Thermal, CA – November 9, 2024 – Course designer Colm Quinn built a challenging track for Saturday night’s $100,000 FarmVet Grand Prix, but it was no match for Karl Cook and his 2024 Paris Olympics mount Caracole de la Roque. They topped a field of 56 entries to take home the win on November 9, at National Sunshine Series 2 in Thermal, CA.
Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Quinn’s first-round course saw seven horses and riders jump clear over the fences, but with three of them picking up time faults, only four horses ultimately advanced to the jump-off.
From there, Canada’s Ben Asselin and NKH Carrido were the first to return, and they set the time to beat at a clear 39.574 seconds. However, that was once again no contest for Cook and “Caracole,” the next pair in the ring. With quick slices throughout the course, they stopped the clock in 35.627 seconds to take over the top of the leaderboard, and to ultimately take home the win.
Finishing in second place on a time of 38.293 seconds were Uma O’Neill and her own Luigi d’Eclipse, and third place went to Kassidy Keith, who rode Havana to a finish time of 38.747 seconds. Asselin and NKH Carrido took home fourth, and fifth place with just one time fault went to Chandler Meadows and Calciet EB Z.
Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Also recognized on Saturday evening was seventh-place finisher Elisa Broz. Aboard Consult Picobello Z, Broz earned the win in the $5,000 YETI U25 Classic held concurrently.
“It was an interesting track,” said Cook, who is based in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. “The whole week, Colm [Quinn] has been setting things that are deceivingly delicate. You saw that on Thursday, and you saw that again tonight. I’m supportive of where he left the time allowed, but I think if he just gave it two more seconds, we would have had 10 clear. It was measured at the right pace, and I think the jump off was also exciting. There were a lot of places to run and some tight turns. I think he did a great job tonight.”
After helping the U.S. show jumping team earn a silver medal at this summer’s Paris Olympic Games, Cook is looking ahead to what’s next for the 12-year-old Selle Français mare, owned by Signe Ostby and Eric Navet.
Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“We’ve had an amazing year, and it’s kind of hard after the summer to figure out what’s the right thing to do next,” said Cook. “We jumped a little bit in September, and things just weren’t settled back, so it made sense to come here and try to settle things back again before the last two big shows of the year. She feels great. She jumped really well on Thursday. She felt great today, settled, calm and smooth, so I’m super happy.”
While Caracole will be traveling next to the Santa Anita CSI5*-W (Arcadia, CA) and then on to Switzerland for CHI Geneva, Cook still plans to be back at the Desert International Horse Park for December’s Desert Holiday.
“It’s really close to home, and I love being in California and not being on the road all the time,” concluded Cook. “It has a great atmosphere. Night classes here, people show up; they cheer. Also, the environment for the horses [is great]. There’s a lot of space to ride. The footing in the warm-up ring and the grand prix ring here is amazing. I love the track out back for the horses and the paddocks. It’s a good environment whether you’re jumping big stuff or you’re working with a young horse, it just has all that.”
While Sunday, November 10, marks the conclusion of National Sunshine Series 2, the Desert International Horse Park season continues into March 2025. Next on the competition calendar in Thermal, CA, is Desert Holiday, kicking off December 4, 2024. To learn more about all events at the Desert International Horse Park, head to deserthorsepark.com.