Karl Cook & Caillou 24 Claim $137,000 Staller Grand Prix CSI3* Title at Traverse City Spring Horse Show

Traverse City, Mich. – The conclusion to the three-week Traverse City Spring Horse Show series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, spotlighted the $137,000 Staller Grand Prix CSI3* Sunday afternoon. Each of the 28 international horse-and-athlete pairs were eager to close out Week III at the forefront of the victory gallop. In the end, it was the United States’ Karl Cook who bested an eight-horse jump-off to claim the top honors aboard Signe Ostby’s Caillou 24.
Portugal’s Bernardo Costa Cabral designed a tactful 13-effort first-round track to test athletes and their horses’ agility and control throughout the course. The tight time allowed of 85 seconds proved to be a challenge, as three athletes were left out of contention for the jump-off on just one time fault. By the conclusion of the first round, only eight combinations found their way to a clear round, including Ben Asselin (CAN), Camilo Rueda (COL), Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Cook (USA), Tanimara Maria Macari Carrillo (MEX), Lisa Carlsen (CAN), John Perez Bohm (COL) and Victoria Colvin (USA).
Returning to the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring for the jump-off round, Asselin and Attache Stables LTD’s Luikan Q made their way as the pathfinders for the first double-clear effort, stopping the clock in 36.13 seconds. His lead was short lived, as Rueda slipped into the leading position aboard Indus Van Het Keysereyck after putting forth a quick and tidy double-clear ride in 34.16 seconds. Sabino Goncalves attempted to unseat Rueda, but had an unfortunate rail on course to finish in 35.87 seconds.
Entering the arena with confidence after a double-clear fourth place finish in the $36,600 Welcome Stake CSI3* Friday afternoon, Cook and Caillou 24 were determined to ride their way to a win. Taking advantage of the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding’s massive stride, Cook was able to leave strides out throughout the shortened 8-fence jump-off, leaving all of the rails intact and notching 33.93 seconds on the clock to take over the first place position. Though those to follow Cook would try, they could not match their efficient ride, ultimately lending him the first place honors. After a strong start to the jump-off, Rueda and his own Indus Van Het Keyseryck ended the class in second place, with Perez Bohm rounding out the top three aboard his own Voodoo 10.
Karl Cook and Caillou 24 with Arturo Ferrando from Staller, photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography
By the conclusion of the Traverse City Spring Horse Show, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, Australia’s Katie Laurie held the first place spot on the 2021 CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus leaderboard with a whopping 42 points after three weeks of consistent top placings. Canada’s Tiffany Foster also held a top spot on the leaderboard, currently sitting in the second place position with 27 points. Israel’s Daniel Bluman rounds out the top three on a total of 24 points. Offering show jumping competitors the chance to accumulate points throughout the 12-week Traverse City Horse Shows series, the bonus is awarded to the athlete with the most points at the conclusion of the 2021 $230,000 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors. The CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus is a highly sought-after prize among the field of international competitors that attend Traverse City Horse Shows.
Show jumping competition during the Traverse City Horse Shows series will continue with the six-week Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, set to kick-off Week I Wednesday, July 7.
RESULTS
$137,000 Staller Grand Prix CSI3*
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | R2 Time
1. Caillou 24 / Karl Cook / USA / Signe Ostby / 0 | 82.76 / 0 | 33.93
2. Indus Van Het Keysereyck / Camilo Rueda / COL / Camilo Rueda / 0 | 89.31 / 0 | 34.16
3. Voodoo 10 / John Perez Bohm / COL / John Perez Bohm / 0 | 83.19 / 0 | 35.57
4. Gemino / Victoria Colvin / USA / BMT Partners / 0 | 79.47 / 0 | 35.84
5. Feminka / Tanimara Maria Macari Carrillo / MEX / Tanimara Maria Macari Carrillo / 0 | 82.40 / 0 | 36.06
6. Luikan Q / Ben Asselin / CAN / Attache Stables LTD / 0 | 83.68 / 0 | 36.13
7. Argan de Beliard / Luis Sabino Goncalves / POR / Equivarandas LVA / 0 | 84.10 / 0 | 35.87
8. Livestream 2 / Lisa Carlsen / CAN / Lisa Carlsen / 0 | 83.15 / 8 | 33.94
9. Veyron / Ben Asselin / CAN / Attache Stables LTD / 1 | 85.20
10. Incitatus / Vani Khosla / USA / Vani Khosla / 1 | 86.27
11. Desperado / John Perez Bohm / COL / Daniel Ruhan Salum / 1 | 87.61
12. Chacco P / Will Simpson / USA / Will Simpson / 4 | 77.22
Press release Traverse City Horse Show | Photo (Karl Cook and Caillou 24) courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography
HSJ