Lexington, Ky.—Nov. 4
It was all Karl Cook and Caillou 24 in the $72,900 Welcome Stake, held Thursday night at the National Horse Show. In the jump-off, they outran nine other pairs with tight turns and plenty of foot speed to top the 35-horse class.
Check out photos from all the action.
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Caillou 24, owned by Signe Ostby, is a regular ribbon winner at the National Horse Show, and he topped the $72,900 International Welcome Stake. Mollie Bailey Photos
“Caillou is 14, and I got him when he was 7, so I’ve had him for a long time,” said Karl Cook. “He’s been a stable, strong-performing horse that’s very consistent. We know each other very well.”
Karl Cook described Caillou 24 as a joy to ride.
Kent Farrington finished second on Austria 2 after a speedy jump-off. “I said to Karl [that] I didn’t think he was going to try that hard,” said Farrington. “I was banking on him waiting for the grand prix [to turn on the speed].”
“This horse is incredibly versatile,” Farrington said of Take The High Road LLC’s Austria 2. “She can win at Spruce Meadows; she can win inside, outside, big, small, speed class, grand prix—I couldn’t ask for more in a horse. I’m very fortunate that I have her to ride; she’s a tremendous winner.”
McLain Ward brought his Tokyo Olympic partner Contagious to Kentucky for the National Horse Show and finished third on Thursday.
“He’s been a great partner,” said McLain Ward of Beechwood Stables LLC’s Contagious. “He came back last year from a pretty substantial injury, and the Revers family really trusted us to do the right thing for the horse and build him up to this year’s Olympics. That was certainly a high moment, and I hope we have a few more great successes in the future.”
Aaron Vale thanked Elusive for a clear first round.
Elusive, owned by Thinks Like A Horse, jumped to fourth with Aaron Vale up.
Alessandra Volpi of Woodside, California, guided her Absolute du Mio to fifth.
Margie Engle has won the grand prix at the National Horse Show twice before, and Thursday night she finished sixth in the International Welcome Stake with Dicas, owned by Gladewinds Partners, LLC..
Brazil’s Santiago Lambre galloped to seventh on his own Easy Girl.
Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Sweet Oak Stables’ Karlin Van’T Vennehof scooped up eighth place.
Before the International Welcome Stake, the National Horse Show presented a tribute to longtime National Horse Show ringmaster John Franzreb III, who died this year. His signature coach horn will be on display at the Museum Of The Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Second in the ring in the first round, Canada’s Erynn Ballard and Jack Van’t Kattenheye, owned by Violet Lindemann Barnett, advanced to the jump-off, finishing ninth.
Ireland’s Jordan Coyle and Elan Farm’s Ariso finished 10th.
Want more National Horse Show? The Chronicle is in Kentucky bringing you news and photos all week. Don’t forget to follow the Chronicle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @Chronofhorse. And check out the Nov. 22 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse magazine for more analysis from the show.
