Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Sally Spickard.
It’s an exciting time to be a part of Boyd Martin‘s team these days, with a full slate of top-quality horses steadily rising through the ranks in search of future team and 5* success. Among the top of Boyd’s ones-to-watch is the 10-year-old Commando 3 (Connor 48 – R-Adelgunde, by Amigo xx), previously produced and campaigned to the Advanced level by Swedish Olympian Louise Romeike and now owned for Boyd by Yankee Creek Ranch LLC.
Full disclosure: I’m refraining from making too many gone Commando jokes in this report, but if Boyd manages to win, it’s game on.
Back to the serious news, Commando 3 was seriously impressive today, showing the growing strength and development of partnership on the flat that comes from more time spent together. Barely a year into their partnership, Boyd says he’s excited for the future with “Connor”, who continues to show his prowess for these top levels. This is evident today in the 5.3 point differential between his first 4*-L with Boyd at Tryon earlier this year and the 26.2 he earned today.
“For for so many years I’ve always tried to take ‘average’ horses and make them better, and now it’s the opposite where he’s just a phenomenally talented animal. Now it’s more just a matter of presenting him well, and showing him off to the judges.”
Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Boyd noted the flying changes as the mark to hone in on, as they’re still a bit green as the horse gains more strength for this phase. With dressage guru-in-residence Silva Martin temporarily out of the saddle ahead of welcoming the couple’s third son, Koa, Boyd jokes Connor has had to “put up with” his flying change practice. “My secret weapon Silva’s not been able to ride him at home, so poor old Connor has been stuck with me trying to figure out the changes! And, you know, the last couple events we’ve started to really get consistent there so I think next year when we take him five-star, he’ll be solid.”
Pan American Games-bound Caroline Pamukcu sits second with Redfield King’s HX Group King’s Especiale (Connect – Cha Cha Cha Special by Vittoro), sitting just behind Boyd on a score of 28.2 after the first phase of competition. The 18-hand “King”, Caroline describes, is a sensitive type who likes things *just so* — down to how you post the trot during trot sets — so it’s been a tale of getting him to feel his best, relaxed self in these atmospheres. Here, Caroline gives much credit to one of her assistant riders at home, Mason Reidy, for his help achieving this state of zen with King.
Caroline Pamukcu and King’s Especiale. Photo by Sally Spickard.
“[Mason is] a really, really good rider, and he’s helped me a lot a lot with the relaxation,” Caroline explained. “It’s just just keeping King happy; he gets so upset if he doesn’t do exactly what you want right away. So everyday when we ride him, it’s just telling him, ‘you’re doing a good job. You’re a good boy, everything’s okay. Just take a breath.'”
Caroline opted for this 4*-L with her two younger horses, She’s the One (currently inside the top 5 on a score of 31.3) and King’s Especiale, because of the quality track and designing by Derek di Grazia. For her, this is an educational run — but she’s not planning to hang about tomorrow, either. “I would say they’re here to win. I believe in them, and they’re high percentage Thoroughbred like She’s the One I think is 75% or 80%, and she did Le Lion with [French rider Gaspard Maksud], so I know she’s ready. My first goal on cross country is make sure I give them a good ride, so if I need to take a half-halt somewhere I’m going to do that, but I’m not planning on going with going out there for 30 or 40 time faults!”
Preferring to produce her horses from a young age, King is a perfect example of relationship building, having joined Caroline at the start of his eventing career as a five-year-old.
Caroline Pamukcu and King’s Especiale.
“It makes such a difference producing them since young horses,” Caroline elaborated. “I really try and make an effort to get them as four- and five-year-olds with my business partner Kelley Hutchinson. You just know them inside and out and they know you inside and out, and when I make a mistake they’re okay with it because they’ve known me since day one.”
Great Britain’s Lucienne Bellissimo took the early lead today with a picture-perfect ride aboard Horse Scout Eventing LLC’s Dyri (Diarado – La Calera, by King Milford xx), who is contesting his first 4*-L this weekend with extensive experience at the 4*-S and Advanced level prior. Lucienne and Dyri earned a 4* personal best 28.5 and will take third place into cross country tomorrow.
Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri. Photo by Sally Spickard.
“Overall, I was pleased with the relaxation of the test,” Lucienne reflected. “At home he’s really starting to gain the confidence in his lateral work. I’ve certainly had a lot more of the ‘wow factor’ in practice and warm-up, but for this season I really want him to learn to breathe and be rideable.”
Mission accomplished today, I’d say. Looking ahead, Lucienne describes Derek di Grazia’s cross country as “beautiful, big, and bold (dare I say British!). I will learn a lot about where his brain is by tomorrow afternoon. This is his first time at four-star Long, and my goal is to keep him confident for now and I’ll step up the pressure in 2024.”
Liz Halliday and Deniro Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Liz Halliday and Deniro Z (Zapatero – Zonne-Trend, by French Buffett xx), owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer, will sit fourth overnight on a score of 29.8. For Liz, there were a few points left on the board, including a bobble in the medium canter that resulted in an accidental lead change. “I was happy with how good he felt,” Liz said. “I was disappointed with the score — there was a mistake in the medium canter, so that was disappointing. But otherwise, I was pretty happy with him.”
Liz has said several times this year that she feels she has her horse back, after feeling she didn’t quite have the same horse she did a few years ago. Here she credits the use of a new product, Strydaflex from Hilltop Bio, for helping him get back into his top form. Now, she’s opted for Morven’s 4*-L to allow him to get in a good run without the additional ask of a five-star this fall. “I wanted him to do a really good four-Long again, and just feel good about himself,” she explained. “Because he’s not really been himself for two years, and I think he is feeling so much better. I just didn’t want to blast him straight to another five-star. He really doesn’t owe me anything, if I’m honest, and he’s always tried his guts out for me. And I’ve never been here [to Morven Park] before — I heard it was great track, and it is a great track. It’s a very serious four-star. So I think it’ll be a really good test.”
Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Sally Spickard.
There’s also a strong CCI4*-S running this weekend, currently led after day one by Liz Halliday and The Nutcracker Syndicate’s Cooley Nutcracker, who earned a 22.6 as one of the last of the day to overtake Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS (23.1). Liz is also in third with Ocala Horse Properties’ Shanroe Cooley (26.8).
Here’s a look at the rest of the leaders from the divisions that began competition today:
CCI3*-S: Lucienne Bellissimo and Caitane Z (26.7)
CCI3*-S Young Horse: Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor (28.1)
CCI2*-S: Sherry Pound and Carnaby (26.5)
CCI2*-S Young Horse: Tim Bourke and Electric Quality (26.6)
Tomorrow, we’ll see cross country beginning with the CCI4*-L, followed by the CCI4*-S and CCI3*-S divisions. The National divisions will begin their weekend with dressage and show jumping, and the CCI2* divisions will also show jump.
The weather forecast currently calls for rain throughout the day, though there’s a chance we’ll escape the bulk of it, which is currently forecasted to hit town later in the afternoon.
I’ll be back first thing tomorrow with a cross country course preview (but you can preview the course below!), and don’t forget you’ll be able to see the action live thanks to a complimentary live feed provided by RNS Videomedia. Click here to bookmark the live feed page.
Morven Park International & Fall H.T.: [Website] [Schedule] [Competitor Info Hub] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]
EN’s coverage of Morven Park International & Fall H.T. is sponsored by Kentucky Performance Products, home to 5*-caliber supplements for horses from all walks of life.
