EN Makes Their Picks for the MARS Maryland 5 Star

It’s time for our team to make their picks for the ones to watch in this year’s MARS Maryland 5 Star field! Read on to see who our team members have picked this weekend:

Cheg Darlington

Bubby Upton and Cola. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

Winner

It’s tough to overlook the obvious heavy hitters with 5* wins already on their cards, but here’s what my gut’s telling me: Britain’s Bubby Upton and Cola are in it to win it. It’s no secret that Bubby’s a gal with a strong competitive streak as well as resilience and fortitude to spare. She comes to Maryland off the back of a win with her gutsy gelding in the 4*-S at Hartpury (UK) where they finished on their dressage score of 26, and this pair were a frangible device away from winning Badminton in the spring, which has surely just fueled the fire in Bubby’s belly for a 5* win. Her absolute belief in Cola is palpable in every interview she gives and each Instagram post she shares, and that kind of trust in your equine partner goes a long way when it comes to success at the top of the sport. Despite being just 25, she’s been knocking on the door of a top level win for a couple of years; she’s weathered the unlucky mishaps that eventing inevitably throws up from time to time (like that 20 at the final fence at Badminton in 2022), and most importantly learned from them, and it would come as no surprise to me should everything come together for her this week and she ends her trip across the pond at the top of the podium.

Top International Rider

Discounting Bubby, I think Oliver Townend’s efforts to make the trip to the States with his 5* warhorse Ballaghmor Class will prove to be very prudent indeed. Without doubt one of the most successful top-level campaigners in the sport – he’s won three 5*s, been runner-up three times and has finished within the top-5 in every one of his nine top-level starts – this horse is as dependable as they come, a class act and a true eventer in every sense, with the talent and brain to keep him at the top of his game since he took on his first 5* as a ten-year-old (at Burghley in 2017) and won it. Now seventeen, he’s spent much of this season on the sidelines so it’ll be good to see him back, hopefully securing yet another excellent result at the level.

Top U.S. Rider

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum for sure get my vote this week as a pair that are likely to podium. They’ll be right in the mix, if not at the top of the leaderboard, following the first phase and won’t add much across the jumping phases. This 18-year-old has been so impressive throughout his eventing career and it would be a very sweet cherry on the top should he add another accolade to his titles in what will be his final time at the top level.

Biggest Climber

Generally for the biggest climber category I’d be looking towards the higher end of the dressage scores for those out-and-out eventers who are, really, in this game for the best bit and will storm round the cross country with whatever happened between the white boards a distant memory. However, I’m going to go off piste here and go with David Doel and finish on his dressage score specialist Galileo Nieuwmoed. If this gelding’s typical first phase score was just the other side of 30 than we’re used to seeing from him, I would most certainly plug this pair for the win. But I think the others I’ve mentioned will have the competitive edge on the first day, and, albeit it for a cross country time penalty here and there, are likely to stay close enough to their dressage score to stay above this reliable gelding once all’s said and done. He probably won’t be in the mix after the first day’s competition given the potential for a handful of scores in low-20s given the field, but he’s very likely to stay on his low-30s score and leapfrog his way up the standings in so-doing.

Dark Horse

Ordinarily I plump for Tsetserleg in this category because I just love that guy (and he’s literally a dark horse), but really, he’s not a dark horse at all if you look at his record. Therefore, this time around I’m backing one of Boyd Martin’s other rides, Commando 3. It’ll be the gelding’s first time at 5* but he’s shown some very impressive form as he’s progressed through the levels and hasn’t finished outside the top-10 in international competition since 2022. Although his dressage scores are regularly sub-30, he’ll perhaps not be right up there after the first phase given the aforementioned low-20s scores we’re likely to see, but he’s a super reliable jumper both out on course and in the ring and has proven to have the speed to boot; he was just a few seconds over the time in the 4*-S at Kentucky on his way to second place in the spring. It’ll be interesting to see how he takes to 5* but I suspect he’ll be giving some of the more experienced horses a real run for their money.

