Michael Jung Is Rewriting the Record Books — Again
With a record-breaking lead after cross-country, Jung is poised to claim his fifth Kentucky title — and make even more history in the process.
Michael Jung leads the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event after cross-country by 11.8 penalties — the largest post-XC lead at any 5* on record. Although Michael and fischerChipmunk FRH added 2.4 time penalties to their score, he still grew the margin he led by after dressage — which, incidentally, was also a record-breaking margin. Now, he sits on 21.0, while second place (Boyd Martin and Commando 3) sit on 32.8 — a gap of nearly three rails.
If he jumps clear tomorrow, he’ll not only win Kentucky again (for the fifth time — another record), but he’ll also make history with the largest winning margin ever recorded at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Jung’s Personal Kentucky Record Book
Michael Jung’s record at Kentucky is unreal. It’s hard to simply write a blog about one record-breaking metric without running face first into five or six more. Simply put, Michi is in a league of his own.
To keep track of his growing haul, here’s a quick cheat sheet on his Kentucky dominance:
- 7.4 is the largest lead after dressage at any 5* on record.
- 11.8 is the largest lead after cross-country at any 5* on record.
- If this lead holds, it’ll be the largest in Kentucky history — topping his own 11.6 from 2022 with Chipmunk.
- Only six Kentucky winners have finished with a margin greater than 4.0. Michael owns three of them:
2022 — Jung & fischerChipmunk FRH — 11.6
2016 — Jung & fischerRocana FST — 9.6
2010 — Jung & La Biosthetique–Sam FBW — 6.0
2025 — pending, but could surpass all three
Where He Ranks Globally
Naturally, this weekend’s performance doesn’t just shake up Kentucky’s historic stats — it puts Michael in the global conversation as well. If he finishes on today’s 21.0, he’ll join the global top 10 winning margins for a third time.
The top margin belongs to Ros Canter & Lordships Graffalo (15.0 at Badminton 2023). It’s perhaps unlikely that he’ll beat that margin this weekend — but if we’ve learned one thing, it’s to never bet against Michael Jung.
“I’m not really thinking about the record. I’m thinking about the competition,” Michael said. “It’s an amazing horse. It’s the horse that has to achieve that... I know it can go wrong all the time. So you just have to be prepared for the next day and do the best we can.”
One Round Away
Michael Jung heads into the final phase on a score of 21.0, with Boyd Martin the closest behind on 32.8. One more clear round, and history gets another rewrite. The lead is commanding, the records are lining up, and only a handful of colorful sticks stand between him and victory.
He may not be thinking about records — but they keep finding him anyway.
📣 Stay in the Loop on All Things Eventing
Get the latest predictions, key stats, and storylines delivered where you want them.
👉 Follow us on Instagram: @equiratings_eventing
📲 Join our WhatsApp Channel: Real-time insights, straight from the team to your phone — no noise, just eventing.