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In his first appearance at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Land Rover, Michael Jung claimed two spots on the podium for Germany and will take home a Rolex watch and $136,000.
The 32-year-old German rider jumped a double clear round on FischerRocana FST on a day when rails were falling, many and often, to take the overnight lead from New Zealand’s Tim Price and Wesko. He also claimed third place on La Biosthetique – Sam FBW, who won the World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010.
“Rocana,” owned by Jung’s parents, seemed to tackle Richard Jeffery’s course with ease. The 10-year-old German-bred mare (Ituango xx – Rose II) placed second at the Luhmuhlen CCI4* and at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, and this is her third four-star attempt. Jung rode Rocana, who was in fourth place after cross-country, before Sam, who was second after cross-country, and he admitted that he didn’t refocus well enough between horses and took responsibility for Sam’s two dropped rails.
“After my first round with FischerRocana, I was a little bit more relaxed but also I needed to stay focused and concentrate for my second ride. But I was a little bit too fast in the combination [with Sam],” said Jung. “Because my first horse needs more gallop and more speed to the fences, I did a little bit maybe the same with Sam and didn’t concentrate as well on him as I do when I am riding him alone at a competition.”
Luckily for Jung, his mistake didn’t keep him from the enviable positions of first and third and he never saw the outside of the top 4 all weekend.
Jung is building an unparalleled resume: 2010 World Champion, 2012 Olympic Champion, and now 2015 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event Champion. Fifteen-year-old Sam (Stan the Man xx – Halla), owned by Jung’s parents, has been Jung’s most successful horse, and Jung admits that Sam holds a special place in his heart.
“Every horse is different and I think Sam is my favorite. With Sam I have won every title and with Sam I have come up. He has a very special personality and he is a very good friend of mine,” said Jung. “I like him so much. I think no horse is better than him.”
When asked what he will do with his winnings, he laughed, “The flight [to the U.S. for two horses] is very expensive. I think in the end we are nearly on the zero. It is really nice to be here and the success is not just the money from here but everything around.”
He also praised the team behind the cross-country course, saying, “They prepared the ground and fences very well and my horses felt very safe on the cross-country.”
Fellow Rolex first-timer Tim Price was the overnight leader on Wesko, owned by the Wesko syndicate, but dropped one rail in the triple combination in the show jumping to slide into second. Otherwise, he was thrilled with Wesko’s round, and thinks that the pressure and the atmosphere actually gave Wesko some skip in his step.
“My horse is very good in the crowd and a good performer, and I thought it would lift him and help him around and I do think it helped him around,” he said. Price excitedly declared that he cannot wait to come back to Lexington next year.
The 2015 Rolex USEF Four Star Champion title, awarded to the top placed American rider, goes to Phillip Dutton and Fernnhill Cubalawn, who placed fifth overall behind William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero. This is the fourth time that Dutton has won this title, and on a horse new to the four-star level, no less.
“Cuba,” owned by Thomas Tierney and Simon Roosevelt, jumped a rare double-clear round today to move up from ninth place. Cuba’s show jumping improved greatly from his CCI3* trip at Blenheim last fall, where he had the last three jumps down. Dutton credits working with U.S. Eventing Team Show Jumping coach Silvio Mazzoni.
Fernhill Fugitive, also a four-star first-timer, placed ninth with Dutton after a double-clear round.
“I’m excited about their futures,” he said. “They’re both young-ish horses and they really stepped up, improved and matured and had a great experience this weekend in all three phases.”
Will Coleman put in a very solid performance with OBOS O’Reilly, placing sixth overall with just one rail down, and Boyd Martin piloted Master Frisky around his first four star to finish seventh.
Over 75,000 spectators came out to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., over Saturday and Sunday to watch the action. Notably, this is the 35th year that Rolex has been title sponsor of this event and the top sponsor of equestrian events worldwide.
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