Diana Gilbertson

Oliver Townend with Ballaghmor Class. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Winner

This week’s entry list may be a little shorter than what we are accustomed to at a 5*, but it is testament to the growing popularity of Maryland that there are several big names amongst those entries. For me, one stands out head and shoulders above the rest, and that is Ballaghmor Class, long term partner of Oliver Townend and one of the most successful 5* horses of all time. He has more top 5 5* finishes than most of us have had hot dinners, he’s already won Burghley (twice) and Kentucky and has been agonisingly close to the top spot at Badminton on more than one occasion too, not to mention his top 5 placing at the Tokyo Olympics, where he also contributed to Team Gold for the British Team. Now in the twilight of his career, a win at Maryland would be the icing of the cake for Oliver and “Thomas,” who missed out on another shot at the Badminton podium this Spring with an ill timed bruised sole. This could well be one of the 17 year old’s last ever competitions, and while they may not lead right from the front (my money is on another ageing great, Mai Baum being our dressage leaders), I would put money (if I had any, that is), on them rising to the top on the final day, in a repeat of their Burghley win last year.

Top International Rider

Technically, I have already named the Top International Rider, having put Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class atop the podium, but in the interests of variety I will of course, name another. Anyone who knows me even a little can easily guess who that will be – former World Number One, Tim Price, who brings forward his sixth placed Paris partner, Falco. Tim, who won here in 2022, actually had Falco entered here last year, but emergency colic surgery put paid to his plans to defend the title. Happily, Falco – “Mr Nice Guy” – has made a full recovery and will make his Maryland debut here this year instead. Talented across all three phases, he already has one 5* title to his name, having won Pau back in 2021, and if it weren’t for the afore mentioned Mr Townend and Thomas, I’d actually have him as the victor here this week, too. Instead, he will have to settle for one of the remaining spots on the podium.

Top U.S. Rider

As confident as I am that Oliver Townend will take the win at Maryland this year, there is still one combination that poses a very real threat to his claim on the top spot. Another legendary pairing, it is of course the 2023 Kentucky winners, Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Now 18, “Lexus” missed out on his last shot at an Olympic medal, and Tamie has already said this will most likely be his last 5* appearance, so as with his main competition, Ballaghmor Class, it would be nothing short of a fairytale for him to bow out with another big win. At the risk of repeating myself (see above), I would have these two out in front – albeit by a whisker – going into cross country, but I can’t help but think Oliver and Thomas will jump ahead on Saturday. Still, it ain’t over til it’s over and Lexus has a pretty flawless show jumping record, so while I say that I am pretty sure that the Maryland 2024 title will go to Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class, Tamie and Lexus will be certain to fight them all the way to the end. Game on for the oldies!

Biggest Climber

This was the easiest one for me to answer, and I’m sure there will be many, many people cheering David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed on, as we watch them romp up the leaderboard on Saturday. That’s not to say they will be way down the placings after dressage; their first phase score has been trending in the low 30’s for the last few years, but with a multitude of fancy prancing ponies entered, they will still be outside the top 5 ahead of the cross country. But it is here that “Galileo” really comes into his own, reliable as he for delivering a very fast and clear cross country. He did just that at Burghley last year, and came agonisingly close to taking the win as a result. For not only is Galileo pretty nippy across country, he is also a very careful show jumper too; an unusual two rails in Luhmuhlen this Summer were the first faults on his record since 2022. Such is the strength and depth of the field at Maryland this week, David may have to settle for a top 5 rather than top 3 finish, but don’t discount this pair, for they are nothing other than consistent, especially at the 5* level, finishing outside of the top 10 on jut one occasion. It is only a matter of time before the spoils are theirs, surely….

Dark Horse

My perfectionist little brain would love to have an actual dark horse in this category, but in actual fact, the one that I am going for here is the exact opposite, in the Unicorn like form of “Puff,” or Highly Suspicious to give him his official title. Part of the string that Cosby Green has had based with Tim and Jonelle Price for the last two years, the 14 year old gelding will be making his first start at 5* at Maryland, though there is no doubt that Cosby will have left no stone unturned in preparing him for his debut at the level. This will be Cosby’s first competition back in the US in two years, and she will no doubt be buoyed by the support of the home crowd, as well as her increasing prowess at the 5* level, having ridden around three in the last year, with her long term partner Copper Beech. “Puff” has proved his consistency at the 4* level this season, with two 4*L podium finishes on as many starts recently, and these two could well be the ones to shake up the order this week. Cosby is one of the brightest rising stars of eventing, and this 14 year old grey gelding could be the horse that helps her to rise even further in the years to come. You heard it here first.

