Caroline Pamukcu & HSH Double Sixteen speed to the top at Fair Hill
The Series leader arrived at Fair Hill on the the fastest cross-country horse in the field according to EquiRatings' metrics. They left having proved it.
HSH Double Sixteen entered the Fair Hill International CCI4*-S with the highest Top Speed Percentage (TSP) in the field, a 94%. This means he had outpaced 94% of opponents across his three fastest runs. That number was being used as a prediction. Today, it became a result.
The pair moved from seventh after dressage to first place by showjumping clear and catching the cross-country time (the only one's to do so) to finish on their dressage score (FOD) of 37.7. It was just the second FOD of the 2026 Series so far, following Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri at Stable View two weeks ago.
Across the full 2025 Series, only four FODs were recorded from 349 runs (1%) - and impressively, this combination was responsible for one of them. The 2026 Series is now tracking at a similar rate, with two FODs already in the first nine of 20 qualifiers.
How rare is a finish like this at Fair Hill?
Fair Hill returned to the CCI4*-S format for the first time since 2022, and the history of the class tells you exactly how hard the cross-country time is to catch. Across 143 starters (including this weekend), just two combinations have ever made it inside the time. Kurt Agardy Martin & Anna Bella in 2014 were the first and they also finished on their dressage score that day. HSH Double Sixteen is now the second to do both.
What it means for the Series leaderboard
Caroline Pamukcu extends her lead at the top of the standings. Boyd Martin added further points with Miks Master C in second and Shanroe Cooley in third, moving to second in the Series. These results mean Tamie Smith arrives at Ocala with serious pressure. Read more on that here.
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