TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Karl Cook on Candy won the $116,050 American Gold Cup CSI5* Qualifier on Friday, Sept. 18.
Karl Cook on Candy (Photo by Natalie Suto)In a 14 horse jump-off over the course set by Alan Wade, Cook finished clean in 35.74 to win by over two seconds over McLain Ward on First Lady, clean in 38.04, with Hunter Holloway on Henry Jota Ariel third,clean in 38.52, and Chris Pratt of Canada on Ideaal ES, the only other clean, fourth in 39.33.
“I’m super happy with this one,” Cook said. “This mare has been coming along nicely this year. We had some good results early in the year and then didn’t show much in the middle of the year. We started with eight faults in the Grand Prix two weeks ago, worked on some things, went double clear in the team class last week, and we’re continuing to get better. This is her one shot this week to jump and I think we are really coming to a good place together.”
“WE'VE GONE fast before with her and she opens up to a really big stride,” Cook said. “She’s been getting quicker, thinking faster. In the first round we had the fastest time. We weren’t trying to have the fastest time, but she jumps better when you just keep going. It keeps her focused and keeps her looking forward and jumping more carefully.”
Cook knew he needed to be ready for the fastest possible approach, considering he was up against riders like Ward, Kent Farrington, Shane Sweetnam of Ireland, so he watched several go before it was his turn in the ring.
“There was one place where I thought to try to leave one stride out, but in the end it probably wasn’t possible and also it wasn’t needed,” he said. “We could add that stride and still be quick in the turns and come out on top.”
“We chose to use Candy today to help qualify us for Sunday and we’ll use Foxy de la Roque on Sunday,” he said. “I feel good because I didn’t have to jump Foxy today, and I could do the jump-off today just focusing on this class with Candy and not worrying about Sunday.”
