May 1, 2016 
Add another timepiece to the collection of Michael Jung. The German and his 11-year-old sport horse mare FischerRocana FST dominated from start to finish, seemingly playing their own game and following up their smashing debut last year with another victory at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****.
The pair entered Sunday’s show jumping phase with three pins in hand and used just one en route to a resounding 13 point win over runner-ups Lauren Kieffer and Veronica.
Final Leaderboard
Kim Severson on Winsome Adante is the only previous partnership to record consecutive Rolex Kentucky victories since it became a CCI4* in 1998 is. They won in 2004 and 2005, after also winning in 2002.
Prior to that, when Rolex Kentucky was a CCI3*, Bruce Davidson Sr. won it in 1988 and 1989 on Doctor Peaches. Davidson also won Rolex Kentucky in 1983 on J.J. Babu and 1984 on Doctor Peaches, and he won the 1978 World Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park on Might Tango.
“I am normally not a man of many words or so much drama as this weekend has been,” said Jung 33. “I have to thank all the people behind me and my horses. It’s a success of the whole team. Every horse in my stable horse has had a part in it.”
In addition to FischerRocana, an 11-year-old German-bred mare, Jung’s stable includes numerous international-level event horses, as well international-level show jumping and dressage horses.
Jung and Rocana (Ben Radvanyi photo)
For all of her clear brilliance, FischerRocana is a rather unassuming mare; a plain brown wrapper of sorts. She’s not big, nor small, and doesn’t have the rear engine you see on the thoroughbreds, but for the past two years she has had no equal on this grand stage.
(Ben Radvanyi photo)
Now Jung’s attention turns to the third leg of the Rolex Grand Slam, the Badminton Three-Day Event in England, which begins on Wednesday, May 4. His mount there, La Biosthetique Sam, on whom he won the 2010 World Championships and 2012 Olympics, was due to arrive at Badminton on Sunday.
If Jung wins Badminton, he will become only the second rider to win the lucrative Grand Slam—the winner earns $350,000in the 16-year history of the prize. Pippa Funnell of Great Britain is the single previous winner of the Rolex Grand Slam, in 2002-2003.
“I think always the same thing when I go a championship or a four-star event. I say to myself, ‘This is a normal competition.’ I try not to change anything. It’s important to win, but it’s important that you have a good feeling for the horse and that you have a good ride.”
Kieffer and Veronica (Ben Radvanyi photo)
Kieffer and Veronica are runner-ups for the 2nd time in three years. She also piloted Landmark’s Monte Carlo to 18th place.
“Monte Carlo exceeded our expectations yesterday and had a learning experience today,” performing in front of the jam-packed Rolex Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, said Kieffer. “But Veronica is better the more atmosphere she has. It lights her up a bit, and she tries harder.”
Black and Doesn’t Play Fair (Ben Radvanyi photo)
Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair, an 11-year-old American bred Holsteiner, lowered one jump to move up one place from their two-phase standing. “He’s kind of a pain in the barn, but he’s a great little horse who comes to work everyday,” said Black of her 15.2-hand partner.
Kieffer and Dutton led Team USA to victory in the DuBarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, scoring 178.5 faults. Their score handily eclipsed New Zealand (238.0) and the combined team of Australia, Germany and Great Britain (298.5).
Another tremendous weekend in the bag, and what a performance from the world’s top-ranked rider. Yes, tonight, we are indeed, Jung.
