Ben Maher secures a five-star victory in the Florida sun with Enjeu De Grisien
Monday 09 March 2026
Ben Maher landed the 5* Adequan WEF Challenge Round 9 to mark Enjeu De Grisien’s first win this season at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, USA.
“We’ve been knocking at the door,” said Ben, after marking their first win at this popular 12-week spectacular Florida event. He finished fifth in the Round 5 Challenge and second in the 5* Grand Prix last month in WEF Week 5 on Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s 12-year-old.
“He’s always been an amazing horse but has lived in the shadows of some of my other horses, but as Dallas [Vegas Batilly] and Point Break have been on a break, he’s had to hold the fort on his own and he’s really shone in that Number 1 spot with some great results. He’s been knocking on the door for a win more recently.”
A total of 45 riders came forward to face course-designer Alan Wade’s $116,100 1.50m track which tested on time and technicalities, and just eight mastered every question to return a first round clear and qualify for the jump-off. Egypt’s Nayel Nassar led the way on ESI Ali from The USA’s Mimi Gochman’s Irion Maiden.
Advantageously drawn last, World Number 3 Ben chased the target with smooth yet quick lines to wipe 0.61 seconds off the time and claim victory.
“I was able to go quick in the jump-off today as he wasn’t jumping at the weekend. This year, I’ve tried to work on my own plan and not watch what everyone else does – and that seemed to work for me today,” said Ben. “He didn’t jump in Saturday evening’s [five-star] Grand Prix as he flew out on the weekend ready for the Dutch Masters next week.”
Enjeu De Grisien joined Ben five years ago and the switched-on Toulon x Andiamo gelding lights up in the ring, whereas the rest of the time he is very laidback.
“I’ve had him since he was seven years -old, so we know him so well. He’s very sharp and energetic in the ring and the sweetest, kindest horse, but outside the ring he’s the calmest; walking up here, you have to kind of drag him along as he’s sunbathing half the time,” explained Ben. “He’s been an amazing horse for the team. He’s so very versatile, jumped in every kind of arena and in every kind of Grand Prix or speed class – it’s pretty hard to find a special horse like that.”
Chloe Winchester and Matt Sampson are 4* 1.50m winners on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour
Chloe Winchester and Matt Sampson were the best of the Brits on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in Spain, with a 4* 1.50m win apiece.
Forty-one riders tackled the 4* Medium Tour 1.50m two-phase but Chloe and the 11-year-old Casallco x Dobel’s Cento mare shot ahead to record a 0.45 second win.
“She jumped a brilliant double clear to win her class; what a way to finish her tour! She’s been jumping consistently well and really deserved this,” said Chloe.
Matt Sampson scored victory in the 4* Medium Tour 1.50m on brand new ride Nouvelle V.H. Veldhof, a 13-year-old mare with Cooper Van De Heffinck x Calido I bloodlines. Only eight of the original 66 starters achieved a clear over the tough 1.50m track with Matt – well known for establishing an immediate rapport with a new horse – flying ahead over the shortened course to win with 0.82 seconds in hand.
Joe Whitaker almost made it a hat-trick of wins but had to settle for a victory double. The 10-year-old Seaview Evolution (FSS Correlli Bravo x Castlelawn Galloway), a ride of only four weeks, jumped to the top in the 4* Medium 1.45m speed to outpace 67 rivals and win by 0.88 seconds. Joe also topped a 42-entry 4* Small 1.35m two-phase on the seven-year-old mare Oorone (Highway TN x Indoctro) but finished second place in the 28-strong 4* Medium 1.40m two-phase with the eight-year-old mare Rosezella 1.30 seconds behind the pace.
Guy Williams steered BH Gringos Legacy into equal second in an early 72-horse 4* Catunambu Trophy 1.50m speed 0.36 seconds off the pace. Guy and the 11-year-old Tullibards Bennys Legacy daughter were incredibly unlucky in the feature 4* 1.55m Grand Prix where one mistake denied them a jump-off chance, the four faults dropping them into fifth. Only two clears were realised from a start list of 50 over the ultra-tough 1.55m course, Niamh McEvoy on Olympic ‘GL’ ‘FVD’ taking the win over fellow Irish rider Billy Twomey on Ace of Hearts Z. Guy also claimed second in a 4* Medium 1.40m speed on the 11-year-old Karim EBH 1.70 seconds off the pace.
