“She’s so comfortable”: Karl Cook Acquires the First Position in the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix With His New Mare.

Winning the hearts of several spectators, Karl Cook spectacularly won the national Grand Prix at Traverse City, Michigan. On 8th July 2023 at Traverse City during week one of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), Cook graced the arena with his new mount, Caracole de La Roque, and left the spectators in complete awe. By winning the competition, the equestrian added another victory to his name.

Cruising ahead of all the competitors by more than four seconds, Karl Cookand Caracole de La Roque won in the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix, which was organized by the CaptiveOne Advisors. After guiding the mare to the home line, Cook expressed his elation and pulled off the curtains from his experience with Caracole de La Roque.

Karl Cook conceded with his new mount after his triumph

As per the report of Jumper news, Cook and Roque gave an easy and early prediction about the winning of the game. They took 33.128 seconds to attain the first position. Following him were Shane Sweetnam and Charlotte Jacobs with Birdy du Thot and North Star’s Edocenta, concluding the affair at 37.279 seconds and 38.786 seconds respectively. At a point in the game, both of them had the succinct idea that it is not in their hand to catch Cook anymore, but they still ended up at the finish line.

When asked about the omitting strides in all the lines on course during taking smooth turns, he commented, “In the jump-off, that pace is easier. She’s so comfortable in that canter it just happens.”

After winning the $30,000 National Grand Prix, Karl Cook is setting up his mind to return for CSI 3 action with his new mare. He will do it before the commencement of their CSI5* in the second leg of Major League Show Jumping in August. Here he will allow everyone to witness the jaw-dropping speed of his Caracole de La Roque.

Karl Cook was happy to be back to Traverse City which is his lucky spot. He appreciated the weather, footing, facilities for the comfort of the horses, and multiple other things. While starting his journey with Roque’s and his first win together, he is planning more such winning moments with her.

A look into the past and present of Karl Cook’s equine partners

In his career at the equestrian games, Karl Cook has enjoyed his ups and downs with multiple mares like Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet owned by Signe Ostby with whom he won in the $450,00 Marshall & Sterling Major League show jumping Grand Prix CSI5. When asked about Kalinka, Cook expressed that she just kept jumping better as the years passed. The others with whom he has partnered in the past are Kent Farrington, Orafina, Flipper D’Elle, and multiple others. Cook has stated that while he was a junior, he never got along with mares, at a point he had four stallions. Now he only has mares.

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After riding with so many mares, Karl Cook has partnered with Caracole de La Roque who is the former mare of Julien Epaillard, and has piloted at the 2022 World Championship. He was following Roque but had no plans to buy her. “I’d followed her because of what she had done, but I didn’t really pursue her,” Cook expressed when asked about her.

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