Ben Maher and Matt Sampson hit immediate winning form at the Spruce Meadows Masters
Thursday 07 September 2023
_uk8c6sxfqkjb.jpg "Ben Maher and Matt Sampson hit immediate winning form at the Spruce Meadows Masters")
Olympic reigning champion Ben Maher claimed victory in the Telus Cup with Exit Remo to round off day one of the Spruce Meadows Masters in Calgary, Canada.
Forty-five competitors faced course-designer Leopoldo Palacious’ 11-fence 1.50m track with 15 from nine nations qualifying for the jump-off, with Ben claiming two of the rides. He set the fastest clear to take the spoils by 0.84 seconds on Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s San Remo x Ferro 14-year-old Exit Remo and guided Enjeu De Grisien into fourth.
“It’s been some years since I walked into that ring and it’s just a different feeling, you know? I’ve jumped in arenas all over the world but you walk through that tunnel and you have the incredible arena, the history, a lot of history here. When I was growing up, always dreaming that I’d be able to come here and ride one day,” said Ben.
Fellow Brit Matt Sampson scored a victory double on the opening day. The Cardel Homes Cup over a 1.45m speed track fell to Matt on Luis Pascencia’s 13-year-old Fabrice DN (Gelha’s VDL Emilion x Baloubet Du Rouet) as 37 competitors stepped through the iconic Clock Tower to bid on the win. Matt, who competed regularly at this venue early in the summer, proved unbeatable with 0.52 seconds to spare.
Matt didn’t rest on his laurels, also scoring a commanding victory in the Richardson Wealth Cup over a 140m track, beating his 29 rivals on the Obos Quality 004 x Errigal Flight 11-year-old Curraghgraigue Obos Flight with more than five seconds in hand.
Image: Ben Maher and Exit Remo. Credit - Spruce Meadows Media / Mike Sturk
