GERMANY’S Michael Jung won his fifth Kentucky Three-Day Event title, and second aboard fischerChipmunk FRH, in dominant style last Sunday.

The pair, who were crowned Olympic champions in Paris last July, had earlier set a record-breaking dressage score of 18.6 and eventually finished on a score of 25.0 – which did not beat his own best finishing score – and the best ever at 5* level - of 20.1 two years’ ago.

At the end of the dressage phase, Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 were in second (26.0), while Britain’s Tom McEwen and the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Brookfield Quality (OBOS Quality 004 x Bay Coffey Cavalier by Cavalier Royale), bred in Co Monaghan by Sean Kelly, were third (26.2).

Saturday’s cross-country phase saw Jung and the 17-year-old bay Hanoverian gelding jump clear and nearly make the time over the Derek di Grazia-designed track - just incurring 2.4 time-penalties.

They managed to not only maintain but extend their lead to 11.8 points ahead of their nearest challenger Martin on Commando 3, who picked up 6.8 time-penalties (32.8), with Harry Meade (GBR), the only rider to make the time and with both his mounts, moving into third with Et Hop Du Matz (34.2) and also fourth with Grafennacht (35.2). McEwen added 10.4 time-penalties across the country to drop down to fifth place (36.6).

Luck

The show jumping phase on Sunday saw Jung with almost three fences in hand, so one down still left him the comfortable winner on 25.0, despite Martin and Commando 3 jumping clear to maintain their score at 32.8 to take second place. Meade jumped clear with Et Hop Du Matz to place third on 34.2, while a fence down and 0.4 time-penalties with Grafennacht saw them finish fourth with a final score of 39.6.

McEwen and Brookfield Quality (ISH) incurred four jumping faults to bring their score to 40.6 for fifth place. Martin also placed sixth with Fedarman B (40.6) and seventh with Luke 140 (44.7).

It might have been Jung’s fifth win in Kentucky, but he still believes an element of luck is involved. “It’s definitely luck, and it’s something really special, [because] so many things can go wrong. It’s happened a few times to me,” he said. “I believe in my horse and in [Kentucky]; I’ve always had good luck here. Without luck, you win nothing. I’m thankful for such a good horse, for my owners, for my family, for all the people who work in the background. I sit here and enjoy everything, but this is a big win for everyone in my team,” Jung concluded.

Off The Record wins CCI4*-S

Meanwhile, in the CCI4*-S competition at Kentucky, American rider Will Coleman rode the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Off The Record (VDL Arkansas x Drumgoland Bay, by Ard Ohio), bred by Peter Brady in Drumgoland, Co Cavan, to take the win.

The pair started off as they meant to go on, with a superb dressage score of 21.8 – the best of the horse’s international career. Off The Record was formerly known as Cooley Stateside and came to Coleman through Cooley Farm. Next best after dressage was Phillip Dutton (USA) on Possante on a score of 23.1, followed by his second mount Denim in third (25.6). Chris Talley on FE Marco Polo sat fourth after dressage (26.8).

Coleman and his mount jumped clear around the cross-country track, adding 7.2 time-penalties, bringing them to a score of 29.0 after the second phase – ahead of Dutton on Possante (33.5) in second and on Denim (37.2) in third. Canada’s Jessica Phoenix on Freedom GS moved up from 14th to fourth following cross-country (38.0).

A single fence down show jumping put Coleman on a finishing score of 33.0 - less than one penalty in front of Phillip Dutton (USA) on Possante, who was runner-up on 33.9, after jumping clear but with 0.4 time-penalties. Phoenix (CAN) finished third on 38.0, while Dutton on Denim were fourth on 38.8, after incurring 1.6 time-penalties.

“I just can’t say enough about him [Off The Record] and how hard he tries,” Coleman said afterwards. “We love the Irish horse. It’s still, I think, the most ideal horse for eventing, so we will always keep looking for another one like him.”

Four Irish-bred horses placed in the top 20 in the class. Margaret Dobby bred Sportsfield Lumier (ISH), who placed 13th with Hayley Frielick (NZL); Patrick McLoughney bred Lissavorra Quality (ISH), who finished 15th under Elisa Wallace (USA), while Justin Burke bred HSH Blake (ISH) who was 16th with Caroline Pamukou (USA).