Jung Holds Onto Lead at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

Germany’s Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH not only retained their first place after Saturday’s cross-country phase at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (K3DE), but they also opened a wider gap between themselves and the rest of the field. Despite their 2.4 time penalties on cross-country, they now hold an 11.8-point lead over World #10 Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 in second (32.8), with World #4 Harry Meade (GBR) aboard Et Hop Du Matz sitting in third (34.2). That 11.8 gap is the widest lead anyone has ever had going into the final phase of a CCI5*-L.

Produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non-profit, charitable organization that supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level, the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian features one of only seven annual 5* three-day events in the world. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the event annually attracts nearly 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations. In addition to the traditional CCI5*-L, the event also features the Cosequin® Lexington 4* and the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.

A man jumping a bay horse over a cross-country fence.

Germany’s Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH were nearly flawless on Saturday, adding only 2.4 time penalties to extend their lead in the K3DE. (Amy Dragoo photo)

Jung, World #12, reigning Olympic champion and four-time Kentucky champion, went early in the day and had a smooth, flowing round with the 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by a consortium including Joachim Jung, DOKR (the German Olympic Committee), Klaus and Sabine Fischer and the horse’s breeder Dr. Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff. They were clearly working hard to make the time but didn’t quite get there.

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“I had a great day and a super ride with FischerChipmunk,” Jung said. “He’s an amazing horse, super to ride in the dressage, very calm, but on cross-country, he’s full of energy. He went very well, galloping with a big stride. He’s very honest, and I can really trust him. We get better and better together. We’re still learning, but we have a great partnership.

“He felt a bit tired in some places today, so I gave him a bit of time,” he continued. “I knew I was a bit behind [on time], but he was galloping well to the end of the course, so I knew he was really fit to make it. I’m really happy about today.”

Martin and Yankee Creek Ranch LLC’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding added 6.8 time penalties to their overnight dressage score, but their placing didn’t change. Martin rode three horses in the 5*, and in addition to his second place, he stands seventh on Fedarman B (40.2) and ninth on Luke 140 (44.7). He and his horses also hold the top three spots in the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian as the highest-placed American entries.

“It was a bloody tiring day, but I had a good, strong day,” Martin said. “Bruno [Fedarman B] was good … he got a little tired around the course, and then I went out a little cautious on Luke. So, I said, ‘Toughen up Boydo,’ and I went pretty quick on Conner [Commando]. He’s a young horse, and it was a challenging course, and the ground was a bit tiring, but I’m very pleased for today.”

Meade was the only rider to make the time over the Derek di Grazia-designed track, and he did it on two horses: third-placed Et Hop Du Matz (34.2) and fourth-placed Grafennacht (35.2).

“I guess I was confident they were fit, and I thought I’d get out there and see how they felt,” Meade said of his double-clean performances.

Meade has developed Et Hop Du Matz, the 11-year-old Selle Français gelding he co-owns with Mandy Gray. “I know him really well and always hoped he’d be a good 5* horse,” he said. “He’s very adjustable — he’s got a long stride but can shorten as well. He gave me a peach of a ride, and I’m really happy with him; it was nicely uneventful.”

Grafennacht, a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Amanda Gould, was recently the 5* mount of fellow Brit William Fox-Pitt; when Fox-Pitt retired from upper-level riding, the mare moved to Meade’s barn. “The mare, I don’t really know very well,” Meade said. “We’ve really only had this spring to get to know each other … I thought I’d just learn as much as I could on the way around, but she’s really cool.”

World #1 Tom McEwen (GBR) had entered cross-country in third place; he had a hard-won clean jumping round aboard Brookfield Quality but added 10.8 time penalties to drop to fifth.

Of the 34 entries slated to start on Saturday, 26 completed the course, 15 of whom finished with no jumping penalties. Three were eliminated on course, four retired on course, and one withdrew before the start.

The horse-and-rider pairs who finished cross-country will rest and recuperate overnight before presenting themselves for the final horse inspection Sunday morning to ensure they are all fit to continue. The show jumping test to determine their final placings will take place Sunday afternoon.

Coleman stays on top in the CCI4*-S

Time faults were the name of the game in the Cosequin® Lexington 4*, and Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record used every ounce of their experience to stay on top as they flew to a clean jumping round that added only 7.2 time penalties to stand on 29.0. Fellow American Phillip Dutton also stayed in second and third with Possante (33.5) and Denim (37.2), respectively.

A woman galloping a bay horse on a cross-country course.

Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS sit 4th in the CCI4*-S. (EC/Amy Dragoo photo)

No one made the time in the CCI4*-S, where Coleman and his veteran campaigner were the quickest of the day. The general consensus was that if Coleman and “Timmy” couldn’t make it, it was doubtful anyone was going to. “I thought the time was tight when I walked,” Coleman said. “I wasn’t sure anybody was going to get it, the way the course was set out. It was a fantastic track, but very challenging with the roping and how the questions were strung together. It made it hard to get the time allowed. It’s not surprising to me that nobody got that close.”

Dutton had time penalties on both horses, but it wasn’t enough to shift their placings. “I’m a bit relieved; it was a lot of hard work,” Dutton said. “I knew it was a strong track. Then with the conditions and crowds on top of that, it takes a bit of practice to go quick at this level. I was trying to take a crack at it, but I didn’t go as fast as I was hoping to. They were good and should come out better than they started.”

Possante is a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by The Possante Group; Denim is a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Caroline Moran, Ann Jones, Ann Lapides and Neill Sites.

Canada’s Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS moved up with only eight time penalties to take over fourth place with a score of 38.0. Allison Springer (USA) and the feisty No May Moon came home second-quickest of the day, and they currently stand fifth on a score of 40.4.

“Freedom was pure class out there; she is such a fun horse to ride cross-country,” Phoenix said of Charlotte Schickedanz’s 12-year-old Trakehner mare. “She loves to gallop and is so attentive to the questions and looks for the flags. I knew the time was tough to make, but she was so fast and efficient, it was pure joy to ride her.”

A woman jumping a chestnut horse over a cross-country fence.

Dana Cooke and FE Quatro are 10th in the CCI4*-S. (EC/Amy Dragoo photo)

Of the 52 starters over Saturday’s cross-country course, 27 came home with no jumping faults, 11 completed with jumping penalties, four were eliminated on course, and six retired on course. An additional four withdrew before the start.

The trickiest fence of the day proved to be Fence 4AB, the “Mighty Moguls,” with eight pairs coming to grief there. In addition, Fence 12AB, the “EEI Opposing Corners,” caused its share of challenges, including multiple reviews of knocked flags, though most penalties were eventually removed.

Coleman heads into show jumping with a rail in hand, but he can’t afford any other penalties with Dutton breathing down his neck. The final phase of the CCI4*-S takes place Sunday morning following the final horse inspection.

All competitions held as part of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ – the CCI5*, Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*, and Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute – can be watched live on USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. The link is also available through the event website at www.kentuckythreedayevent.com. The livestream is available free of charge worldwide to USEF fans and members. Anyone can become a fan and watch the event free by registering as a “Fan” at www.usef.org/fan. ClipMyHorse.TV premium subscribers can also watch the event. All phases of the CCI5* (dressage, cross country and jumping) will also be shown live on ESPN3.

Start lists and ride times here; live results here.