Veronica Green-Gott

Tim Price and Falco. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Winner

Sure, it’s been a while since Tim Price and Falco have been at the 5* level, but he’s more than capable of producing a winning round. Falco has spent the last few years demolishing championship events, putting in a top five finish at both Pratoni in 2022 and Millstreet in 2023. I’m hoping for a repeat of his 2021 performance at Pau, where Falco pulled off a 22.1 dressage score and finished on a total score of 22.5.

Top U.S. Rider

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum may not come out to compete often (at 18-years-old, Mai Baum doesn’t need to compete often), but when they do come out to play, you can bet they’re going to finish high. Together, Tamie and “the Black Stallion” have finished on the podium in every event since the start of their 2023 season. I’m willing to bet they’ll pull of a hat trick to once again finish in the top three this weekend.

Biggest Climber

Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam are my pick for biggest climber. As a Thoroughbred, “Comic” is at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to the dressage phase and has pulled scores in the mid- to high-30s in the last two years. However, as a Thoroughbred, Comic has the upper hand when it comes to fitness, which is essential on Maryland’s long uphill track.

Dark Horse

Okay, this isn’t truly a “dark horse” but because they haven’t been on a podium yet at a CCI5*, I’m calling it my own version of a dark horse. This will be Bubby Upton and Cola’s sixth 5* start and first time competing in the United States. It will also be my first time watching Bubby ride in person and I’m excited to say the least. Cola is absolutely capable of pulling dressage scores as low as 27.5, which would shoot them to the top of the leaderboard here at the end of day two. While they usually have some time on cross country, they did go double clear at Pau in 2021 and on their last 4* run at Hartpury. It might be a bit of a long shot, but I think Bubby and Cola are set up to make a grand entrance to the USA and wind up with a podium finish.

Sally Spickard

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Winner

Well, I think we all knew I was going to pick Tamie Smith and Mai Baum due to my unhealthy level of obsession with “The Black Stallion.” This is, as we know now, Mai Baum’s final showing at the 5* level, and I think it’s safe to say we will all shed a tear today in the dressage knowing we have seen a truly once in a lifetime pair over the last decade. Just the other day, I had memories on my Facebook from Tamie’s emotional win here at Fair Hill in what was then the 3*-L (now 4*-L), and how poignant would it be to go out on a bang, winning back to back 5* starts? I know Tamie will be putting her horse first all weekend, but if the cards align and Lexus can turn in a fast clear on Saturday, I have no doubt we’ll be looking at another U.S. winner this weekend.

Top U.S. Rider

Looking to the rest of the board, I’d also put some money, if I wasn’t a member of the press, on Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Yes, this is this horse’s first 5*, however I think this could be a really strong weekend for “Connor”, who just oozes presence in every phase and has the jumping ability to turn in clear rounds in both phases. I think Boyd will be playing the balancing game of ensuring he’s got a confident horse for future 5*s tomorrow, but we also know he will be putting the pedal down and really testing his horse’s mettle tomorrow.

Top International Rider

It feels a bit silly to not mention Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class, who will also put in their best effort to snag yet another win — and really, they should not finish off the podium no matter what. However, I am going to place my figurative bets on Falco, the championship partner of Tim Price. This is a horse that’s been strategically pointed towards championships, but Tim doesn’t fly across the globe to just come canter around. He will be right up there, if not in front, after cross country and has every tool to deliver a clear round when it counts the most on Sunday.

Biggest Climber

I’ve got bucks on Ema Klugman and Bronte Beach Z, who won’t quite challenge a 20s on the scoreboard in the first phase but have every bit of ability to make some serious moves up on Saturday. Another pair I’d keep an eye on for this prize is Jessie Phoenix and Wabbit, who are a cross country pair through and through and should deliver a fast clear come Saturday. Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam are another pair you can anticipate making some big moves in the jumping phases. We will have a different look on the leaderboard come Sunday.

Dark Horse

David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed. This pair has been knocking on the door of a huge finish at this level, and they are notoriously quick across the country with one of the most impeccable records in the field. This would be a big weekend for this pair if they can climb where they need to and if the course’s optimum time causes some trouble tomorrow.

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