Jung Takes Fifth Title; Phoenix 3rd in 4* at Kentucky Three-Day

Germany’s Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH cantered into Sunday’s show jumping test at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (K3DE) with 11.8 faults in hand over their fellow competitors. Though they dropped one rail on course, they still had enough cushion to finish comfortably in first and secure Jung’s fifth Kentucky victory with a score of 25.0.

A man holding a silver cup in the air, sitting on a bay horse.

Jung hoisted the K3DE winner’s trophy for the fifth time on Sunday, reclaiming his 2022 title with FischerChipmunk FRH. (Amy Dragoo Photo)

World #10 Boyd Martin (USA) chased Jung the whole way, finishing his stellar weekend in second place with Commando 3 (32.8), sixth with Fedarman B (40.6), and seventh with Luke 140 (44.7). World #4 Harry Meade (GBR) finished third and fourth with Et Hop Du Matz (34.2) and Grafennacht (39.6), respectively. Et Hop Du Matz was the only horse to complete the weekend on his dressage score. (Canada’s sole entry, Jessica Phoenix with Fluorescent Adolescent, slipped slightly from 13th to 14th with four rails in the stadium phase.)

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.

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Despite this being Jung’s fifth win in Kentucky, the reigning Olympic champion and World #12 still attributes his success to a healthy dose of luck. “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,” he continued. “I sit here and enjoy everything, but this is a big win for everyone in my team.”

Jung and the 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Joachim Jung, DOKR (the German Olympic Committee) and Klaus and Sabine Fischer dropped a rail at Fence 3, but continued unruffled to produce an otherwise clean, quick round.

“He felt really good. The warmup was nice; I had a good feeling, and he was soft and jumping well,” Jung said. “I started the round with a nice, forward rhythm and had a pole down very early, and I said okay and tried to give him a bit more balance. It worked well; he was jumping great. I’m very happy.”

Martin and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Yankee Creek Ranch, LLC, also took home the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian, which is awarded to the highest-placed American entry in the division.

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I was in for [with ‘Conner’],” Martin said. “He was my backup for [the Paris Olympics], and he didn’t do a long format last year. And, if I’m honest, I kind of questioned his guts and heart to get through an epic competition like this. But after going through this weekend, I think he could be a career-changing horse. He has a lot of quality, he’s beautifully bred and he’s strong in all phases.”

Martin turned in three clean jumping rounds on his horses, though he added 0.4 time faults on Fedarman B. His performances with Fedarman B and Luke 140 rounded out the National Championship podium. “I’m very blessed at the moment to have a group of incredible horses,” he said. “I’ve ridden a lot of different horses around this competition, and it’s a real pleasure to ride such freakishly talented animals. I’m very pleased with all three.”

Meade put in a smooth double-clear round with his and Mandy Gray’s 11-year-old Selle Français gelding Et Hop Du Matz to finish on their dressage score following all three phases. Meade had one rail down and 0.4 time penalties on his first ride, Grafennacht, a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Amanda Gould. The mare was recently the 5* mount of fellow Brit William Fox-Pitt, but when Fox-Pitt retired from upper-level riding, the mare moved to Meade’s barn. He’s had a very short amount of time to forge a partnership with her.

“I’m thrilled!” Meade said. “I’ve had three rides around [Kentucky] now, and the horses here had good performances, especially on the part of [Et Hop Du Matz]. He tried his heart out, and this performance was all him. The reason we’re here is for the horses, and it’s a wonderful feeling when they go well. It’s about the pride you feel in the horses.”

The CCI5*-L saw seven horse-and-rider pairs turn in double-clear show jumping rounds. In addition to Martin with Commando 3 and Luke 140, and Meade with Et Hop Du Matz, other double-clear rounds included World #2 Tim Price (NZL) and Happy Boy (21st/115.3), Mary Bess Davis (USA) and Imperio Magic (16th/75.0), Jonelle Price (NZL) and Hiarado (15th/74.0), and Calvin Böckmann (GER) and The Phantom of the Opera (11th/55.2).

Jung is leaving Kentucky with $130,000 in prize money and nothing but love for the venue and the people. “This place is amazing, so many friendly people who love the horses,” he said. “If you drive around, you see so many horses and big fields. I like this place [and the crowds] in the stadium, and how on cross-country, so many people support you and cheer for you on every jump and go through all the emotions with you. It’s really great here; I love it.”

