Ben Maher claims victory in Eindhoven with the consistent Ginger-Blue in this week’s international round-up
Monday 13 May 2024
Ben Maher topped the 3* 1.50m in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, with Ginger-Blue.
The 57 starters in this world ranking jump-off class were reduced to 14 for round two against the clock, but none were a match for the World Number 2 on Jane Forbes Clark’s consistent mare. Skilfully guiding the Plot Blue x Bravour 13-year-old - who finished second in The Defender Staker at Royal Windsor the week before – into an unbeatable round, Ben secured victory by 1.91 seconds.
Laura Renwick is denied a four-star Grand Prix victory in Italy by less than half a second
Less than half a second separated Laura Renwick from victory in the feature 4* Grand Prix in Montefalco, Italy, with Enjoy CK Z.
The pair had already given a good account of themselves in the opening day’s 55-horse 3* 1.45m two-phase with third place, 1.79 seconds off the pace. They moved up a level to maintain their clear round form in the final day’s world ranking Grand Prix, tackling a 1.55m course. Eleven of the original field of 47 provided initial clears to go forward into the jump-off with Laura and the 11-year-old mare Enoy CK Z (Echo Van’t Spieveld x Coronado) jumping into second place 0.47 seconds off the winning time. Victory went to UAE’s Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi on Enjoy De La Mure.
William Funnell claimed third in the final day’s 49-entry 4* 1.45m two-phase with the 11-year-old mare Equine America Billy Marmite 1.39 seconds behind the pace. Laura was also double clear riding Cottee to finish fifth.
Ava Vernon has to settle for second place in a world ranking 1.45m in France
Ava Vernon guided Volnay De Choc Z into second in the 3* 1.45m in Cabourg, France.
Sixty competitors came forward to contend this world ranking competition but only 11 produced initial clears to access the jump-off. Ava was one of five to supply a double clear, steering the Vivaldi De Seigneur 12-year-old mare into the runner-up spot 1.72 seconds behind the winner, France’s Geoffroy de Coligny on Curacao Island. Ollie Fletcher was fractionally behind – just 0.05 seconds – for third with the 10-year-old BP Pocahontas.
Guy Williams had to settle for second place in the 57-strong 3* 1.40m speed as the 15-year-old Dalton D’Hoyo (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Parco) finished 1.84 seconds off the winning time set by France’s Guillaume Batillat aboard Eclipse Du Villon.
Jess Mendoza is in the money in New York
Jess Mendoza used her late draw in the $40,000 3* Evergate Stables Welcome Stake to ease In The Air into second place at Old Salem Farm in New York, The USA.
Forty-nine competitors contended this class over a 1.45m track with Jess drawn just three from the end. She steered the Air Jordan x Indoctro 11-year-old into the runner-up spot behind Canada’s Erynn Ballard on hero and pushing the early leader, The USA’s McLain Ward (Quimi Del Maset), into third.
Faye Sutton jumps Spider into second place in Lummen’s world ranking 1.45m
Faye Sutton jumped Carl Cartwright and Jaqueline Sutton’s Spider into second place in the 2* 1.45m in Lummen, Belgium.
A total of 44 riders faced Netherland’s course-designer Henk Linders’ world ranking 12-fence track and only seven qualified for the jump-off with initial clears. One rider opted to withdraw at this point to leave six battling it out in the jump-off, Faye and the 11-year-old Cardento 933 x Luidam mare posting another foot-perfect round to claim the runner-up position 3.11 seconds behind the winner, Belgium’s Pieter Devos on Jarina J.
Image: Ben Maher and Ginger-Blue. Credit: Digishots
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