Press release from Thunderbird Show Park

When Ayla Martinoff drove her trailer out of Thunderbird Show Park in July, she was riding a high—and a three-class win streak with Calloway (Capone I x Lloyds). This week, they’re back at tbird and picked up right where they left off.

Making their first ever international 1.45m appearance, Martinoff and the 10-year-old grey topped a 10-horse jump off to win the CSI3* JustWorld International Winning Round. Kendall Bourgeois (USA) and Flinton M (Clinton x Chin Chin) took second and Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster and Kadans (Grand Slam x Carosso VDL), third.

The international win was a career first for both Calloway and Martinoff. “I’m so happy. Another best day of my life!” enthused the Langley-based rider.

In the Winning Round format, the top 10 pairs return for the second round, in reverse order of their score, and the slate is wiped clean. Martinoff qualified both her mounts for the second half. She posted a speedy four fault performance on A Crown Royale in 40.18 seconds, then returned, second to last, with Calloway to shave almost a full second off, stopping the clock at 39.25.

Her winning strategy: “Go really fast, but not lose my cool and leave out an extra step. Sometimes I can get a little ahead of myself,” confessed Martinoff. “So just keeping that in check—go for the gallops, but then have a moment.”

Owned, ridden and bred by Martinoff, Calloway and A Crown Royale are full siblings by Capone 1 (x Lloyds) out of A Little Bit 5. While the greys share genetics, they couldn’t be more different to ride. “A Crown Royal is very brave, but a little dull,” said Martinoff. “And [Calloway] is so electric and a little careful.”

All bets are off with the gelding back in the stable, however. “He is the sweetest boy,” she smiled. “Our lesson kids call him ‘snuggly horse.’ He’s in the first stall in the barn and he’s just so kind. We feed him unlimited treats.”

It’s a safe bet Martinoff did as well after Saturday’s victory.