Triumph in the 93rd Jumping Horse Race - Defending champion Jüngel stands firm on his crown.
"He's pulled it off again!"
"I can't describe how quickly I managed to win for the second time," exclaimed Jüngel. "My horse was amazing; she really pushed hard and helped me out. It was an unforgettable feeling."
Of the original 32 starters, only two pairs managed to complete the world's toughest course cleanly, leading to a jump-off between Jüngel and Frederic Tillmann (45) with Comanche (10).
Tillmann, who had suffered four broken ribs in a riding accident before, donned a corset beneath his jacket and took an impulsive, risky approach with a wild cowboy move. His plan? To put the pressure on. However, his strategy backfired, and he crashed at the final jump - the brick wall - paving the way for Jüngel to ride tactically and secure the "Blue Ribbon" with two time faults. Jüngel then rode three and a half laps in celebration in front of 27,500 cheering spectators.
The office clerk from Kamenz had initially planned to retire his horse after the second victory, but these plans were on hold: "Balou's heiress is in peak condition. Now we're aiming for a third win."
This would grant Jüngel a spot on the Derby poster, as it's a horse-riding tradition - whoever achieves three consecutive wins with the same horse will be featured on all advertising materials. André Thieme (49) and his renowned Nacorde have occupied the poster since 2012.
Jüngel (€30,000 in prize money) had already confided in Derby organizer Volker Wulff (67) after the second qualifier on Friday during a conversation, saying, "I'm working on the poster," but he also admitted, "There was a much greater pressure this time around. I wanted to prove last year's win wasn't just a fluke."
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Source: symclub.org
