Karl Cook rides to win in $100,000 HorseTaxi Grand Prix at DIHP

Canada’s John Pearce & Chantico $10,000 Open Classic 1.35m champions

Karl Cook and Caillou 24 were unstoppable in the $100,000 HorseTaxi Grand Prix at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal. CA, with a jump-off time of 42.661 seconds. Christian Heineking aboard Heineking Show Stables’ Cento Blue (Centadel x Chacco-Blue) finished in a close second with a time of 43.097, while Karl Cook also claimed third place aboard Signe Ostby’s Ircos IV (Nabab De Reve x Echo de Thurin) with a time of 45.687 seconds.

The course challenged 31 pairs with seven returning for the jump-off course. “The course [today] was nice and it wasn’t super challenging on the horse,” Cook commented. “It was a good, competitive course for the riders that were competing.”

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“We have the World Cup Finals coming up so I didn’t want to just destroy [the course], you know, either win or die, in the jump-off today,” Cook shared of his plan going into the jump-off. “I just picked that big canter and I went as fast as I thought was natural and there was one less to the last fence, but again I didn’t want there to be any oof moments,” Cook continued. “I needed to stay steady and I don’t want tomorrow or next week for him to still be feeling the effects of the jump-off, that’s not really smart.”

Cook and Caillou 24 (Casall Ask x San Patrignano Corrado) have had many years of experience working together and have found a rhythm as a team. “He’s been my number one horse for a little over a year and a half now and he’s been getting better and better,” Cook shared of the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, owned by Signe Ostby. “He’s been doing great in the World Cup Qualifiers and I was really happy with how he did out in Florida,” Cook continued. “We have the World Cup Finals in April, so we will see if we show next week [together].”

The win in the HorseTaxi Grand Prix solidified Cook’s qualification for the $250,000 Invitational Grand Prix next week during Desert Circuit Week VIII.

WEEK VII HUNTER CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT

$500 NAL Adult Hunter Classic, sponsored by El Paseo Jewelry – Jessica Smith & Logical

3′ Equitation Challenge, sponsored by Dover Saddlery – Paige Walkenbach & Radcliffe

Small Junior Hunter 3’3″ Division, sponsored by Hayutin – Carlee McCutcheon & Halo

Stirrup Equitation Division – Sienna Smith & Mr. McGregor

Young Hunter 3’6″ Division – Jamie Sailor & McDreamy

Children’s Hunter 13 & Under Division – Claire Mullally & Bon Chance

WEEK VII JUMPER CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT

$2,000 Junior Jumper Classic 1.20m, sponsored by County Saddlery – Leila Diab & Unang de Kergane

$2,500 JR/A-O/AM Jumper Classic 1.35m, sponsored by VitaFlex – Katie Kehring & Mr. Miracle Man

$10,000 Open Classic 1.35m, sponsored by Stal Hendrix – John Pearce & Chantico

$500 Adult Jumper Classic Low, sponsored by Harcour – Tonia Lee & Shickeria