“I’m super happy with this one,” Cook said of the win aboard Candy (Coventry x King Louie), an 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare. “This mare has been coming along nicely this year. We had some good results early in the year and then didn’t show much in the middle of the year. We started with 8 faults in the Grand Prix two weeks ago, worked on some things, went double clear in the team class last week, and we’re continuing to get better. This is her one shot this week to jump and I think we are really coming to a good place together.”

Cook would say he’s still getting to know Candy, but his faith in her ability was evident in Friday’s performance. They were over two seconds faster than second-place finisher McLain Ward (USA) with First Lady (Don Diarado x Lordanos). Mark Bluman (COL) came closest to unseating Cook with Ubiluc (Ubiko x Lucian), even beating his time but with a rail down. Hunter Holloway (USA) finished third with Henry Jota Ariel (Picadilly Tame x Casparo).

“We’ve gone fast before with her and she opens up to a really big stride,” Cook remarked of Candy’s agility. “She’s been getting quicker, thinking faster. In the first round we had the fastest time. We weren’t trying to have the fastest time, but she jumps better when you just keep going. It keeps her focused and keeps her looking forward and jumping more carefully.”

Over Alan Wade’s (IRL) short course, Cook knew he needed to be ready for the fastest possible approach, especially considering he was up against riders like Ward, Kent Farrington (USA), Shane Sweetnam (IRL), and other incredibly fast riders. He watched several go before it was his turn in the ring.

“There was one place where I thought to try to leave one [stride] out, but in the end it probably wasn’t possible and also it wasn’t needed,” he explained. “We could add that stride and still be quick in the turns and come out on top.”

Cook is feeling confident in his string with two wins in as many days, just a couple of days ahead of a major Grand Prix he’s won in the past. Giving him even more confidence was the depth of his string, allowing him to pick two different horses for the week’s two biggest occasions.

“We chose to use Candy today to help qualify us for Sunday and we’ll use Foxy de La Roque on Sunday,” he shared of the plan for the week. “I feel good because I didn’t have to jump Foxy today, and I could do the jump-off today just focusing on this class with Candy and not worrying about Sunday.”

Cook’s hopes are high that if he and Foxy can jump clear on Sunday, they will give it their best shot to take home another win and another American Gold Cup.

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