THREE-time Olympian Boyd Martin became the first American to win a CCI5*-L in 13 years when he piloted On Cue to victory at the inaugural Maryland five-star at Fair Hill.

One of only two events at the level in the USA and seven worldwide, the new event attracted some of the world’s best riders, including a number from overseas.

The final day of show jumping came down to the wire, but when dressage leader Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class (ISH) had four faults to drop to second, the victory belonged to Martin and the 15-year-old British-bred On Cue (Cabri d’Elle x Primitive Rising), owned by Christine, Thomas and Tommie Turner, who produced one of only seven clear rounds over the 1.30m course to finish on his dressage score of 25.

Martin was all smiles after winning the title and the lion’s share of the $300,000 prize money on offer. “To be quite frank, Oliver [Townend] and Tim [Price] own super-duper jumpers, and I was just hoping to finish in the top five today. On Cue really gusted out and jumped around; I think lady luck was on our side. We bumped and thumped a few poles, but I never heard one come down. I couldn’t believe that I got a clear round,” the winner said.

“I would have been happy with third or second, but winning is a great privilege. [Oliver and Tim] are two riders that I’ve sort of idolised and looked up to, and I learned a bit from their mentality and their championship ideology. Today was On Cue’s day, and it’s great to win it.”

World number one and Britain’s Tokyo team gold medallist Oliver Townend lead the way after the first phase on a score of 21.1. He and Cooley Master Class, Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ramiro B who was bred by John Hagan, held a three-point lead going into Saturday’s cross-country phase.

New Zealand Olympian Tim Price was lying in second place with Xavier Faer after scoring 24.3, ahead of Boyd Martin and On Cue on 25.

Over 10,000 spectators came out on Saturday to watch the sport’s top horses and riders navigate the new Ian Stark-designed course which featured 43 jumping efforts over a 6,270-metre track.

Only 11 horse-and-rider combinations finished clear within the 11-minute optimum time, including Townend to maintain his lead heading into the final show jumping phase.

“The top-class horses coped with it extremely well,” said Townend. Some of the really good gallopers made it look like a walk in the park. The time was not difficult to get with these horses, but at the same time, there were still some nice challenges, some good technical questions.”

Price and Martin were also clear inside the time to stay in second and third place. “On Cue gave me a wonderful round today,” Martin said afterwards. “I had the luxury of sitting back and watching [Townend and Price] make it look easy. By the time I went, I knew the distances that suited each combination.

“I know that my horse is fit and a great galloper, so I knew that if I could get her through the jumps, she would make the time with plenty of gas left. It was a lovely ride. On Cue gave me everything she had today, and I feel fresh and ready to go for tomorrow.”

USA's Boyd Martin and On Cue, winners of the inaugural Maryland five-star at Fair Hill \ Shannon Brinkman

Pressure on

Townend knew he had no room for error and his two-time five-star winning mount has an exceptional show jumping record. However, it wan’t to be for the pair when the fourth fence fell and he finished on a total score of 25.1, just 0.1 behind Martin. Price also faulted once with Xavier Faer to finish in third place on 28.3.

Martin was emotional after discovering he had won, the first American winner at this level since 2008, when Phillip Dutton won Kentucky. “Coming into this thing, I thought I had a chance just because she was really good at Kentucky this year and was sort of my back-up horse for the Olympics and was fit for that. I knew there was a chance but that it would be very, very competitive,” he said.

“It’s handy to have this event [in my backyard]. I live 20 minutes down the road. Usually at this time of year, we have to fly all the way to Pau, which is an expensive mission. To have a world-class event like this in this region is sensational,” the winner added.

Townend was gracious in defeat, albeit disappointed to lose out by such a small margin. “I have so much respect for Boyd. We always have a conclusion with a few words between myself and Karyn [Shuter], who runs the show with me. When I got off, we said we were very happy with how our horse jumped. We’re very happy with Boyd, too. Some days are your days, and some days aren’t your days. Today was Boyd’s day.

“It does show people that we are normal people, and that you can make it to the pinnacle of the sport,” Townend added. “That’s the message I want to get out to any kid that’s thinking, ‘I can’t do it. I’m not from a wealthy background.’ You can make it to the top of the sport, and it is very possible.”

Kilkenny young horse producer Kelley Hutchinson travelled to Fair Hill and was the proud co-owner of the four-year-old champion at the event, HSH Best Kept Secret (Adieu Z x Sunny Boy) who was ridden by Caroline Martin, as well five-year-old reserve champion Galwaybay HSH Connor (Connor 48 x Mermus R). Read more about Kelley on page 105.