Ronnie Jones finished third in the 4* KAR Sport Horses Small Grand Prix on Thomascourt Emirates (Pacino x Douglas). Twelve from a field of 51 returned for the jump-off, Ronnie and the 13-year-old finishing 1.73 seconds behind the winner, British-based Irishman Richard Howley aboard Caprice D’Elle.
Holly Smith slipped the nine-year-old mare Uzaravanta Z into second in the 31-strong 4* Big Tour 1.45m two-phase 0.33 seconds off the winning time, and Scotland’s Emma Crawford finished third with the 11-year-old King Louie in the 46-horse 4* Small 1.45m two-phase 1.73 seconds in arrears of the winner.
Brits commandeered the top spot in several supporting classes: Jess Hewlett added to her Andalucia tally with a 4* Medium 1.40m speed win by 0.80 seconds on the Arezzo VDL nine-year-old Mosandro Van Peerbeemd, and Amelie Gachoud topped a 4* Medium 1.40m two-phase with the former Scott Brash ride, the Billy Mexico 15-year-old Hello Franklin, by 1.33 seconds. Harry Wood was also a winner, lifting the top two places in the final day’s 4* Small 1.40m two-phase with the 10-year-old Grand Prix DK and the nine-year-old BE Eskada, 2.81 seconds separating the two.
Glain Watkin Jones outpaced 39 challengers to take the 4* Medium 1.35m two-phase by the tiny margin of 0.05 seconds on the nine-year-old mare SHW Candies C, and Tom Whitaker galloped to the top of the 4* Small 1.35m 20-strong jump-off with 0.74 seconds in hand on the eight-year-old Gameboy SWB.
After taking a couple of second 1.30m places on True Blue III and a 1.40m second place on Golia, Red Morgan finally achieved his goal with victory in Sunday’s 4* Small 1.30m Accumulator on the Chacco-Blue 18-year-old True Blue III. Also clinching 4* Medium 1.30m wins was Alex Bishop aboard the nine-year-old Diamantine Z and Taio Strevett on the eight-year-old Bellini OS. Freddie Hodges won a mammoth 115-entry 1* 1.25m on the 14-year-old Muze VD Withoeve by almost two seconds in the 11-horse decider, and Ruby Barrs claimed the initial Six-year-old 1.15m speed on I’m Special Balia HD (I’m Special De Muze x Germus R) by 2.05 seconds.
Amanda Derbyshire seizes a winning double in Myakka City
After rekindling the magic with Cornwall BH following the birth of her son Max in November, Amanda Derbyshire has gone one way – up! The pair registered their fifth win since the New Year, claiming another 2* Grand Prix win in Myakka City, Florida, USA.
The consistent pair started with second place in the $32,000 DNA Wild 1.45m Welcome Speed as 18 competitors came forward, finishing 1.30 seconds behind the winner, Colombia’s Mark Bluman on S&L Eyes 4U.
It set them up nicely for the $65,000 Akerman 2* 1.45m Grand Prix. The pair went one better to emerge triumphant.
Nineteen competitors tackled the 1.45m track with seven returning clears to make a bid for glory in the jump-off, Amanda claiming two of the rides. She posted double clear on both, Conblue taking sixth place as the evergreen Holsteiner 18-year-old stablemate Cornwall outpaced them all. They set off at the gallop and maintained their speed, executing all the turns and stretching out on the long run to the final vertical for Cornwall to win by 0.52 seconds under Amanda’s skilful guidance.
Amanda also impressively headed the 1.30m with immediate jump-off on the Dominator 2000 Z 10-year-old Du Beau Z with almost six seconds to spare.
Jack Whitaker wins designer furniture in Denmark
Jack Whitaker rounded off his week in Herning, Denmark, with second place in the world ranking Kilver 3* 1.45m on Heathcroft Stud’s Izara Des Dames – and took home branded furniture as part of his prize.
A total of 44 competitors contended the 13-fence, 16-effort 1.45m track designed by Britain’s Mark McGowan with 11 finding the key to access the jump-off. Jack jumped another nice clear round second time out on the 12-year-old Emerald x Calvaro FC mare for the runner-up spot.
The effort earned Furniture from Vodskov Bolighus worth €5,000 plus €3,200 cash. Jack missed out on a €13,000 Ifor Williams trailer awarded to the winner, Latvia’s Kristaps Neretnieks on Quintair.
Image: Sportfot
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