Ben Maher is in winning form in Spain in this week's international round up
Monday 09 October 2023
Ben Maher hit form in Oliva Nova, Spain, and ended the final day with a win in the feature 2* Grand Prix on Ginger-Blue.
Forty-nine competitors came forward over the 2* 1.45m track with 12 answering all the questions to access the jump-off. Ben’s vast experience came into play and he smoothly slotted the Plot Blue x Royal Bravour 12-year-old mare easily commanding the top spot with 2.26 seconds to spare.
Ben and Ginger-Blue had claimed a gold 1.45m victory earlier in the week. Forty-eight riders contended this speed class, Ben forging ahead to win by 1.07 sec. Max Routledge jumped a good round on Sue Evans’ up-and-coming Arezzo VDL 9-year-old stallion Janeiro for second.
Ben steered Point Break into third in the small 1.45m Grand Prix. Eleven of the original 43 starters returned for the jump-off with Ben and the Action-Breaker x Balou Du Rouet 9-year-old posting another clean round to finish 0.55 sec behind the winning time.
Graham Gillespie secured victory in the 2* 1.45m with Veneno at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium, but had to share the win when two riders dead-heated on time.
Seventeen of the 72 starters qualified for the jump-off with Graham and the Chacco-Blue x Baloubet Du Rouet 15-year-old stopping the clock at exactly the same time as The Netherlands’ Leopold van Asten and VDL Groep Elegant Hero Z to take equal first.
Image: 1clicphoto
