The Surprising Truth About CCI5* Dressage Stars
Only one of the top 10 dressage scores in CCI5* history has gone on to win. A low score on Friday might turn heads—but it rarely holds through Sunday. How does the win slip away and how does Kentucky challenge even the best?
When it comes to eventing, starting low doesn’t always mean you’ll finish first.
We crunched the numbers on the top 10 dressage scores ever recorded at CCI5* level since 2008. These are the jaw-dropping first-phase performances that made fans gasp and us, at EquiRatings swoon. But here's the kicker…
Of the top 10 dressage scores recorded at CCI5* level since 2008, only one has gone on to win the competition. Even a remarkable 17.5 from Laura Collett and London 52 at Paris 2024 wasn’t enough to secure victory. Out of the top ten dressage test only Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH have converted their low score into a gold medal.
Where Does The Win Slip Away?
The answer lies in the numbers. Of the top 10 lowest CCI5* dressage scores since 2008, more than half were hit by jumping penalties or time faults that cost them the win.
Tim Price and Vitali are a prime example. At Burghley 2023, they opened with an 18.7 in dressage—one of the best scores ever recorded—but added 8.0 time penalties on cross-country and 12 penalties in show jumping. They dropped to fourth.
Ros Canter and Izilot DHI scored a 19.0 at Pau 2024, but 21.6 total penalties from jumping phases saw them finish second.
While Laura Collett and London 52, who started Pratoni 2022 with a 19.3, suffered one of the most dramatic falls—from 2nd to 40th—after incurring 20 jumping penalties and nearly 23 time faults.
Dressage brilliance is only one piece of the puzzle. The unpredictability of the jumping phases makes the sport so compelling but also so cruel.
Starting Strong, Surviving Stronger at Kentucky
At Kentucky CCI5*, winning from the front is rare—but not impossible. Since 2008, only five of 17 winners have led after the dressage phase. The rest climbed their way to the top through steady, smart performances across cross-country and show jumping.
Michael Jung stands out with three pillar-to-post victories at Kentucky (WEG 2010, 2016, 2022), each time holding his lead from start to finish. But he’s not alone. Oliver Townend has also done it, winning from first in 2019, and proving his range by climbing from fifth (2021) and even eighth (2024) for other wins. William Fox-Pitt matched that blend of dominance and comeback too, including a win from the front in 2010 and podiums built from second-phase strength.
The takeaway? Front-runners don’t always survive the weekend. But when they do—especially at Kentucky—it’s a mark of complete excellence. Will Michael Jung make it his fourth pillar-to-post victory Kentucky?
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