Jung, riding his 2015 European champion Fischer Takinou, was awarded the only score under 40 by the ground jury for his performance.

The total mark of 39.3 penalties was enough to secure top spot for Jung, the gold medallist in the individual eventing competition at Rio 2016.

The nine-year-old Fischer Takinouis, who missed the Olympics because of a tick infection, showed his brilliance in wet conditions when easily taking the European title last year, and did so again today in the sodden conditions in Pau.

Jung also sits in fourth place on the mare Fischer Rocana FST, a dual Kentucky event winner, and will take some beating as he aims to dominant the FEI Classics leader board once again.

German riders have dominated the FEI Classics rankings for the last two years. 

Ingrid Klimke’s victory in Pau in 2014 contributed to her overall success in 2015 before Jung topped the standings last season.

Great British rider Alexander Bragg, a part-time farrier, produced the performance of a lifetime to claim second place. 

He scored 43.0 penalties on the 12-year-old Dutch-bred Zagreb, a horse he has produced from one-star level.

Nicola Wilson, also of Great Britain, is third on One Two Many on 43.6.

The veteran Belgian rider Karin Donckers, riding Fletcha van’t Verahof, is fifth only 0.1 ahead of New Zealander Jock Paget who currently occupies sixth on Clifton Signature with a score of 44.0.

Maxime Livio of France is the highest ranked home rider, sitting in seventh on Qalao des Mers with a score of 45.3.

Three more Great British riders round off the top ten.

Laura Collett, a member of the winning British team at the FEI Nations Cup Eventing final last weekend, is in eighth riding Palmero on 45.9 points, while Kirsty Johnston, making her Pau debut aboard Opposition Detective, is in ninth with a score of 46.7.

Adding to Great Britain's dominance is Boyd Martin in 10th place after he managed a score of 47.7 points aboard Cracker Jack.