Olympic gold medalist Ben Maher repeats as winner at Winter Equestrian Festival
WELLINGTON — Ben Maher of Great Britain and Tic Tac reunited for the first time in four months to win the $140,000 Hygain Feeds Grand Prix CSI3 for the second consecutive year Sunday at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
The reigning Olympic gold medalist and his 19-year-old mount topped 12 riders in the jump-off with the quickest round of 43.52 seconds to pocket $46,200 at the Equestrian Village's grassy Derby Field.
"Clearly, he loves the grass field, as he was amazing here last year for me as well,” Maher said. “We are very selective when we show him now because of his age, but he is an amazing horse. I give a lot of credit to the people who look after him day in and day out to keep him in such top shape.”
The horse, owned by Jane Forbes Clark, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Board of Directors Chair, lives in Wellington and does not travel to European events with Maher because of his age.
“We just emphasize keeping him fit and happy and knowing how to pick the right moments for him,” Maher said. “I am very fortunate he has all the experience he does and allowed me to really ride him today, because you have to take a lot of chances to be ahead of Amy and Paul.”
Ireland's Paul O'Shea and 15-year-old gelding Machu Picchu Partners LLC were second in 43.88 ($28,000) and Canadian Amy Millar and her 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Truman were third in 43.99 ($21,000).
Maher's 2020 Olympic teammate Explosion W is expected to make an appearance in Week 12.
Great Britain's Matthew Boddy and his mount Cliff Z escaped serious harm in the opening round when he and his horse tumbled into a jumping obstacle.
St. Andrew's alum Ali Wolff and Casall just missed the jump-off dropping the final rail in the opening round and finishing in 76.31.
Belgium's Zoe Conter, 23, who finished fourth in the $140,000 grand prix, was awarded the Martha W. Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award. She had the highest number of points among all women riders during the week. Conter is trained by 2008 Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze.
In the featured Saturday Night Lights $50,000 Marshall & Sterling/Great American Insurance Group National Grand Prix, Laura Chapot and her 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding Chandon Blue topped a field of 11 riders in the jump-off to win in 34.485 seconds in a light rain drizzle. The opening round featured 45 entries.
“I was really happy that it wasn’t pouring rain when I went in, because usually if it’s going to rain, it’s going to rain on me, so I was fine with the lightness,” Chapot joked.
Chandon Blue was coming off a break this past year after Chapot fractured her arm and had a metal plate inserted during surgery. She is fully recovered and back in the show ring winning again.
“I feel like this is just a nice way to be like ‘I’m back.’ Tonight, Chandon Blue was really on a mission," she said. "It all came together, which is a great feeling when it all just happens like that.”
This weekend's Saturday Night Lights event is the $216,000 NetJets Grand Prix CSI4. Gates open 6 p.m. through March 12 with the competition starting at 7 p.m.
Spectators are reminded to bring their facemasks to use in any indoor areas, including bathrooms, restaurants and enclosed shopping areas. Live streaming is also being offered again this season at pbiec.coth.com.
General admission is free. Parking is $20 per car. The venue is located at 3400 Equestrian Club Drive, just off South Shore and Pierson Road. For information, call 561-793-5867.