United States Eventing Association

Defending champion Michael Jung cantered into the Rolex arena this afternoon with one prerogative: to win. And win he did taking down only one rail throughout an otherwise faultless round. Jung and his parent’s 11-year-old German Sport Horse Mare Fischerrocana FST (Itaugno XX x Rose II) had three rails in hand after an incredible trip around cross-country yesterday. He is now one of only three riders to have consecutive victories at this event, joining the ranks of Bruce Davidson and Kim Severson.

He had this comment on his success, “Thank you to all the people that help me, so that I can come back again and compete with so many good horses. I’m very proud. That’s the success of the whole team. Every person, every horse had a little part. It’s a big success for the whole team. It’s important we don’t forget that."

Michael Jung and Fischerrocana FST

After winning the 2015 event, Jung was noncommittal on a return in 2016. Last fall, Jung produced another four-star top finish at the Burghley Horse Trials, and with the Rolex Grand Slam in sight, he entered Rocana here in Lexington. Next weekend he has another top horse, La Biosthetique Sam FBW, entered at Badminton Horse Trials. After winning here by 13 points – something that has never happened – the eyes of the eventing world are on Jung to take another victory at Badminton to become the second Rolex Grand Slam champion. Pippa Funnel (GBR) is currently the only rider to win these three events consecutively.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica

Rails were flying for the top ten as second place finishers Lauren Kieffer and Team Rebecca’s Veronica (Pacific x Kimbel) were the only pair to finish with no jump penalties. Kieffer is also the winner of the USEF CCI4* Championship for the second time. Rounding off her great weekend, she also won a two-year lease on a Land Rover after having the fastest American cross-country ride of the day aboard Landmark’s Monte Carlo.

Rain did not deter the spectators, so the pressure was on for those last riders, but this experienced pair found this to their advantage. “Veronica actually does much better the more atmosphere she has. It kind of lights her up a bit and she tries a bit harder,” Kieffer said.

Maya Black and Doesn't Play Fair

Coming in third is Maya Black and Dawn Dofelmier’s Doesn’t Play Fair (Camiros x Oncoeur). This pair had one rail around Richard Jeffery’s course. Black has now officially shown eventing that she and the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Cody, are a force to be reckoned with after having top three finishes at FEI events in the last two months. (2nd – 2016 Carolina International, CIC3*, 1st – 2016 The Fork CIC3*)

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice

Phillip Dutton, who going into the show jumping held second and third place, had two rails aboard Mighty Nice, which moved the HND Group’s Irish Sport Horse into fourth place, and five rails with Fernhill Fearless, moving him into 13th. His last ride, Tom Tierney and Simon Roosevelt’s Fernhill Cubalawn, had only one rail, and rose to fifth place.

Boyd Martin and Blackfoot Mystery

Boyd Martin finished in fifth place with The Blackfoot Mystery Syndicate’s Blackfoot Mystery, and this weekend was the geldings first four-star.

That's a wrap on the #BestWeekendAllYear!

Final Scores

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