Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam over the Rolex Grand Slam fence at Burghley
In September 2015 Michael Jung won the CCI4* at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials at his first attempt, putting him in a position to possibly become only the second person to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.
The Grand Slam revolves around three of the top competitions in the world – the CCI4* at Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley. To win the Grand Slam, a rider must consecutively win all three events, although they are permitted to ride different horses in each competition.
At Burghley in 2015 Michael won the CCI4* riding his top horse La Biosthetique Sam but his success does not rely just on this wonderful horse; indeed Michael currently has one of the best line-ups of horsepower in the sport at the moment. Not only does he have La Biosthetique Sam, who was third in the 4* at Kentucky in 2015 as well as winning at Burghley, his 11 year old mare and WEG silver medallist FischerRocana FST won at Kentucky and was second at Pau in 2015.
Another up and coming star of the Jung stable, Halunke FBW, showed that he was well and truly ready for the challenge when he led at Les Etoiles de Pau after the dressage and cross country phases ahead of his stable mate on his 4* debut. However he had to be withdrawn before the show jumping phase and, assuming that this was simply due to a minor injury and no long term damage was sustained, this 12 year old gelding by Heraldik could certainly be a contender for a 4* title in 2016.
Michael and Halunke FBW at Pau
Then of course there is the new kid on the block, the eight year old FischerTakinou who blitzed the field at the European Championships at Blair Castle to win on his dressage score. This was the young horse’s only third 3* start, and he proved that he was more than capable on the hilly Ian Stark cross country course. Even Michael seemed impressed and told us at the time that this horse was now a serious contender for the very top level – so will we see him compete in a 4* this year? Our guess is yes.
This depth of talent in the stable is absolutely key to possibly winning the Rolex Grand Slam. Having won the first leg at Burghley, Michael would need to win two 4* events that are just one week apart and on very different terrain at Rolex Kentucky in the USA (April 27th – May 1st 2016) and the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (May 5th – 8th 2016). For the rider, this is not too much of a problem as they simply fly to the next event but you need to have the right horse – and preferably more than one - for each event.
Michael and FischerRocana FST at Kentucky
In 2015 Michael took two horses to four of the CCI4* events; Lexington (FischerRocana FST and La Biosthetique Sam), Luhmuhlen (FischerRocana FST and and La Biosthetique Sam), Burghley (FischerRocana FST and La Biosthetique Sam) and Les Etoiles de Pau (FischerRocana FST and Halunke FBW). This tactic of having two horses served him very well so that, even when Halunke was withdrawn at Pau and FischerRocana was eliminated at Burghley, he still had great results. Despite the fact that Kentucky and Badminton are run so close together, he could easily field two horses at each event, giving him a fabulous chance at the elusive Rolex Grand Slam
Since the Grand Slam began in 1999 Pippa Funnell has been the only winner in 2003, winning three consecutive events in that same year. Winning Kentucky and Burghley on Primmore’s Pride and Badminton on Supreme Rock brought Pippa the biggest cash prize in the sport of US$250,000 plus, of course, a Rolex watch in pink gold. In 2008 Rolex announced that they were increasing the prize to $350,000 for any rider able to emulate Pippa’s achievement
Some have come agonisingly close with Andrew Hoy, Oliver Townend, William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson all having won two of the three and being well in the running to the end of the third event.
In 2006 Andrew Hoy won Kentucky on Master Monarch and backed that up with a win at Badminton on Moonfleet. He then led at Burghley going into the final phase with both of his horses, Mr Pracatan and Moon Fleet, capable of taking first place. It wasn’t to be but he came very close, taking second place on Moonfleet behind fellow Australian Lucinda Fredericks
Oliver Townend’s bid to win the Grand Slam in 2010 was dramatic from start to finish and ended in him being airlifted to a Kentucky hospital after a fall on cross country from one of his two horses, Ashdale Cruise Master. Oliver had won Badminton on Flint Curtis and Burghley on Carousel Quest in 2009 but his bid to compete at Kentucky was almost thwarted by an ash cloud from Iceland, causing him to find an alternative route to the USA event and resulting in an epic 51-hour journey via Paris, Madrid and Miami
Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt went head to head for the title ad Badminton in 2013
William Fox-Pitt’s attempt to win the Grand Slam unusually straddled three years, winning Burghley in 2011 and Kentucky in 2012 on Parklane Hawk but being forced to wait until 2013 to compete at Badminton due to the cancellation of the event in 2012. Because of this he was able to ride Parklane Hawk also at Badminton to finish in fifth place while his second horse Oslo finished further down the placings
The cancellation of Badminton in 2012 also led to the bizarre circumstances where Andrew Nicholson and William were both vying for the Grand Slam win. In 2012 Andrew had won Burghley on Avebury then won Kentucky 2013 on Quimbo and headed to Burghley in 2013 with Nereo. It wasn’t to be as a fellow Kiwi Jock Paget took the Badminton trophy and Andrew finished in third place so both contenders that year left empty handed
That year Michael Jung finished second at Badminton (on his first attempt). With both William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson having taken time off to recover from serious injuries late in the 2015 season and Michael having a stable full of equine stars, the 2016 season looks like one where we could see another rider have a thrilling crack at the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing
