Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Boyd Martin and newer partner Commando 3 (Connor 48 – R-Adelgunde, by Amigo xx) took home their first win at the 4* level at this weekend’s The Fork at Tryon, presented by Yanmar America. The pair earned a wire-to-wire victory in a full 4* division of horses and riders legging up for their fall Long formats, finishing on a score of 38.3.
Commando 3, who is 10 this year, was previously produced through the 3* and 4* level by Swedish Olympian Louise Romeike. With the support of owners, Yankee Creek Ranch LLC, Boyd was able to secure another serious prospect for new year’s Olympic Games, adding on to perhaps one of the strongest and deepest upper level strings Boyd has had in recent memory.
“I feel like the horse has got unbelievable quality in all departments,” Boyd remarked. “I can’t wait ’til next year when we’ll have a real partnership going. We’re still getting to know each other — we’ve been a team for way less than a year and I feel like our partnership is starting to grow.”
Boyd will cap off the season with the CCI4*-L at Morven Park International with Commando 3, setting up for a prospective 5* debut next spring.
Jacon Fletcher and the 13-year-old Fabian (Up to Date – Ineke, by Beaujolais), owned by Fletcher Farms, also held steady throughout the weekend in second position, ending just on Boyd’s heels with a score of 38.7.
This pair has seen growing success at the level, finishing second in the 4*-L at Tryon this spring and also collecting consecutive 4*-S wins in 2022. Jacob has been tactful in producing Fabian, first striking up a partnership with the gelding in 2019 after he was formerly ridden through the 4* level by Britain’s Millie Dumas. Shortly into his residency in the U.S., Fabian sustained an injury that would necessitate time off, to the tune of all of 2020. In many ways, the delay and the extra time may be paying off, as Jacob and Fabian now stand poised to make their long-awaited 5* debut — where will it be? We’ll have to wait and find out!
Doug Payne is aiming for the Maryland 5 Star with his and Jessica Payne’s Quantum Leap (Quite Capitol – Report to Sloopy, by Corporate Report), who moved up steadily into third place after starting the week in ninth.
Quantum Leap would be one of the more experienced 5* horses on the circuit this fall, heading for his sixth start at the level next month. He’ll route through the 4*-S at Stable View’s Oktoberfest event (September 27-29) as his final prep en route to Maryland.
Other Notables:
- Cornelia Dorr Fletcher and Daytona Beach 8 are thankfully both unharmed and resting today following a fall on cross country at fence 19B
- Caroline Pamukcu and Billy Be Jolly (Billy Congo – Billy By Good, by Kannan), owned by Caroline and Sherrie Martin as well as Gayle Davis, secured their first FEI victory together in the 2*-L — but it’s hardly their first blue: this pair have won an impressive 7 out of 11 starts together this season. Billy Be Jolly, you may have guessed from the Billy prefix, came from Pippa Funnell, with whom Caroline based in 2022. Keep an eye on this athletic 8-year-old! Caroline also finishes inside the top 5 of the 2*-L with Cascadella 8 (3rd) and HSH Kilbracken R (5th).
- Boyd Martin also took the 1*-S victory aboard Malmo Mob’s 7-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, Kolbeinn (Comfortuna VDL – Donna Linda, by Be My Chief). This is this pair’s fourth victory together in 2023. Winning the Advanced was Bonnie Stedt’s Miss Lulu Herself (Stolzenfels – Noisette), who is also aiming at the 4*-L at Morven Park in a month’s time.
- Christina Henricksen and Cisco’s Calor Z (Carrera VDL – Zamira, by Damiro B) took home the Open Intermediate win on the wings of a double clear cross country trip to finish on a score of 26.6.
- Liz Halliday and The Newmarket Syndicate’s Newmarket Cooley (Newmarket Venture – Kilderry Clover, by Clover Hill), clinched a start-to-finish win in the Open Preliminary on a score of 24.5.
- Victoria Sudkamp and Woodstock Rio (Latent Heat – Little Wing) were the winners of the Preliminary Rider division on a score of 48.4. This comes as this pair’s first victory together at the Preliminary level.
Full scores and results from The Fork at Tryon can be found on Event Entries here.
