Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™

Lexington, Ky., May 1, 2022—It was a wire-to-wire win for Germany’s Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH, who set a new record for a winning score in the CCI5*-L at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™. The pair had been flawless all weekend, a trend that continued in the final phase when they went double clear in the show jumping to finish on an astounding score of 20.1 — the lowest winning score ever achieved in a CCI5*-L. Jung finished 11 points ahead of second placed Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain and Banzai Du Loir (31.7) and the USA’s Doug Payne and Quantum Leap (38.4). Payne, as the highest-placed American, also took home the Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L National Championship presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ in front of a crowd of 22,185. Germany’s Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH continued their flawless performance to win the CCI 5*-L at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™. Michelle Dunn Photo “I had a really great feeling in the warm-up, and it makes you a bit more relaxed, but the pressure is on and it was like a test for (the world championships later this year),” Jung said. “So I tried to stay really concentrated and focused with this horse. He’s amazing … I was able to enjoy every phase through this competition.” This is Jung’s fourth win on the Kentucky bluegrass, making him second only to the legendary Bruce Davidson in wins here (Bruce has 5). It was his 11thCCI5*-L victory, which ties him with Mark Todd. Only renowned British eventer William Fox-Pitt has more, with 14. For this victory Jung was aboard the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Sabine and Klaus Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff and DOKR, who had come together to purchase the horse for Jung to ride, and to keep him available for the German team. “Of course you always try to do your best, that’s why you wake up every morning and go to stables in minus 20 degrees, and in the rain, and in the heat,” Jung said. “It’s a very special moment for me, and I have to give thanks for my whole team in the background — helping train the horses and bring the horses to this level. And big thanks to the fischer group so that we can keep this horse in Germany and make it so that I’m allowed to ride such an amazing horse.” Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH stood proudly for their awards at the CCI 5*-L at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™. Michelle Dunn Photo Clean rounds were few and far between, with time running tight and rails falling. Ingham added 0.8 time penalties, but it was good enough for second after USA’s Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF lowered two rails to fall to fourth. “If someone told me I’d be sitting here and in second place to (Jung), I wouldn’t have believed it,” Ingham said. “I have to thank everyone involved with Banzai, he is so special and really deserves this result. Our whole team, we couldn’t do this without them.” Great Britain’s Yasmin Ingham added only 0.8 time penalties aboard Banzai Du Loir to move into second in the horse’s first CCI5*-L. redbayphoto.com The chestnut Selle Francais gelding is owned by Janette Chinn and Sue Davies, and was contesting his first five-star. Ingham is also relatively new to the level, with only two under her belt prior to the weekend. “He has exceeded all expectations,” Ingham said. I have all the confidence in this horse. He was very professional all weekend, and it was amazing to pull it together for all three phases at such an incredible event. It was tough to get to the flights and with all the traveling, but I wouldn’t take it back for the world. We’ve been treated so well, so a huge thanks for all the volunteers that make this happen. I’m very thankful to be here.” American pair Doug Payne and Quantum Leap moved into third place with one of only a handful of double-clear show jumping rounds in the in the CCI5*-L. Michelle Dunn Photo This was something of a bittersweet day for Payne, who experienced the highs and lows of sport all at once. He was thrilled with his result aboard Quantum Leap, a Holsteiner gelding he bought as a weanling, whose double clear round today moved him into third and into the National Championship. However, he also announced the retirement of his long-time partner and Tokyo Olympic mount Vandiver, who had a tough weekend and finished in 24th. “This is a very tough day actually,” Payne admitted. “We bought (Quantum Leap) as a weanling from (breeder) Elizabeth Callahan, and we now have four horses she’s bred (including both of his CCI4*-S mounts Starr Witness and Camarillo). He was the start of the pipeline of horses coming in. For him to get here … he blew my expectations away and he just continues to get better and better. For an 11-year-old in only his third five-star, I couldn’t ask much more. “I’m so thankful for the group that owns him with us (which includes, Payne, his wife Jessica and Susan Drillock),” continued Payne. “It’s incredible, to sit here and have the privilege to ride such wonderful horses and so many people come together to make that happen. I’d just like to thank them.” Doug Payne and Quantum Leap took home the Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L National Championship presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ as the highest-placed American. Michelle Dunn Photo While Payne is sad to see the end of his time with Vandiver, the excitement of good young horses coming along, and taking home the national championship helps ease the sting. “It’s difficult today, how I’m feeling (about winning the national championship). It’ll sink in a few days,” Payne said. “It’s a lifetime of work, but I’m driven to always do better. Having (Vandiver) retire and having another horse step into his shoes (with) an incredibly bright future … I’d like to focus on that.” The show jumping course, designed by Steve Stephens, garnered only six double-clear rounds, with an additional four pairs leaving the rails up and coming home with only time penalties. Sunday awards also means a chance to recognize some additional winners. This year Ingham took home the highest-placed young rider, while Jung took highest-placed international rider. Canada’s Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me took home the prize for the highest-placed sole owner. The grooms of the top three horses also got rewarded, with cash and prizes going to Lena Steger (fischerChipmunk FRH), Alison Bell (Banzai Du Loir) and Courtney Carson (Quantum Leap). In the Dubarry of Ireland Team Challenge, the combined Germany/Ireland/New Zealand team of Michael Jung, Joseph Murphy and Jonelle Price won with a score of 133.5 over Great Britain’s team of Yasmin Ingham, Pippa Funnel, Sarah Bullimore and Leslie Law with a score of 141.2.0 and USA’s team of Boyd Martin, William Coleman, Doug Payne, and Tamra Smith with a score of 166.3. Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver finished the weekend on top by winning the CCI4*-S. Michelle Dunn Photo In the CCI4*-S, there was heartbreak and triumph as Steve Stephens’ show jumping course shuffled the top standings, with Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver emerging the winner with a double-clear round to finish on a score of 29.7. She also finished 7th on Cooley Be Cool, who left all the jumps up and adding 0.4 in time penalties to his score. “Both of my horses jumped phenomenal today,” Halliday-Sharp said. “I couldn’t ask for more from him, he rose to the atmosphere — and I didn’t expect that many spectators for the four star, it was wonderful to have crowds back. The course was great, well-designed  and it made you think about the lines. The time was tight, there’s a lot to see in that arena and you never know what the younger horses might do, but all in all it was a really great day and I’m thrilled for the owners, team and horses.” Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool had a polished round to move into second in the CCI4*-S. Michelle Dunn Photo Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool also left up all the jumps and added 1.2 time penalties to move into second, with newly-minted American James Alliston completing his steady move up with Nemesis from 26th place after dressage to finish 3rd after jumping clean and adding just 0.4 penalties to his dressage score. “It’s so exciting for me have a horse coming up like (Quasi Cool),” said Dutton. “A lot of this sport is all about the dream, and there are a lot of disappointments, but he looks to have the makings of a great horse. (This competition) is a great education for these horses, to have a strong cross country like that and (to be able to) show jump in atmosphere like this is invaluable. I’m excited and hopefully he will grow and really learn from it.” James Alliston and Nemesis moved up all weekend to finish in third in the CCI4*-S. Michelle Dunn Photo Alliston is a British ex-pat who lives in California, and changed his citizenship to the U.S. this year after marrying American Helen Alliston. He and the chestnut Canadian Warmblood gelding started their weekend in 26th place but a relatively quick and clean cross country that added on 9.2 time moved them into 6th overnight, with a strong performance today sliding them into the top three. “I’m thrilled with him,” Alliston said. “It’s a dream to come and do this. He’s only done two Advanced before, and this was quite a hard four star, but we came out from California with the trailer and decided to bring him along as company. But he’s very brave naturally, so I was hoping I wasn’t being stupid. I’m very happy, he’s a good show jumper normally but this is a whole thing with the crowds and the long course, so I’m really happy with him.” Overall, the course proved challenging with only four double clear rounds, and only an additional eight adding no jumping penalties, just time. As the results would indicate, time was exceptionally tight. Overnight leader Dan Kreitl came to grief early when Carmango appeared to spook and come to a near stop several strides away from the first fence, putting him down on the clock on a course where time was already tight, then added 12 more faults to seal his fate. He was also eventually awarded a stop for the first fence, dropping him to 4th. Kreitl had won everyone’s hearts with the story of his personal struggles, including caring for an infant in the NICU and a wife stricken with cancer while holding down a full-time job in real estate, all while attempting to ride at the highest levels. Despite not having the fairytale ending hoped for, the crowd cheered Kreitl loudly and he was still all smiles and pats for his horse. Dutton even commented on it, saying, “one part of the sport that’s not fun, is that we all wanted Dan up here. He’s such a great guy and I hope we see a lot of him and his horse in the future.” The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ (LRK3DE), April 28-May 1, 2022 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, hosts one of only seven annual Five Star three-day events in the world. The event also hosts a CCI4*-S as well as the $225,000 Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the event annually attracts more than 80,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations. Further information about the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and the Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix is available at www.kentuckythreedayevent.com. About Equestrian Events, Inc. Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event that evolved into the world-renowned Kentucky Three-Day Event, which draws more than 80,000 spectators to the Kentucky Horse Park each year. EEI added the Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix in 2018 and also produces other events. EEI supports several local and equine charities and has donated more than $725,000 to various charities since 2011. For more information, please visit www.eq-events.com. About Land Rover Founded in 1948, Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures its vehicles in the United Kingdom. For almost 70 years the brand has built a reputation for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world; whether driving through the heart of the city or traversing the countryside on- and off-road. Today’s Land Rover lineup includes the Discovery and Discovery Sport; Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information, visit the official Land Rover website at https://www.landroverusa.com. About Jaguar Land Rover Jaguar Land Rover is the U.K.’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports sedan and sports car brands. At Jaguar Land Rover, we are driven by a desire to deliver class-leading vehicles, which will provide experiences our customers will love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe. In 2017/18 Jaguar Land Rover sold 614,309 vehicles in 129 countries, with more than 80 percent of our vehicles being sold abroad. We support around 260,000 people through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. Manufacturing is centered in the U.K., with additional plants in China, Brazil, Austria and Slovakia. Our innovation is continuous: we will spend in the region of £4 billion this year on new product creation and capital expenditure. From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be electrified, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and gasoline engines. About MARS EQUESTRIAN™ MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Sponsorship by Mars, Incorporated is the link between our iconic brands and the equestrian community. For generations, Mars has celebrated a rich equestrian heritage, and through purposeful partnerships, MARS EQUESTRIAN is committed to the sport and building an enduring legacy. From world-class competitions across all equestrian disciplines, to stewarding the power of horses on society and sustainability, MARS EQUESTRIAN is dedicated to our purpose to improve the lives of horses, pets, and the people who love them. Check out our website at www.marsequestrian.com and social media @marsequestrian. About Hagyard Equine Medical Institute With more than 50 veterinarians and 142 years behind it, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is the oldest and one of the largest private equine veterinary practices in the world. Based in Lexington, the facility, located across the street from the Kentucky Horse Park, boasts superior ambulatory services, the world-renowned Davidson Surgery Center, McGee Medicine and Fertility Centers, Hagyard Laboratory, Hagyard Sports Medicine Center, and hyperbaric medicine facilities. For more information, visit www.Hagyard.com.