Ben Maher wins Global Champions Tour of Madrid Grand Prix
Saturday 05 May 2018
Having won the Global Champions League competition earlier this afternoon, as a member of the team London Knights, the day continued to get even better for GB’s Ben Maher when he went on to claim victory in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid this evening.
Riding Explosion W, a 9 year-old chestnut gelding owned by Poden Farms, he was one of ten combinations that achieved a clear in the first round from the starting field of thirty-five riders. Last to go in the jump-off, having secured himself this position due to being the fastest clear in the first round, he set the grandstands alight when he twisted and turned his way across the course taking every risk he felt he could to stop the clock clear in a time of 37.73 seconds.
Punching the air with delight as he crossed the finish line he couldn’t have been happier to secure his second title for the day. As well as claiming a lion share of the €300,000 prize fund at stake, Ben has also earnt the hard fought for and lucrative ranking points on offer as well as his place at the Longines Global Champions Super Grand Prix at the new GC Prague Play Offs in December.
Talking in the press conference Ben said "It was really about riding the course how it needed to be ridden and it was great sport. Explosion has always been a good horse, but this year he has really come forward. He has a great character and really enjoys his job. He will take a bit of a rest now. We are very fortunate, the Poden Farms team, we have a lot of horses. He (Explosion) is quirky, he has a character but he is a very friendly horse and gives 100%. He is naturally a fast horse so I just use his natural speed. I planned to do seven strides and it was right there and everything was just coming up wow".
Ben now sits in 2nd place on 103 points on the overall Global Champions Tour rankings, just behind fellow GB rider Scott Brash.who heads the list on 131 points overall. Both Scott and Ben have now qualified for the Super Grand Prix along with Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) and Gregory Wathelet (BEL) who will join them.
Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) and H&M Harley vd Bisschop and home rider Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) and Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot finished joint second having finished clear in exactly the same time of 39.79 seconds. Pieter Devos (BEL) and Espor finished 4th and Scott Brash (GBR) took 5th with the British Bred mare Ursula joint owned by Lady Kirkham and Lady Harris.
For full results visit and to watch Ben’s winning round visit www.globalchampionstour.com
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