Germany's Christian Kukuk wins $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix to close Winter Equestrian Festival
WELLINGTON — Christian Kukuk of Germany made the most of his debut at the Winter Equestrian Festival's "Saturday Night Lights" $500,000 FEI 5 Rolex Grand Prix .
In a pressure-packed jump-off, Kukuk and Checker 47 won the biggest event of the circuit to end the 13-week season in front of a packed house at Wellington International.
Kukuk, 34, ranked 20th in the world, topped eight riders in the jump-off, including four-time Olympian and crowd favorite McLain Ward, in a blistering 35.82 seconds to win $165,000, the largest paycheck awarded this season.
"I was dreaming about this, I always heard so may incredible stories," Kukuk said. "My very first time here in Wellington, I was very excited. I brought my two best horses here and I am very proud of them.
"It was an outstanding result. It wouldn't have been possible without these two horses. I went for it and it was good enough at the end. You can imagine how happy I am."
After finishing runner-up in the qualifier earlier in the week on Mumbai, Kukuk and his 14-year-old Westphalian gelding Checker 47 relied on a tight turn at the double and leaving a stride out at the end to clinch the win.
"I had goosebumps after that last fence," Kukuk said. "It's an incredible feeling. I had only heard about Wellington and the Rolex week before this. Everything went exactly how I wanted.”
Ward, ranked No. 10, and his new Olympic hopeful horse Ilex, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, were second in the jump-off in 36.24 ($100,000). Ward and his mount, together for only seven weeks, mastered the tough opening round course in 81.93.
"I didn't leave much on the table," Ward said. "Tonight I had a good feeling of putting the pieces together. I haven't jumped him off before, but I knew we had a big stride and he’s very honest. He bucked a little after the double and I think I lost a touch of time there.
"Show jumping is a real passion here and there's a great following,” Ward said of the "Saturday Night Lights" crowd. "These Rolex Grand Prixs are a notch above everything else in the world and are events that all the top riders aim for. It was great sport for great sporting fans.”
American Karl Cook and his 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Kalinka van't Zorgvliet were third ($75,000) with double clear rounds in 81.84 and 36.62.
"She has been energetic since day one and I think there's something about her where she knows what the event is," Cook said. "You can feel her energy when she's in classes like this with the crowd and atmosphere. She gets better in it. Last year, I was fourth in this class and this year, I'm third. I am happy with that, and it was an unbelievable class.”
Kukuk joins this season's five-star champions Darragh Kenny of Ireland, Richard Vogel of Germany and Luciana Lossio of Brazil.
Florida Atlantic alum finishes fourth
Florida Atlantic alum Daniel Bluman of Israel and Ladriano Z were fourth ($50,000) with double clears in 81.34 and 37.16. Laura Kraut of Royal Palm Beach and Bisquetta, were eighth in 80.12/38.95 with four faults ($12,500).
The largest and richest grand prix in the U.S. and one of the last U.S. stops before Olympic selections begin attracted a field of 39 world-class riders and horses, including five of the world's top 10 riders.
Falling by the wayside on a difficult opening round course were No. 1 world-ranked Henrik Von Eckermann of Sweden, No. 2 Ben Maher of Great Britain, No. 4 Kent Farrington of Wellington and Brazilian Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa.
More: See renderings of Wellington's new horse megacenter replacing Equestrian Village
The course, designed by Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge, was unforgiving with jumps coming up fast with big challenging tall verticals. With no easy jumps, there were faults committed all over the course.
Winning groom and Checker 47 caretaker Sofie Karlsson was awarded the $500 Grooms Award sponsored by Double H Farm. The ESP Spring Season starts next week with the A-T Children's Project at Wellington International.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Germany's Christian Kukuk wins $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix at Wellington International
