Karl Cook Wins Falsterbo Grand Prix; Baryard Johnsson Finishes Fourth

The Dutch put everything on one card with Con Quidam in the jump-off. The ride was hazardous and unsteady, but it went at a furious pace and the time 43.74 seconds seemed to be enough.

The Swiss Steve Guerdat on Dynamix was a bit too slow, Baryard Johnsson even a little slower.

But as the last rider, on Caracole, Cook had the tenths on his side and became 1.8 million kronor richer.

It was a joy as a rider to ride the course, says Cook to SVT.

At the press conference, he praised the audience and the competition, which is now part of the Rolex Series:

The audience here is special for so many reasons. They are a gift to our sport, you can really feel it and it makes us all ride better.

Baryard Johnsson had to settle for fourth place, a strong form indication on Indiana, the mare she has had great success with over the years but which has been retired from championships.

Retired from championships

Instead, the team settles for one or two major competitions, such as the Falsterbo GP, this year with a total prize sum of just over 5.5 million kronor. Next after Falsterbo, the Global Champions Tour in London awaits later this summer.

The Swedish public favorites delivered and impressed in the basic round. The Olympic gold team from Tokyo 2021 – Baryard Johnsson, Peder Fredricson, and Henrik von Eckermann – were, with a margin, among the three blue and yellow teams that reached the jump-off.

Baryard Johnsson was the second fastest behind Cook, followed by Fredricson on Alcapone.

On the future horse Minute Man, world three von Eckermann made an attempt to challenge for victory. But the eleven-year-old stallion, still in training, did not quite manage in the jump-off. The team knocked down two obstacles.

Fredricson did not get it either, noted eight faults and finished twelfth, right before von Eckermann.