Press release from Split Rock Jumping Tour

The first week of the Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Hunter Jumper series culminated on Sunday morning with the $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.45m Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. After a riveting 15 horse jump-off, Karl Cook (USA) and Caracole de la Roque, owned by Signe Ostby, emerged with yet another well-deserved international victory. 

Sunday’s feature competition saw 52 athletes tackle the 16-effort course set by Anderson Lima (BRA), which included a triple combination and triple bar. Fifteen pairs were able to complete the course fault-free, promising an exciting jump-off competition to take place in the Walnut Arena. 

The tie breaking round was made up of seven fences that allowed horse-and-rider combinations to utilize the entirety of the ring and employ footspeed in an attempt to take the victory. Loic Cannaert (BEL) and Ultimately Cooley were the first to challenge the short course, and were the first to produce a double-clear effort in a time of 39.18 seconds. Daisy Farish (USA) followed aboard Etonemoi del Cabalero, and took the lead in 35.04 seconds. She was overtaken by Cook and Caracole de la Roque a few trips later, as he utilized the mare’s natural speed to land them in the top spot by over two seconds. Danny Cyphret (USA) and Glestscher EIS E tried their hand at the short course, but crossed the timers in 36.57 seconds, landing them in third, leaving Farish in second place. The ten remaining combinations were unable to match Cook’s swift pace. He and Caracole de la Roque took another win to close out the week after winning Friday's CSI2* Welcome, and earned the Sophie Coppedge Walker Perpetual Trophy. 

“She's just amazing,” Cook commented of Cara. “I don't really know her very well, so I didn't want to break the land speed record today [in the jump-off]. I knew I could do the six [strides] after the double and then I felt like I could just march it along because she's naturally so fast. My goals because it's still a new partnership were to keep learning and the main goal was to learn no matter what the results were. I feel like we're continuing to step up and I feel confident to do the CSI3* next week.” 

Competition at the Kentucky Horse Park will continue through next week as the Split Rock Hunter Jumper 2 CSI3* takes place June 12-18. Feature classes will include the $45,500 1.45m FEI Welcome, the $20,000 C. Jarvis Insurance 1.35m National Prix, the $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.50m FEI Grand Prix, and the return of the highly-anticipated $125,000 Hunter Grand Prix on Saturday, June 17.