WELLINGTON,Fla--Olympic champion Christian Kukuk on Checker 47 won the $215,000 CSI4* Grand Prix on Saturday, Jan.25 during the Winter Equestrian Festival’s ‘Saturday Night Lights’.
Christian Kukuk on Checkers 47 (Photo by Sportfot)Kukuk on Checker 47 won the individual gold medal six months ago in Paris and also won the Rolex Grand Prix at WEF last year.
Germany’s Kukuk on his 15-year-old Westphalian gelding went first in the seven horse jump-off and led from the start to win by nearly two seconds.
“First to go is never easy in the jump-off,” said Kukuk, who stopped the clock at 37.35 seconds. “I did not walk the jump-off because there were long lines and I don’t have the huge stride, but I know that Checker is naturally very quick even if I have a stride more than the other ones. When I passed the finish line, I knew that the rest were under pressure and they had to try.”
“We have come a long way; I've known Checker since he was 5."said Kukuk. "That's what you need in the end to have big successes, a strong relationship. Like today, when he comes in the ring he feels when it’s a special day."
“I'M VERY happy to be back in Wellington,” said\d Kukuk, who has six of his top horses in Florida for the winter season. “I still really remember that night winning the Rolex Grand Prix here in March last year. It was one of my best nights I ever had and best wins.”
Back-to-back Olympic champions took the top two placings on Saturday night with Great Britain's Ben Maher on Enjeu de Grisien finishing second in 39.29 seconds.
"I did everything I could,” said Maher. “Enjeu has a very big stride for a small horse, but it's a little slow motion. He jumps with a lot of height and a lofty kind of jump. It was always going to be tough to beat Checker, and with the experience of Christian with that horse and the smooth turn back [in the jump-off], I would have had to take an unrealistic risk to be able to beat him.”
Maher has been competing at WEF for roughly 16 years with many successes on different horses.
“It's been a huge part of my career,” he said. “I think they're doing a great job to build the fan base here that we have in Europe, and it makes it more special for us to ride in these events with a big crowd and it helps raise our game.”
After winning the Under 25 Grand Prix during WEF 2, Nina Mallevaey of France said that her goal was to step up to the four- and five-star level.
She realized and exceeded that goal this week by finishing third in the Grand Prix on Dynastie de Beaufour, clean in 39.67 seconds.
“I'm really happy with my horse because it's her first time here,” said 25-year-old Mallevaey, who trains with Laura Kraut and Nick Skelton. “She had a two month holiday before coming here and she feels amazing. I’ve been riding her for 10 months now. I'm grateful to have a horse like her. I hope to get more good results and maybe think about some championships with her. This season, I’m hoping I can jump the Rolex Grand Prix.”
Earlier in the day, 20-year-old Carlee McCutcheon on Coco Mercedes won the CSI2* 1.40m, with Caitlin Boyle on Prianti van het Mikkenhof finishing second and Blythe Karolyi riding Venitienne Tardonne placing third..
