Competing in the sixth and final leg of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Classics 2014-2015 season, in which he is lying second in the rankings behind his compatriot Ingrid Klimke, Jung was unanimously placed out in front on his first ride, FischerRocana FST, with a mark of 34.2. 

"She was very relaxed, easy to ride and gave me a good feeling," said Jung of the 11-year-old mare on which he won the Kentucky three-day event, the second leg of the FEI Classics campaign.

Sponsored by British car manufacturer Land Rover, Burghley is one of only six Concours Complet International (CCI) four-star three-day events in the world and widely considered the most difficult.

"The course here is very different to the other four-stars, it looks tough with lots of ups and downs," added Jung, whose past CCI four-star successes include a win at Luhmühlen in Germany, second place at Badminton in England and third at Pau in France.

"I will start out steadily and, hopefully, if my horses are giving me a good feeling, I will be able to go for the time.

"I’m very happy to be here, it’s a fantastic competition."

Australia’s Andrew Hoy, who first won Burghley in 1979 before Jung was even born, also broke the 40-penalty barrier and is in second place with Rutherglen, a powerful Hannoverian gelding, on a score of 37.8. 

Hoy, 56, is arguably due a change of fortune having fallen in the water on both his rides at Badminton, although he had a good run recently when finishing seventh on Rutherglen in Aachen, Germany.

Another rider who will not remember Hoy’s first Burghley triumph is third-placed Niklas Bschorer, also of Germany, who scored 39.2 in a well-ridden test on Tom Tom Go 3.

At just 20 years of age, Bschorer is the youngest in the field of 74 runners but has a mature riding style.

There were loud cheers for the diminutive Rosalind Canter and the giant 173 centimetre Allstar B, a Dutch warmblood by Ephebe For Ever, who have made an impressive start at their first CCI four-star.

The pair are the best positioned of the home contingent in fourth place on 40.2 after a calm and accomplished performance.

Australians Christopher Burton, Sam Griffiths, and Paul Tapner, all of whom have yet to win at Burghley, occupy the next three places, while Great Britain’s Pippa Funnell, who triumphed 12 years ago, is eighth on Redesigned.

Cross-country course designer Mark Phillips of Britain has set riders an intriguing test this year, reversing the direction of his track.

This means that the Lion Bridge water complexes, where crowds of spectators lean over the bridge to get a bird’s eye view of the action, come up early at fences four, five and six.

Capability’s Cutting, at fences nine and 10, has possibly the most difficult obstacle on the course, an acutely angled corner, and at 18 there is the traditional enormous white oxer at The Maltings.

The famous Trout Hatchery, at fences 20 and 21, has five efforts, but riders are not able to relax after that as the notorious Discovery Valley, at fences 24 and 28, and Leaf Pit drop, at fences 26 and 27, follow.

Tomorrow, Jung will ride his London 2012 double Olympic gold medal partner La Biosthetique Sam.

Funnell, who has withdrawn Mirage d’Elle, rides Second Supreme, while New Zealand’s Jonelle Price who has withdrawn The Deputy, rides Classic Moet, and Burton, Griffiths and Tapner all have their second horses.

Six-time winner William Fox-Pitt of Britain also features on his only ride, Fernhill Pimms, as well as five-time winner Sir Mark Todd of New Zealand on Leonidas ll.



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