Ben Maher claims a podium place in the FEI World Cup qualifier of Lyon
Monday 06 November 2023
Ben Maher claimed third in the FEI World Cup qualifier in Lyon, France, on Dallas Vegas Batilly with Harry Charles just missing a podium place in fourth.
Forty riders contended course-designer Gregory Bodo’s 5* 1.60m track and, with 14 coming up with the correct answers to go forward into the jump-off, round two promised to be hot as they included six of the top 10 riders in the world.
Leading Under 25 rider Harry set the pace when clear with Romeo 88 in 35.34 seconds over the new seven-fence jump-off course. Belgium’s Pieter Devos followed with a great round from the young mare Jarina J in 36.76 but reigning Olympic champion Ben shaved almost a second off Harry’s target when fourth to go with Dallas Vegas Batilly, breaking the beam with 0.75 seconds to spare to temporarily take the lead.
However, France’s Julien Epaillard set a whole new standard. He was defending the title he won last year at this event, and partnering Dubai Du Cedre, the horse that carried him to individual bronze at this summer’s FEI Jumping European Championship in Milan, Italy. He looked to have put the competition to bed when scorching through the finish in 33.10 seconds.
But it was not to be. Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet set out at the gallop well before he even reached the start-line and didn’t take a pull all the way round, Bond Jamesbond crossing the finish line just 0.17 seconds in front.
Ben and Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s Cap Kennedy x L’Arc De Triomphe Bois Margot 10-year-old mare Dallas Vegas proved 1.66 seconds away from the winning time for third to pick up their first points in the FEI World Cup 2023/24 season. Harry also picked up his first points in fourth with Ann Thompson’s 14-year-old Romeo.
Ben reflected on how his jump-off round played out.
“It would always be nice to have a second go!”, he said. “I planned to do a stride less between the first and second fence but had to change the plan because it didn’t ride as smooth as I wanted. I am very happy and tried my best. I knew Julien is always very fast, but today Gregory rode the perfect round.”
Ben also has his winter season mapped out. “I am going to Verona, and Dallas will then have a break before Geneva (Switzerland, in December). I had a long break at the beginning of the year so my horses have not been over-jumped, so I am looking forward to doing more indoor shows this winter,” he said.
“I don’t really plan to chase the rankings. Being in the top ten gives you some advantages so I look after that a little and I am very lucky at the moment with my horses. It would be nice to get to number one again, but I will not put any pressure on my horses for that, it’s not my main objective.”
Ben finished one place off the podium in the 5* Lyon Grand Prix with Point Break.
Thirteen of the original 47 riders posted first round clears to qualify for the jump-off, although only 11 returned for the round against the clock. Ben again produced a clean round second time out on the Action-Breaker-Balou Du Rouet 9-year-old to slot into fourth 1.81 seconds behind the winner, France’s Julien Epaillard on Dubai Du Cedre.
Graham Gillespie wins the 2* VillaMoura Grand Prix with the consistent Veneno
Graham Gillespie led a British top three in the top-billed 2* Grand Prix on the VillaMoura Champions Tour in Portugal, with Veneno.
Fifty riders came forward to contend this world ranking Grand Prix but a tough track sorted all but the best with only seven elite answering every question to qualify for the jump-off.
The consistent Chacco-Blue x Baloubet Du Rouet 15-year-old Veneno, bought via Donald Whitaker and Nicola Pohl, has clocked up two 2* 1.45m wins in the last month for Graham and added a third here. They executed the tightest of turns in an economical round and, with a flyer to the final vertical, secured victory by 2.20 seconds.
Guy Williams eased the 11-year-old Ernie of Greenhill Z (Emerald x Caretino) into second place and James Smith filled third on the Balou Du Rouet 11-year-old Tayvale Hunky Dory. Five faults second time out dropped Olli Fletcher and Hello William to fifth.
Graham had a great Grand Prix warm-up 48 hours earlier and finished a tiny fraction off winning Friday's 2* 1.45m with Veneno. Eleven of the 54 starters contended the jump-off with Graham only 0.08 seconds off victory.
James Smith scored a win in Saturday’s 2* 1.45m on Wicked’s Vancouver. Fifty-three riders contended this world ranking speed class but no-one could match James’s speed and determination as he flew around the track on Jim Wilmer’s Eurocommerce Vancouver x Cassini I 8-year-old to win by 1.50 seconds.
Mark Edwards continued with his winning run at this popular Portuguese venue. Dillinger NE came to the fore in Thursday's 2* 1.45m for Mark, the Diarado 8-year-old battling against their rivals to win with 1.43 seconds in hand. James Smith galloped the 8-year-old Wicked’s Vancouver into second place.
Louise Simpson takes the runner-up spot in the Autumn MET Grand Prix of Oliva Nova
Louise Simpson eased Cindy R into second in the feature Gold 2* Grand Prix on the Autumn Mediterranean Tour II in Oliva Nova, Spain.
Seventy-eight faced course-designer Franz Madl’s 13-fence 1.45m track but tough questions meant only seven posted initial clear rounds to qualify for the jump-off.
Louise only took over the reins on this Clarimo x Quidam De Revel 11-year-old from husband David earlier in September but the pair have already established a rapport and they put in another clean round, finishing just a little over two seconds behind the winner, Turkey’s Derin Dermirsoy on O-Kannarock. Joe Clayton was close behind to slip the Comme Il Faut 5 13-year-old Commissaire S into third.
Image: Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly. Credit - FEI / Leanjo De Koster
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