After a top round by Tokyo Olympic champion Julia Krajewski (Warendorf) and, according to national coach Peter Thomsen, a “brilliant performance” by three-time Olympic champion Michael Jung (Horb), the German eventing riders initially took second place behind Great Britain after dressage at the World Championships in Italy . Jung conceded the provisional top mark of 18.8 with Chipmunk. Krajewski and Amande de B’Neville got 26.0.
“He was great to ride,” Jung said of the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Chipmunk, who was once trained by Julia Krajewski: “I was able to effortlessly recall everything we did in training.” Jung even distanced the British top favorite Laura Collett with London 52, who had presented with 19.3 points.
Although her 26 points do not mean an absolute top result, Julia Krajewski was satisfied with the performance of her successful horse Amande de B’Neville. “She can’t do dressage much better,” said the 33-year-old, who competes in uniform at the World Cup as a former sports soldier in the Bundeswehr: “I got permission for that.”
The day before, Germany had started the World Championships with two rather moderate dressage results. Christoph Wahler (Bad Bevensen) with Carjatan and ex-world champion Sandra Auffarth (Ganderkesee) with Viamant du Matz had to line up further behind than expected after mistakes.
On Saturday, on the Pratoni del Vivaro plateau, where Olympic medals were awarded in 1960, there is a 5600 m long cross-country ride. “He decides the World Cup,” said national coach Thomsen. Krajewski called the hilly course “very demanding”, Jung announced that he would “take it easy again” on Friday evening.