Six 5* Grand Prix wins for any horse is exceptional. To win six at age 12? That’s a special kind of elite.
In the past decade, only one 12-year-old horse has laid claim to the achievement: Leone Jei, piloted by Martin Fuchs (SUI). The pair has won six 1.60m Grands Prix, including three this year (Jumpr stats). On Saturday, Karl Cook (USA) and Caracole de la Roque made it a party of two.
Cook and the 12-year-old Selle Français mare topped an eight-horse jump off to win their first World Cup start of the season. The victory brings the mare’s career 5* Grand Prix win count to six with two different riders. She won three with France’s Julien Epaillard before Cook took over the reins and has now won three with the American.
Last to return for Anderson Lima’s (MEX) short course, Cook and “Cara” bested an eight-horse jump off and the time to beat set by Daniel Bluman (ISR) and 9-year-old Corbie V.V. by a second and a half, crossing the timers in 41.19 seconds. Bluman finished second (42.87s). Cian O’Connor (IRL) and Iron Man took third (44.68s).
“There’s a huge advantage to going last. You get to see everyone go; you get to see how other riders shave time [and] what mistakes they make,” Cook shared. “When I watched Daniel, he was crisp, [and] he was smooth. It was a great round.
“But with Caracole, I have such confidence in her speed and her ability to turn that it that it was just about staying on our plan and not trying to get too far out over our skis [or trying] to break a land speed record,” he continued.
“It was just about, ‘Do what I know she can do.'”
Saturday’s 5* Grand Prix win is Caracole’s second of the 2024 season. The pair won the Grand Prix of Rome in May and went on to jump three clear rounds at the Paris Olympics to help Team USA clinch the team silver. Cook credits that experience for their on form return to top sport.
“When you go through something really intense, it makes you stronger or it really does the opposite. In our case, the [Olympics] made us stronger. I have complete faith in [Caracole de la Roque],” said Cook.
With 20 points on the board, Cook is now tied for sixth in the North American League standings. Bluman remains atop the leaderboard with 54 points. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) sits second with 35 points and Kent Farrington (USA), third on 34 points.
The North American League next stops in in Thermal, CA (USA) in February 2025.