Explosive win for Ben Maher in Royal Windsor 5* Rolex Grand Prix
Sunday 04 July 2021
The pinnacle Showjumping event of Royal Windsor Horse Show, the Rolex Grand Prix, took centre stage in the Castle Arena for the final session of the 2021 Show and did not disappoint the jubilant crowd. A top-class field of 29 contested the 1.60m course, designed by international course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral. The field included five of the top six ranked riders in the world. With 10 combinations going through to the jump-off, pressure was on from the start.
First to go, Britain’s Harry Charles – travelling reserve for the Tokyo Olympic Games next month – set the standard on one of his other rides Borsato, jumping clear in 38.21 seconds. However, with some of the best riders in the world to follow, Charles had a nervous wait as the remaining nine riders took on the challenging shortened course. Reigning RWHS Rolex Grand Prix champion, Henrik von Eckermann, as fifth to go, put in an impressive effort aboard the aptly named King Edward to take over pole position, although his lead was short lived. He was followed into the Arena by the current European Champion and World No. 3, Martin Fuchs, riding the phenomenal grey gelding Clooney 51, who made up speed across the ground, jumping clear in 36.87 and topping the leaderboard.
Next up was Britain’s Ben Maher with his Tokyo Olympic mount Explosion W which he jointly owns with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright. The 12-year-old chestnut gelding put in an exceptional performance, demonstrating his scope and athleticism, and posting a remarkable time of 35.16 – over a second faster than Fuchs. Swiss World No. 2, Steve Guerdat, put in a worthy challenge but his effort aboard Venard de Cerisy was only good enough for second place.
Maher, the current World No. 4, said: “I’ve said it before, but Explosion is just incredible, he helped me out a bit today, but he jumps better faster and he was fantastic. Royal Windsor is such a special show, it hasn’t been my luckiest show in the past, so it’s nice to finally win here in front of my owners and in front of a British crowd, and in the Queen’s back garden. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
CSI 5* Manama Rose Show Stakes
Scott Brash, recently announced as part of the British team heading to the Tokyo Olympic Games, landed the spoils in the earlier CSI5* Manama Rose Show Stakes with the 12-year-old bay gelding Hello Shelby owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham. Both horse and rider looked calm and collected in what was an incredibly neat and nippy round. The 1.50m class was one round against the clock and had a total of 17 riders taking on the 12-jump test. The course looked tight, with sharp turns required between fences two – an oxer – into three – an upright – with a similar set-up between six and seven, requiring both precision and agility from horse and rider.
John Whitaker was first to go, going clear and setting a comfortable time of 61.54. Scott Brash, next to go, wiped six seconds off Whitaker's time, making him the one to beat. Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca recorded a time of 58.98, with America’s Lillie Keenan – fresh from her win in Friday's CSI5* Manama Speed Stakes – one hundredth of a second slower with 58.99. In the end however, Brash and Hello Shelby's scorching time was unbeatable.
Speaking after his victory, Brash was full of praise for his horse: “I just tried to keep it as neat and tidy as I could. Hello Shelby is naturally a very fast horse, he is very experienced and used his strength keeping it tight, and he jumped great.”
For full results visit www.rwhs.co.uk
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