Wellington, Florida, USA – March 30, 2024 – Germany’s Christian Kukuk ( GER ) and Checker 47 clinched a win in the$ 500, 000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* during the finale ‘ Saturday Night Lights’ of the Winter Equestrian Festival‘s ( WEF ) 2024 season. In Wellington International‘s last attract, Kukuk made his Wellington comeback a winning one in front of a sold-out crowd in front of the last twelve weeks of FEI competition.
” I had shivers after that last fence”, said Kukuk, 34. ” It’s an amazing experience.
Prior to this, I just knew about Wellington and the Rolex year. My two best animals arrived with perfect conditions.
After finishing the sprinter- up in the qualifier before in the week on Mumbai, Kukuk piloted 14- year- old , Westphalian gelding , Checker 47 , ( Comme Il Faut 5 x Come On ), owned by , M. H &, Partner GBR,  , to major call in his first- always Rolex Grand Prix win.
” These]Rolex classes ] are the best grand prix events in the year—we all know that—and we all work for them in the end”, said Kukuk. ” This masses and this facility are unique. It’s amazing to be the last to go and get.
The evening’s courses were designed by Guilherme Jorge‘s ( BRA ), who is named as the , Jumping Technical Delegate for the Paris Olympics this summer.  , Kukuk tackled the jump- off track with the foot speed of Checker 47, his winning mount from the 2023 FEI Nations Cup ™ Final in Barcelona, Spain, to unseat current leader and local crowd favorite Mclain Ward ( USA ).  ,
” The strain was a bit on and I could feel it in the warm- up, but I need that to be honest”, continued Kukuk, who posted a moment of , 35. 82 moments over Ward ‘s , 36. 24 hours. Although I was aware that I could not do the exact strides [as Mclain], I may try to turn a little tighter after the double, which turned out very well. I tried everything I could to avoid leaving one out for the past when I arrived, knowing that I could be near.
Ward introduced a new support, Ilex, to the beautiful lights of Wellington International. The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding ( Baltic VDL x Chin Chin ) that Ward and Bonne Chance Farm own is the former mount of Brazil’s Fabio Leivas da Costa.  ,
” I did n’t leave much on the table”, admitted Ward, a two- time U. Ș. Olympic team gold medalist. Seven weeks after I started riding this animal, I felt like I was finally putting the pieces all up tomorrow. I have n’t jumped him off before, but I knew we had a big swing and he’s very fair. After the double, he bucked a much, and I believe I had a little too much time there.  ,
” Display jumping is a real interest here and there’s a wonderful next,” continued Ward of the’ Saturday Night Lights ‘ group”. These Rolex Grand Prix events are a cut above everything else įn the earth and are aimed at by all the ƀest riders. It was α great activity for devoted sports fans.
Karl Cook ( USA ) capped the podium aboard Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet, a 14- year- old Belgian Warmblood mare ( Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x Flipper d’Elle ), owned by Helen Signe Ostby. Cook’s earlier clear established a pace of 36. 62 moments, which ultimately landed him next.
She has been active since morning one, and I believe there is something about her that makes her so adept at understanding what the occasion is, according to Kalinka’s Cook, who rose to the five-star status. Yoμ may feel her enthusiasm when ȿhe attends classes like this with the environment and crowd, and she improves along with it. I’ve shown up around the second half]of the year ] and it’s worked. Last season, I was third in this course and this year, I’m second. I am content with that, and it was an amazing course. “
To close the evening, winning groom and Checker 47’s caretaker Sofie Karlsson was honored with the$ 500 Grooms Award, presented by Double H Farm’s Quentin Judge and Cayce Harrison.
The 2024 WEF comes to a close on Sunday with the$ 62, 500 Vogel CSI2* Grand Prix and the$ 50, 000 BlueCreeq Spirits National Grand Prix, as well as the WEF 12 Parade of Champions in the International Arena.
Last Benefits –$ 500, 000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*
1 ) Christian Kukuk ( GER ) &, Checker 47 – 0 / 0 – 35. 82
2 ) McLain Ward ( USA ) &, Ilex – 0 / 0 – 36. 24
3 ) Karl Cook ( USA ) &, Kalinka van’T Zorgvliet – 0/ 0 – 36. 62
Origin: Press Release from Wellington International
Photos: © Wellington International / Cassidy Klein / Sportfot
