Ben Maher is back in action with Point Break at the historic Longines Global Champions Tour of Cairo Grand Prix
Monday 26 October 2026
Ben Maher returned to competition following a broken collar bone injury in a recent fall at Spruce Meadows, Canada, to take third in the €1 Million LGCT Grand Prix of Cairo presented by Tatweer with Point Break.
Ben was enthusiastic about the venue and the competition: "It was a great event with a huge crowd here, and the horse was amazing!"
Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza, the inaugural LGCT Grand Prix of Cairo delivered an unforgettable afternoon of world-class show jumping, championship glory and sporting history. For the first time in history, the world's leading show jumping riders competed for one of the sport's most prestigious titles in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. With the magnificent Pyramids rising above the arena, an electric crowd and an extraordinary atmosphere, Cairo provided a spectacular stage for a landmark moment in the Tour's 20th anniversary season as 40 riders came forward to face course-designer Uliano Vezzani’s (ITA) 13-fence, 16-effort 1.60m track.
Twelve returned for a thrilling jump-off and it was all about the clock as seven competitors posted double clears, with only 0.72 seconds separating the top three. Belgium’s Pieter Devos delivered a sensational round on the home-bred mare Casuall DV Z with a 0.46 second advantage over fellow Belgian Olivier Philippaerts on Hipster SV in second.
Ben had it all to do in the final draw with the Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s 12-year-old Point Break (Action-Breaker x Balou Du Rouet) and broke the beams 0.26 sec behind Olivier for third.
A podium finish rounded off a memorable first visit to Cairo for Ben: "It's been a great week, the first time here in Cairo. The organisation has been second to none for both the horses and the riders."
With the advantage of jumping last, victory was within reach, but Ben was left reflecting on the fine margins of the jump-off: "It's a big-money Grand Prix with a lot in the jump-off. I had pole position there, but in the end, I just slightly misjudged it, unfortunately."
Nevertheless, there was plenty to take from Point Break’s return to competition: "He's picked up momentum this week after some time off. Happy with the third, but disappointed that I couldn't be the right side of the timers."
Robert Whitaker jumps Equine America Vermento into second place in the 4* Grand Prix of Liege
Robert Whitaker claimed second place in the feature 4* 1.55m Grand Prix of Liege in Belgium with Caroline and Stephen Blatchford’s Equine America Vermento.
Fifty riders set off over course-designer Bernard Mathy’s 13-fence, 16-effort 1.55m track with only eight mastering every question to advance to the jump-off. Robert was quick and precise as he executed every tight turn and angled several fences on the 13-year-old Argento x Skippy stallion, but he couldn’t catch Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet on Bond Jamesbond De Hay and had to settle for second 1.42 seconds off the pace.
Robert did record a win on Secret Touch JW Van’t Meulenhof in the 4* 1.45m. Thirty-nine contended this two-phase class, Robert and the eight-year-old Denzel Van’t Meulenhof x Elvis Ter Putte mare easing ahead by 0.49 seconds.
Millie Allen takes fourth in the top-billed 4* 1.55m Grand Prix of Cadiz on the Andalucia Tour
Millie Allen jumped into fourth in the 4* 1.55m Grand Prix of Cadiz on Quickly D VH Ijzerenlindehof at the end of week one of the Andalucia Tour in Vejer de la Frontera.
Eleven from a field of 50 posted initial clears to claim a place in the jump-off, Millie again providing a clean round on the 10-year-old mare to claim fourth 1.05 seconds off the winning time. Max Routledge was in contention 1.26 seconds ahead of the winner on Me The Rebel RT, but alas, four faults dropped them down to seventh.
Millie registered a win in the 54-strong Seven-year-old 1.35m speed by a 1.50 second advantage on Liyanna Ter Wijnen Z (Le Blue Diamond Van’t Ruytershof x Cardento).
In other supporting classes, Chloe Winchester recorded a winning double, heading an early 54-horse 1* 1.35m speed by 0.11 seconds on the 10-year-old ABC Saving Grace (Kannan x Cruising), and finished equal first in a 4* 1.30m speed aboard the 10-year-old mare Tisara Quality Cruise.
Hannah Tiley topped a 66-entry 4* 1.30m two-phase aboard the 15-year-old mare Capistelle JX in a British one-two, beating fellow Brit Milli Cornock on Calcourt Goldielux by 0.38 seconds.
Lily Attwood claims a podium place in the Sentower Park 2* Grand Prix
Lily Attwood guided Karibou Horta into third in the 2* Grand Prix of Sentower Park in Belgium.
A 13-fence, 16-effort 1.45m course whittled the 52 starters to just six for the jump-off, with four of them jumping clear again. Lily secured a podium place, jumping her mother Emmy Freeman Attwood’s Landor S x For Pleasure 16-year-old into third 2.66 seconds behind the winner, Belgium’s Wilm Vermeir on Jonkheer Van’t Veldhoven.
Ruby Barrs topped the initial 32-strong Six-year-old 1.20m two-phase by 0.96 seconds on I’m Special Balia HD (I’m Special De Muze x Germus R).
Image: LGCT
