Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 Take Flight in $215,000 NetJets CSI4* Grand Prix
Olympic champions Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 returned to familiar territory in Wellington International’s stadium during the Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) ‘Saturday Night Lights’. Six months after jumping to Olympic gold in Paris, the 2024 Rolex Grand Prix winning duo came in the crowd favorite and topped the $215,000 NetJets CSI4* Grand Prix. Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington, FL.
Germany’s Kukuk and his 15-year-old Westphalian gelding partner (Comme Il Faut 5 x Come On) led off in a seven-horse jump-off and held an edge 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.”
When asked about the special bond Kukuk has created with Checker 47, owned by M.H. & Partner Gbr & Madeleine Winter-Schulzehe, he said, “We have come a long way; I’ve known him since he was five. 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],” concluded 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 and Enjeu de Grisien settling as the runners up. Maher—a familiar face at Wellington International—piloted the 11-year-old Selle Français gelding (Toulon x Andiamo) owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright to a time of 39.29 seconds.
I did everything I could,” admitted 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.”
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Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 Take Flight in $215,000 NetJets CSI4* Grand Prix