus x Contender, Kent Farrington LLC: 0 / 4 – 39.95
6) Erin Davis-Heineking (USA) & Leonie: 2009 OS mare by Leo Von Faelz x Chacco-Blue, October hIlls Sales Limited – 0 / 4 – 41.52
7) Grace Debney (GBR) & Boheme de La Roque: 2011 SF mare by Kannan x Quick Star, Temple Equestrian LLC: – 0 / WD
8) Eliza Lehrman (USA) & Eluna CL Z : 2012 ZANG mare by Emerald x Nabab De Reve, Five Way Farm LLC – 1 – 84.64
9) Lucy Deslauriers (USA) & Enanda: 2009 KWPN mare by Nebab de Reve x Holland, Luja LLC – 4 – 77.79
10) Rowan Willis (AUS) & Blue Movie: 2006 AES mare by Chacco Blue x Pilot, Rowan Willis – 4 – 77.97
11) Shane Sweetnam (IRL) & Namaste van het Eyckeveld: 2013 BWP gelding by Elvis Ter Putte x Coriall, Sweet Oak Farm – 4 – 80.03
12) Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) & Ivaro N: 2013 KWPN gelding by Elvaro x Celano, Barbara Disko – 4 – 80.56
Source: Press Release by Traverse City Horse Shows
Photos: © Andrew Ryback Photography
Categories: CSI 3*, English, Jumper News USA
