THERMAL, Calif.-Karl Cook on Kalinks van't Zorgvliet won the $62,000 CSI2* Grand Prix at Desert Holiday 1 on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Karl Cook on Kalinka vant Zorgvliet (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)Following about a year and a half off from an injury, Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet returned to competition this fall, and this was her second major win since returning to FEI competition in September.
Cook was one of 51 entries in the CSI2* finale class at Desert International Horse Park, and he was one of nine to advance to jump-off over the Alan Wade-designed course.
Israel’s Daniel Bluman on Rebelline de Kwakenbeek set the time to beat of 34.69 seconds.
“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.”
COOK crossed the timers two-tenths of a second faster than Bluman, finishing in 34.42 seconds.
As the last to go, Charlotte Jacobs on Rincoola Milsean, who had won earlier in the week, was fast but not quite fast enough, finishing in 34.65 to place second.
Bluman was third, and Canada’s Erynn Ballard on Chatadel PSwas fourth.
Following Saturday’s win, Kalinka will have several weeks off from competition before the 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare returns to competition at Desert Circuit.
“She has so much fun doing it," said Cook. "She’s so nimble and athletic. She looks where she’s going and you can just feel that she enjoys it. It’s so much fun to ride her. We come back here in January, and we’ll probably do some CSI5* 1.50m and go from there.”