Coleman enjoys emotional win in Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

By the slimmest of margins, Will Coleman (USA) and his longtime partner Off The Record stayed on top in the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, dropping one rail on Sunday to end on a score of 33.0. Fellow American Phillip Dutton finished second on Possante (33.9), adding just 0.4 time penalties to his overnight score. Canada’s Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS jumped double-clear to slip into third place (38.0), just ahead of Dutton’s other horse Denim. Denim finished in fourth (38.8) after adding 1.6 time penalties to his overnight score. (Fellow Canadian Dana Cooke finished 11th riding FE Quatro.)

Coleman had stated that “Timmy” historically hadn’t always jumped well in the Rolex Arena, and the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Off The Record Syndicate was looking a little uncertain on Sunday, swapping his leads around the course before lowering the first part of the double combination at Fence 9A. But the pair left the rest of the rails up and squeaked home right on the clock.

“I heard the rail fall and thought, ‘Oh, I really need to think about the clock,’ so I hustled a little bit,” Coleman said. “[Timmy] went in, tightened up a little bit, and was missing his leads, but this horse has gotten this far with his grit and determination. He showed all those things to come home with no more penalties. I’m not going to nitpick the round; I’m just happy for the horse.

“It feels great,” Coleman continued. “He’s been a horse that’s often been a bridesmaid in my barn. If I have two horses at an event, I will often have him be first to go — he’s so reliable on cross-country. He’s like an old shoe; I know him so well and he gives me a great feel. But being in that position doesn’t often let him be the winner. He’s just a sensational boy, and I’m pleased he gets a chance to wear the crown after this weekend. He’s really deserving.”

Dutton was also pleased with his horses despite his time penalties. “It’s a relief to be sitting up here and have a good result here,” he said of his two future stars. “It’s ironic. My best jumper is Denim, and I was too slow.

“Show jumping not been easy for us,” he continued. “[U.S. show jumper] Lauren Hough has been helping us through thick and thin. She’s a great friend of [my wife] Evie and I, and it’s not always easy to be a coach and a great friend. But she gave me a good program to work on with these horses, and it showed up today.”

Phoenix has also been working with a new coach that she credits with her improved results: Canadian dressage rider Ashley Holzer.

“It’s definitely been an amazing spring season,” Phoenix said. “I came away from the Paris Olympics feeling like I needed to hit the dressage, get me and the horses stronger, and me more confident in sitting where I need to be.

“I started training with Ashley Holzer, and she can really teach me and explain to me where I need to be,” she continued. “The communication with all my horses has gotten much better. [Freedom GS] is always strong in the show jumping phase, and in her cross-country, she absolutely loves it. It’s a pure joy to do that with her, but this spring season shows the fruits of our hard dressage work all winter.”

No one made the time in Saturday’s cross-country phase, and for a while, it looked like no one would get it in Sunday’s show jumping either, at least not while also leaving up all the rails. The first to go double-clear was Elisa Wallace (USA) aboard Lissavorra Quality (15th/53.8), a feat that only five pairs could replicate: Tamie Smith (USA) and Kynan (8th/46.0), James Alliston (USA) and Nemesis (7th/44.3), Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus (6th/40.4), Allison Springer (USA) and No May Moon (5th/40.4), and Phoenix.

Coleman has had “Timmy” since he was five years old, and after 11 years together, they are just enjoying their time together. “[We had] humble beginnings. He was a pretty hardy young horse, but he always displayed a real knack for cross-country,” Coleman said. “He wasn’t the most natural in the other phases but had an incredible work ethic. As our relationship improved, he started to blossom.

“He’s just been a joy to have. He has his own style, but his character is what makes him a good horse. He’s a genuine guy and has a conscience about doing the right thing, especially in competitions, which is a really nice quality to have,” Coleman concluded.

Other awards at the K3DE

In addition to the final placings, special awards are given out in several categories in both divisions:

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian CCI5*-L:

Breeder of the winning horse: ZG Meyer-Kulenkampff
Highest-placed international rider: Michael Jung (GER)/FischerChipmunk FRH
Highest-placed sole owner/rider: Mary Bess Davis (USA)/Imperio Magic
Highest-placed young rider: Cassie Sanger (USA)/Redfield Fyre
Arco Farms Highest-Placed Thoroughbred Award: Monica Spencer (NZL)/Artist
Groom’s Award: Adam Short for Tom McEwen (GBR)/Brookfield Quality
James C. Wofford “On The Rise” Trophy: Mary Bess Davis (USA)/Imperio Magic

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S:

Liz Halliday Award to the highest-placed U.S. Rider: Will Coleman/Off The Record
Groom’s Award: Alyssa Dobrotin for Chris Talley (USA)/FE Marco Polo
DuBarry of Ireland Best Dressed: Ariel Grald (USA)/Diara
Arco Farms Highest-Placed Thoroughbred Award: Jan Byyny (USA)/Beautiful Storm

Full results here.