Karl Cook Continues to Rise with Caracole de la Roque in $145,100 Agero CSI3* Grand Prix
September 10, 2023
Karl Cook Continues to Rise with Caracole de la Roque in $145,100 Agero CSI3* Grand Prix
Karl Cook (USA) has proven himself a consistent winner in grand prix action with Caracole de la Roque time and time again, despite the partnership still being new. This Sunday, they took the win in the $145,100 Agero CSI3* Grand Prix during the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament at Traverse City Horse Shows.
Cook and Signe Otsby’s 11-year-old Selle Français mare (Zandor Z x Kannan) were one of eight pairs to navigate Cedric Longis’ (FRA) first-round track penalty free. With the footspeed Cook is able to achieve on Caracole de la Roque, it didn’t matter where in the order he returned, but his later draw of sixth allowed him to gauge how the jump-off track was riding.
The pair clocked in three seconds faster than the next-closest finisher, Samantha Schaefer (USA) and James Bond HX, owned by Bonne Vie LLC, who claimed second place. Callie Schott (USA) took third with Garant, owned by Southern Arches, LLC.
Karl Cook (USA) and Caracole de la Roque in their winning presentation. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography
“She’s just fast,” Cook said of Caracole de la Roque, a ride he acquired from Frenchman Julien Epaillard. “Normally, when you go fast with a horse there’s a level of wander and the canter gets inverted so you can’t jump well out of it. She’s so comfortable at speed that you just don’t have all the normal concerns, so you can run and turn at full speed. She’s amazing.”
Still new to one another, Cook has been very practical with placing Caracole de la Roque, knowing what the horse is capable of and not wanting to step up too high too soon.
“The long-term plan is five-stars,” he added. “We’re going to try our first [CSI5* Grand Prix] next week in the [American] Gold Cup. [The goal is] to get her to support my other mare Kalinka [Van’t Zorgvliet] and make sure both mares are primed, fit, sound and happy so we can really push next year.”
Samantha Schaefer (USA) and James Bond HX. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography
Cook is a lifelong student of the sport, analyzing each round and identifying where there is room for improvement every time he jumps, even if the result is a win.
“Each round I feel better but there’s always more [to learn],” he shared. “There were issues with my first round that were my fault and I need to work on those. Thankfully, she’s able to fill in the gaps in my riding but I know taking the next step I need to be better.”
Cook was among many riders in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring who enjoyed Longis’ course design during the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament.
Callie Schott (USA) and Garant. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography
“I love the course builder; he’s amazing,” Cook said of Longis. “He was here last year and that was the first time I’d jumped his courses. He’s very elegant with how he [sets] things. It’s fun to ride because it feels modern. It feels the way the sport should be because he gets a great number clear without the time allowed being crazy tight. In the jump-off, the course design was beautiful. You could take chances, you could run, but it also challenged you with tight angles. You saw a great jump-off and a great first round.”
Sunday concludes the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, but action at the Tournament of Champions resumes Wednesday, September 13, with the kick-off of the historic CSI5* American Gold Cup.
Proceeds from ticket sales on Sunday were presented to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library GTR in the amount of $2,170 as part of the Traverse City Horse Shows Charity Ticket Program. Bob Robbins and Jan Engle of the Rotary Club of Traverse Bay Sunrise accepted the donation for collaborative Books from Birth initiative. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography
Karl Cook & Caracole De La Roque | $145,100 Agero CSI3* Grand Prix from Traverse City Horse Shows on Vimeo.Greg Crolick and Testify Capture $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Presented by Rider’s Boutique[/et_pb_text]
Greg Crolick & Testify | $10,000 Rider's Boutique USHJA National Hunter Derby from Traverse City Horse Shows on Vimeo.
Jacob Pope and Story Hour. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography
“We had a great circuit up here in July and we went down to Kentucky for Derby Finals,” Crolick commented of his past season with Testify. “He was wonderful; he made it to the second round nighttime handy class. We had a little stutter step but still performed well.”
Based in Michigan, Crolick enjoys spending a portion of each season at Traverse City Horse Shows with his family and clients. “We love coming back here in the fall,” he shared. “Usually the weather is wonderful and it’s the perfect time to be up here. We’re also so close to home at this show. My clients love to come up here and the horses seem to like it a lot this time of year.”
Jacob Pope and Unbelievable. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography
Crolick has an innate ability to see the potential in a hunter, and that was no exception when it came to finding Testify for owner Cotton. “We were looking for a horse that could do the job for the owner’s daughter plus a horse I could keep training and bringing along. He’s become a wonderful derby horse and high performance horse and does both very well.”
Crolick will aim Testify next at the big derby on Sunday of the final week of the Tournament of Champions, going for the top prize of the lion’s share of $100,000. Hunter action resumes for the final week of competition on Wednesday, September 13.