Michael Jung riding La Biosthetique Sam.
(Badminton, UK, 4 May 2013) Michael Jung (GER) riding La Biosthetique Sam is in 1st place after the Dressage phase at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. Stefano Brecciaroli (ITA) riding Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve is in 2nd place, with Dirk Schrade (GER) riding King Artus in 3rd place. Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing prize contenders William Fox-Pitt (GBR) riding Parkland Hawk is lying in 5th place, with Andrew Nicholson (NZL) riding Nereo in 6th place.
Rider Quotes
Michael Jung riding Sam
Q. Michael – that looked great – how was it?
My horse was very concentrated and I feel it in the warm up – he’s very relaxed and concentrate to me and not to the spectators – I can ride him and touch him to the legs OK and he feels really good.
Q. Any difficult moments?
Yes, just in the walk and the stop and rein back. Yes, ok he is a little bit nervous but I think it was very good for the horse for this stadium.
Q. What about tomorrow – what are your thoughts on this particular horse?
I think it’s a very, very nice cross country – you have long ways – you can go really fast forward and you can have time enough to prepare the next jump. It’s a really good building from the course designer. You have a few jumps to go into the course and many tricky fences but I think we can see a very nice course.
Q. What will you do tonight?
Eat, drink, relax and then have fun tomorrow!
Andrew Nicholson riding Nereo
Q. Andrew – quite a good mark – how was the test – did you feel it went as well as it could have done?
The walk isn’t the easiest – naturally he hasn’t got a brilliant walk, just with the photographers and the clicking of the cameras it got him a little jig joggy and it make the rein back a bit quicker than it should be, but otherwise I thought he was very good.
Q. Quite a few riders have mentioned the clicking on the cameras – is that more unusual?
That’s part of these big events – now I suppose there are more taking photos – it’s all noticeable, but just part of the sport. If the wind was perhaps blowing in a different direction then you never know, but it’s part of it all and you’ve just got to take it as it is.
Q. At the moment we believe you are lying into 6th place – what are you feeling now on the whole competition, trying to win your first Badminton and the Rolex Grand Slam prize?
“What score is Michael on?” He’s on 36.0. “And what am I on?” 40.3. “It’s near enough!”
I don’t like being in the lead after the dressage – I was in the lead after the dressage here once before and I finished second. And I was in second place in Kentucky last week and then won – so I’ll stick to that!
Q. What are you going to do now?
I’ve pretty thoroughly walked the cross-country course and know where I’m going on there. The horses will just be worked a bit tomorrow and then we’ll come out and scorch around there!
William Fox-Pitt riding Parklane Hawk
Q. William – are you disappointed with the mark, did you feel you did better?
I’m very pleased with Parklane Hawk – he did a lovely test. It’s a shame that he made a bit of a fluff of the rein back – we don’t normally do that. I think it was just nerves and the excitement and you’ve got all the cameras this year right behind them. I could feel him not really focusing on me and he lost his focus of attention for a second – but he came back really well and I was very, very pleased with how he went.
Q. You mentioned the cameras – does it still effect such experienced horses?
I think not normally it would. He is a thoroughbred horse, a sensitive horse – for my other horse Oslo it probably wouldn’t affect him at all – he is a real show-off and would have benefitted from a good blasting wind and a few more people cheering because he is that sort of horse. Whereas Parklane Hawk would definitely have felt it a little bit. But he has done three majors and coped very well with them – he’s got a very good brain.
Q. You held it together in there nevertheless, so what about tomorrow?
I’m looking forward to tomorrow – it will be an exciting day. I am looking forward to riding both my horses around Badminton – neither of them have done Badminton before, but both are really up for the challenge and are fit and well.
We are hoping that it is a tough course – I certainly am, especially not being in the lead after the Dressage myself, so I shall be hoping it causes plenty of trouble!
Q. I have to mention the Rolex Grand Slam – is it on your mind at all?
Once the dressage is over – you’ve got to do your best – the order has been set and you just have to get on with it. I think now what will happen will happen – they’ve definitely put up a challenge out there and let’s hope it proves one!
Results after Day 1 Dressage
1 Michael Jung/Sam (GER) 36.0
2 Stefano Brecciaroli/Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve (ITA) 36.8
3 Dirk Schrade/King Artus (GER) 39.2
4 Jonathan Paget/Clifton Promise (NZL) 39.7
5 William Fox-Pitt/Parklane Hawk (GBR) 40.0
For more information on the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and full Results/Leaderboard, please visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk.
Two Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Contenders
With two of three successive wins of the Rolex Grand Slam – the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials – William Fox-Pitt is the current live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. Due to adverse weather conditions, the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials was unfortunately cancelled. Therefore, Fox-Pitt has had to wait until the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials before he can contend for the coveted US$ 350,000 Rolex Grand Slam Prize.
However, now that Andrew Nicholson, who won the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials has also accomplished the feat of successively winning the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, there are now uniquely be two live contenders for the sport’s most coveted prize at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.
Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing
In 2001, Rolex created the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. This trophy is awarded to the rider who manages to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event in any consecutive order. Until now, only British rider Pippa Funnell has managed this staggering achievement, winning the title in 2003.
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