Karl Cook and ASB Conquistador are Able Pathfinders in $35,000 ShowBiz Magazine Welcome Stake at Del Mar
Cook and ASB Conquistador rode clear inside the time to win on the pathfinder round last night in Del Mar. Photo ©Captured Moments
The 21-year-old rider piloted Signe Ostby’s ASB Conquistador to one of just 6 clear rounds in the class of 50. Riding first in the order of go proved to be fortuitous for Cook, who stuck to his plan and executed it successfully without the opportunity to watch any others jump.
“As long as you had a proper canter and you continued on it you were fine,” Cook remarked. “I didn’t actually think I went briskly, I didn’t plan on it because I was the first rider and I didn’t know what was going to happen. But we were quick.”
Quick and clear was the key; Cook’s time of 69.97 seconds was far slower than several four faulters, most notably last week’s grand prix winners Ashlee Bond and Wistful, who crossed the timers with one down in 63.22 seconds.
Several problem spots cropped up on the Olaf Peterson Jr.-designed course, including a single oxer with liverpool that rode on a long bending approach. Nearly half the class had that fence down, and a double combination near the end of the course caused many fallen rails as well. In fact, a whopping 16 riders fell victim to the curse of the single rail, and many of those rails came at one of the previously mentioned elements.
Without many options to save time, Cook’s assessment of the course was accurate – a careful ride and quick time was the key to success.
Michelle Parker and Xel Ha were two seconds off Cook’s time, but their clear round earned them second place, and Nicole Shahinian-Simpson found her groove with Hyperion Stud’s Imothep to ride into the third placed-slot.
“It was one of those courses where you couldn’t really rush it, because if you did you made mistakes,” Cook added. He’s been paired with ASB Conquistador, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion, for nearly two years, picking up several wins during that time.
Cook will be aiming both ASB Conquistador and his second mount, the 10-year-old Zangersheide stallion Jonkheer Z, towards Saturday night’s $55,000 Villas at Rancho Valencia World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix. The amateur rider, who trained with Butch, Lu, and Guy Thomas’ Willow Tree Farm as a junior, is best known for his multiple Young Rider successes in 2009 and 2010.
With two promising stallions in his string, he is aiming for a possible run at the FEI World Cup Finals in April, 2013. Towards that end, Cook has been training in Southern California with legendary French rider Eric Navet, who has turned heads in recent months as a new face on the West Coast show jumping circuit. The 1990 World Champion, European Champion, and Olympian has been working with Cook for several months to further Cook’s goals of reaching the top level of international show jumping.
The $55,000 Villas at Rancho Valencia World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix is the first of the final three stops left on the West Coast Fall circuit. Show organizers have seen the highest number of entries in recent memory flock to this year’s show, and Saturday night’s feature grand prix is expected to be one to remember.
USEFNetwork will be airing the entire class live online at www.USEFNetwork.com, beginning at 7:30pmPST on Saturday, October 27th. And, you can catch the Grand Prix Hunter Derby live from Del Mar tonight on USEFNetwork, airing at 7pmPST.
Cook, Kathy Hobstetter of ShowBiz Magazine, and show manager Dale Harvey. Photo ©Captured Moments
Top Ten - The $35,000 ShowBiz Magazine Welcome Stake
Rider | Horse | Round 1 Faults | Round 1 Time
- Karl Cook | ASB Conquistador | 0 | 69.97
- Michelle Parker | Xel Ha | 0 | 71.13
- Nicole Shahinian Simpson | Imothep | 0 | 74.42
- Saer Coulter | Victory DA | 0 | 74.47
- Caroline Lynn | Kalvinretto | 0 | 76.64
- Lucy Davis | Nemo 119 | 0 | 76.92
- Ashlee Bond | Wistful | 4 | 63.22
- Eduardo Menezes | Caruschka 2 | 4 | 63.70
- Rich Fellers | Flexible | 4 | 64.73
- Kyle King | Capone 1 | 4 | 68.26
