Martin and Miks Master C Make a Move to the Top of SRF Carolina International CCI4*-S
Raeford, N.C.—March 20—Just nine of 38 pairs jumped clear today over Brody Robertson’s show jumping course at the CDP Eventing Stables CCI4*-S at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International, and Boyd Martin and Miks Master C added their name to that list.
Sitting second after dressage yesterday (24.4), Martin and “Mikki” moved ahead of Will Coleman and Diabolo, who added .4 time penalties but were clear over the fences to drop to third place. Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake slotted into second with a double-clear.
“It's sort of our first proper event for the year, so to come out and do a smart dressage yesterday and a great round of show jumping not having too much preparation, it's just a sign of what a champion horse he is,” said Martin of the 14-year-old U.S.-bred Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF) owned by OHP Hammertime Partners.
Yesterday’s dressage ran for the first time on a new grass field. Show jumping at Carolina has usually run on grass across the road but was moved to the new grass field this year.
“America's probably the country that's got the best synthetic footing rings compared to other countries, and the reality is, we go to other countries, and this is what we have to do, dressage and jumping on,” said Martin. “So, I commend the Carolina International for having us out here, because it's different. The horses react a little bit differently. And you know, having a cool VIP tent next to it adds a bit of excitement and atmosphere. This is an awesome event to prepare the horses for the five stars, just because it's more than just an event; it’s got that sort of championship feel.”
Martin’s had the ride on Mikki for a little more than a year after his previous rider, Liz Halliday, was injured in a cross-country fall in the summer of 2024. Mikki won this event with Halliday in 2024, and Martin has never won it, but if they’re able to make the time tomorrow, they could end up on top, though they only have .8 time penalties in hand over Pamukcu.
Martin’s had a strong year last year getting to know the gelding, culminating in a win in the inaugural US Open of Eventing at Morven Park. He says that he’s really starting to feel a partnership with Mikki and is looking forward to a five-star debut with him. Mikki had finished third in his only five-star start in 2023 with Halliday at Kentucky.
“With all of Liz's horses, at the beginning, I was under the gun to get them going, just because they'd been sitting around for a bit, and I didn't quite know them, and it's obviously probably a bit of a different system, too,” he said. “But luckily, I had so much help from Liz's coaches, who are also my coaches. At the end of the day, they're just wicked quality horses.”
Martin says he’s probably not going to rush around Derek di Grazia’s track tomorrow, but is happy with what he’s seen while walking.
“I'm always terrified when I come to a Derek di Grazia four-star short,” he said with a smile. “And I tip my hat to him. It's early in the year, so I don't think we need to a massive punishing course, but it's a proper four-star track. I feel like it's a horse friendly, inviting course that's up to standard, you know. I think sometimes I always get worried that Derek goes a bit over the top, but I love this course. I think it's flowing and a great preparation event for these top horses.
“I think the biggest thing with Mikki is he's a high blood horse,” he added. “There's no question of his speed and stamina and endurance, and the hardest thing is actually getting him relaxed. So, I think I'll go around at sort of 70 percent speed and more try and give him a real smooth trip. And then at our next event, would pick it up a notch. This is sort of the fitness run. He's had two big gallops in Pennsylvania before we got here, but other than that, it's just been a lot of long, slow stuff in Aiken.”
Martin has Mikki cross-entered at Kentucky and Badminton (England), and he’ll make a decision as they get closer.
“I think he could be great at any five-star in the world,” he said. “He's a true five-star horse. It's unusual to get a horse that's that phenomenal in the dressage, that's 70 percent Thoroughbred, and his show jumping record speaks for itself. It's just a legendary horse where he just knows his job, and the biggest thing is just not interfering too much with him.”
Pamukcu and her longtime partner HSH Blake, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (BMC Tolan R x Doughiska Lass) that she owns with Deniz Pamukcu, Sherrie Martin, and Mollie Hoff, put in a strong performance in show jumping today.
“He was great,” she said. “I was pretty disappointed that I had an extra second of time, but I found the turn where I could have saved that second, so I know what can make that better next time. He’s just a really genuine horse, and it’s my job to make sure he’s set up well and that I ride the best. I think I wasn’t super-efficient from fence 3 to 4; I think that’s what caught up to me, because I had the double of verticals. So, it could have been smoother, but this is what these events are for is to practice that for the Kentuckys and the Olympics.”
Coleman and Diabolo, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Roulett M) owned by the Diabolo Group, took their time around the course, but Coleman was happy with their performance.
“He's an excitable horse,” he said. “He gets a little worked up. But I thought he went in there, and he did mind the rails. I thought he jumped into nice shape for the most part. I'm sort of using this as a real setup for our next one, and chose to do a few wider lines. I think obviously it cost me with a tight time allowed, but I think that's OK.
“It's definitely a little tighter in there, so it feels a little bit more compressed,” he added. “I don't think that's a bad thing, and I do, in many ways, like it. I think it’s a great field. The footing felt pretty good. It got maybe a little bit chewed up here towards the end, just into combinations, really, more than anything. But it's only going to get better. And they do a great job here managing the turf. And I think this would be very, very useful going forward.”
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