Ben Maher Soars in CSI4* NetJets Grand Prix at Wellington International
Tuesday 31 January 2023
Reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher (GBR) claimed victory in the CHF216,000 NetJets CSI4* Grand Prix in front of a packed house at Wellington International during “Saturday Night Lights” on January 28. The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) welcomed 45 international combinations to vie for top honours during the NetJets-sponsored WEF 3.
Course designer Peter Grant (CAN) built a testing track that started with a bang as five early clears promised a thrilling second round. The code was cracked on his course by fourteen advancing to a tie-breaking jump-off. Talent from Brazil, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and the United States made up the list of riders with their eye on the prize over the short course.
Appearing halfway through the original order, Maher clocked his clear round aboard Dallas Vegas Batilly, a 2013 Selle Français mare by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright. He returned in the jump-off to chase down current leader and Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam aboard Namaste van het Eyckeveld, owned by Voquest LLC. By one tenth of a second, Maher unseated Sweetnam from the top of the leaderboard and posted an eventual winning time of 38.35 seconds.
Sweetnam settled for second while Kent Farrington (USA) took third for the home nation riding Toulayna for owner Rabbit Root Stables LLC. Fourth went to Germany’s Richard Vogel on United Touch S, and Lacey Gilbertson (USA) capped the top five riding Karlin van’t Vennehof.
All three podium finishers were seated on new mounts, with Maher partnering with Dallas Vegas Batilly for only four months prior to their win. The mare was previously campaigned by France’s Nicolas Delmotte.
Following his victory, Ben commented: “She’s taken some time to get used to me and my system. She’s jumped some great rounds and was clear in the grand prix in Geneva. But every time we come to the jump-off; we’ve had problems with the steering.
“She’s very sensitive, but the jump-off really suited me tonight,” continued Maher, who is currently ranked sixth on the FEI world rankings list. “I could take strides out everywhere and tried to keep it smooth and trust her. I’ve learned I have to ask her to do things, not tell her. Everything worked and it certainly paid off this evening.”
Maher was presented as winner by Laura Southard, Melissa Dombro and Aley Russell with NetJets. To close the night, winning groom and Dallas Vegas Batilly’s caretaker Derren Lake was honoured with the $500 Grooms Award, presented by Double H Farm, by Quentin Judge, Cayce Harrison and Harrison Rhodes Judge.
Wellington International, Winter Equestrian Festival Week 3
NetJets CSI4* Grand Prix – Saturday, 28 January
1st place - Ben Maher (GBR) & Dallas Vegas Batilly – 0/0 – 38.35 seconds
Owner: Charlotte Rossetter & Pamela Wright
2nd place - Shane Sweetnam (IRL) & Namaste van het Eyckeveld – 0/0 – 38.46 seconds
Owner: Shane Sweetnam and Voquest LLC
3rd place - Kent Farrington (USA) & Toulayna – 0/0 – 38.77 seconds
Owner: Kent Farrington LLC & Rabbit Root Stables LLC
4th place - Richard Vogel (GER) & United Touch S – 0/0 – 39.75 seconds
Owner: Julius-Peter Sinnack
5th place - Lacey Gilbertson (USA) & Karlin van’t Vennehof – 0/0 – 40.21 seconds.
Owner: Seabrook LLC
Image credit: Sportfot
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