Ben Maher scores a second Spanish Grand Prix victory with Ginger-Blue
Monday 23 October 2023
Ben Maher concluded Autumn MET 1 tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, as he’d started – with a Grand Prix win.
On both occasions, Jane Forbes Clark’s Ginger-Blue stepped up to victory and, after winning week one’s 2* Grand Prix, Ben scooped the feature world ranking 3* Grand Prix to end the third and final week on a high.
Forty-five riders initially came forward over the 13-fence 1.50m track designed by Germany’s Christian Wiegand with 11 answering every question to make their way into the jump-off.
Reigning Olympic champion Ben had picked up places all week but turned up the heat on the final day to capture this top-billed Grand Prix. He slipped the Plot Blue x Royal Bravour 12-year-old mare Ginger-Blue into the top spot by 0.90 seconds, relegating Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts on H&M Luna Van’t Ruytsershof into second.
“Oliva is a nice pit-stop for us before heading into the indoor season. I brought Ginger-Blue here so we can get some nice rounds in before the indoor season starts,” said Ben.
Ben jumped an easy round on Ginger-Blue at the start of the week to take third place in the gold 1.45m.
Sixty-seven competitors came forward in this world ranking speed class with Ben and the consistent mare 3.96 seconds behind the winner, France’s Julien Epaillard on Cancun Torel Z.
The tiniest fraction of time denied Ben a win in Saturday’s gold 1.50m on Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s Point Break.
The 51 starters were reduced to 12 for the jump-off in this world ranking class, Ben and the Action-Breaker x Balou Du Rouet 9-year-old only 0.03 seconds off the winning time set by Germany’s Nicola Pohl on Catz De Sulpice.
“We like coming to Oliva. Originally, we came here when we had many students, but even now when it’s a bit quieter for us, we like to come back. The facilities are great, and the management works really hard to keep everyone happy,” added Ben.
James Smith claimed second in the 2* 1.45m on the VillaMoura Champions Tour in Portugal, with Juno Rose 23.
Twenty-one of the original 65 starters returned initial clears to join the jump-off, James and the Erdento x Nissan Caretano Z 9-year-old finishing 0.94 seconds behind the winner, France’s Richard Breul on Fee Du Val Guerard. Guy Williams also returned a double clear to ease the Emerald 11-year-old Ernie of Greenhill Z into fourth.
Image: Ben Maher and Ginger-Blue. Credit - 1clicphoto
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