Kyle is King of the $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ of Thermal

U.S. rider Kyle King steered his own Kayenne Z to first place in the $340,000 CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ of Thermal Saturday night, his first-ever CSI5* World Cup™ win. King was one of seven who advanced to the jump-off from a field of 28.

King and Kayenne Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide mare who was originally sent to him to sell, have been runners-up at a few major competitions, but capturing a World Cup™ is another level, especially as a hometown favorite.

"She's just a horse that keeps delivering dream after dream," said King.

Rounding out the top three

Karl Cook and Foxy de la Roque, an 11-year-old Selle Francais mare, finished in second, 0.14 seconds behind King.

Kaitlin Campbell and Karius, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, stopped the timers for third place in the 1.60-meter class that was sponsored by La Quinta Resort & Club.

First round clears

Alan Wade was the course designer, and Ireland's Conor Swail and Casturano achieved the first double clear as tenth to go. Kaitlin Campbell and Karius were the next double clear in the first round, assuring a jump-off. The rest of the double clears were spread among the second half of the order, or the last 14 riders.

The North American League (NAL)

Conor Swail was leading the NAL coming into the night's competition with 41 points and, by accruing points for coming in fourth at Thermal, which is Leg 5 of the NAL, will retain his position. (Points are awarded to 16th place.) International riders competing in the North American League qualify by earning as many points as the lowest qualifying North American rider.

Top Eight Results

1 Kyle King (USA) - KAYENNE Z - 0/0/36.46

2 Karl Cook (USA) - FOXY DE LA ROQUE - 0/0/36.60

3 Kaitlin Campbell (USA) - KARIUS - 0/0/39.93

4 Conor Swail (Ireland) - CASTURANO - 0/0/41.12

5 Gregory Wathelet (Belgium) - ACE OF HEARTS - 0/4/36.33

6 Kent Farrington (USA) - TOULAYNA - 0/4/36.51

7 Savannah Jenkins (USA) - HECTOR DU TER - 0/4/40.64

8 Skylar Wireman (USA) - BARCLINO B - 4/74.86

Next stop on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League is Puebla, Mexico, February 6-9.