Irish-bred horses filled five places of the Rolex Kentucky top 10 last weekend when German ace, Michael Jung set a new record of a back-to-back treble with the same horse, fischerRocana FST. Two Irish riders, Tim Bourke and Aidan Keogh, were also in the 59-strong startlist,with America-based Bourke (16th) recording another top-20 Rolex finish with Luckaun Quality (O.B.O.S Quality).

Bourke and his cross-country machine, bred by Ronan Sheehan, were the fastest combination of only five double clears on Saturday, which moved him up 32 places to ninth overnight. Four show jumping fences down still kept them in the prize-money, while Keogh had one down with Master Tredstep (Kings Master) to finish 29th on his Rolex debut.

“It is what it is but my trainer (Sharon White) said ‘remember what he did yesterday (cross-country)’,” Westport-born Bourke commented.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute, it’s a dream to have completed the Rolex four-star” said Keogh, who owns Tredstep Ireland, the equestrian clothing range.

In the countdown to this year’s European championships, Sally Corscadden, Horse Sport Ireland’s new high performance eventing manager, was amongst the Irish contingent there, which included both riders’ families and Carlingford Horses’ Paddy Hughes, who owns Master Tredstep.

ROLEX GRAND SLAM

Jung is now unbeaten at Kentucky since he won the 2010 World Championship title there and this was his third win at Rolex Kentucky, having won here the previous two years with fischerRocana FST (Ituango). The same mare obliged again which has set the reigning Olympic, world and European champion up for another Rolex grand slam.

Even the clear show jumping rounds of French rider Maxime Livio (Qalao Des Mers) and Zara Tindall (High Kingdom) wasn’t enough to get past Jung. Proud breeder William Micklem was there to watch the Master Imp 16-year-old take third place, ahead of a posse of Irish-breds including double Olympic horse Mr Medicott (Cruising, fourth), Super Socks BCF (Castle Quest, sixth), Fernhill Fugitive (Lux Z, eighth) and Delux Z (Lux Z, ninth).

Sunday also saw the retirement ceremony for Ballynoecastle RM (Ramiro B), bred in Wexford by the late Sylvester Cullen and found by Patricia Nicholson. With Buck Davidson, the pair became the top all-time points earner in American eventing history and competed at two World Equestrian Games. “I owe him everything” said a grateful Davidson afterwards.