Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet and Karl Cook Capture $62,500 Hermès CSI2* Grand Prix Victory
Edited Press Release
Thermal, Calif. – They do not make jump-offs much closer than the one that decided the $750,000 CSI5* Coachella Cup Grand Prix, presented by Morrow-Meadows Corporation, on Saturday, December 6, at Desert International Horse Park. In a thrilling conclusion to CSI5* and Major League Show Jumping competition at Desert Holiday 1, Laura Kraut and Bisquetta rode to victory by just three one-hundredths of a second.
With less than one second separating all of the top four finishers, second place went to McLain Ward on High Star Hero, and Skylar Wireman and Barclino B took home third.
From the 35-horse starting field, 11 entries advanced to jump-off over the track designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade. For Kraut, she had the disadvantage of being the fourth to jump in the first round and only the second in the order to return for the short course.
“The best horse and rider combinations from [Thursday’s $182,000 CSI5* Qualifier] went at the end…I had made a mistake on Thursday, so I went early,” explained Kraut (USA). “I thought, ‘It’s hard for me to beat this group on a day when I can watch them, but much less when I go early!’ I just thought, ‘I’m just going to go and go as fast as I can’–which is normally not nearly fast enough.”
On Saturday night, however, Kraut’s time of 36.27 seconds did prove to be enough, which exceeded her own expectations.
“When I came out of the ring I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll be fifth, maybe fourth,’” said Kraut. “I think I put enough pressure on that they had to give it a go, and mistakes were made, I guess. I didn’t watch any of them. I’m a little superstitious that way!”
Coming the closest to catching Kraut was her MLSJ teammate, fellow DIHP Roadrunner Ward. He and High Star Hero, owned by Michael Smith, looked like they may be right on track to topple Kraut’s leading time, but they tripped the timers in 36.30 seconds to take home second.
“I told Laura (age 60) that I’m getting a little old to go that fast!” joked Ward, 50. “It’s obviously a great competition offered here, not only by Major League but by the Desert Horse Park, which both [Laura and I] are very proud to represent in the Major League. It was great sport; I think 20 of the top 50 riders in the world, someone said. So that’s a pretty strong field.”
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Thermal, Calif. – Following roughly a year and a half off from an injury, Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet returned to competition this fall, and with Karl Cook in the irons, the mare has picked up right where she left off. On Saturday, December 6, Kalinka earned her second major win since returning to FEI competition in September, this time topping the $62,000 Hermès CSI2* Grand Prix at Desert Holiday 1.
Cook (USA) was one of 51 entries to take on the week’s CSI2* finale class at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, Calif., and he and Kalinka become one of nine entries to advance to jump-off over the Alan Wade-designed short course.
When Cook returned to the Grand Prix Stadium, the time to beat had been set at 34.69 seconds by Israel’s Daniel Bluman and his own Rebelline de Kwakenbeek.
“I saw Daniel go and Daniel’s always fast,” said Cook. “So, my plan was just go as fast as you can! It always helps to see someone go quickly before you, even if some of the numbers were different. I think he and I did near the same numbers, it’s just Kalinka’s a little bit faster in the air which is just the way that it is.”
That likely reduced time in the air shaved just enough off the clock to allow Cook to cross the timers two-tenths of a second faster than Bluman, as he finished in 34.42 seconds.
As the last to go, Charlotte Jacobs (USA) and Rincoola Milsean – winners earlier in the week – slid their way in between Cook and Bluman to take home second place with a time of 34.65 seconds. Bluman and Rebelline de Kwakenbeek held on to third place, and fourth place went to Canada’s Erynn Ballard on Chatadel PS.
Following Saturday’s win, Kalinka will now enjoy several weeks off from competition before the 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, owned by Signe Ostby, returns to DIHP for Desert Circuit.
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