Last Updated on February 23, 2024 by adminahb
British Olympic champion Ben Maher was able to stake his claim on the week 7 round of the Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup riding Dallas Vegas Batilly at Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The Lugano Diamonds-sponsored week brought both five-star and two-star competition back to the International Arena.
Fifty riders took to the two-round course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) with 10 advancing to the tie-breaking jump-off. Less than a second separated the top three with Maher piloting “Tilly” – as the mare is called in the barn – to top call. The 11-year-old Selle Français mare (Cap Kennedy x L’Arc de Triomphe*Bois Margot) stopped the clock at 36.03 to pip current leader Andrew Bourns (IRL).
Kent Farrington (USA) and Scott Keach (AUS) tried their best to beat Maher’s time, but came up fractions short. Farrington took second aboard Landon in 36.71 seconds for owner Haity Mc Nerney, while Keach claimed third riding Noble de la Chapelle, owned by Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC, in 36.74 seconds.
“I’m lucky with Tilly – she has a huge stride, so I was able to get going and make up some time,” said Maher of the mount he owns together with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright. “It was lucky for me that I stayed ahead today. It’s always difficult to win here [at WEF] whether on Thursday or Saturday night. When you have riders like Kent and Richard [Vogel] coming behind you, it’s never over until it’s over.”
Jef Lauwers and Kamara Best the Rest in $5,000 KeyFlow Feeds USA 3’ Green Hunter Classic
Coming off World Championship Hunter Rider week, hunters returned to the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Arena for Week 7 of WEF. Kicking off the week was the $5,000 KeyFlow Feeds USA 3’ Green Hunter Classic, a new addition to the 2024 schedule at WEF. Taking the win in not only the classic but in all three 3’ Green Hunter classes of the day was Jef Lauwers of Magnolia, TX and Kamara, owned by Kaitlin Porath.
The pair received scores of 79 and 81 for a combined 160 to take the top prize. “It’s always hard to bring young horses along,” said Lauwers. “So, it was nice to come out here and jump a nice round in this arena. Following hunter week, it’s a good week for a horse like this that is five turning six and needs to get in the rhythm and stay showing and be consistent in that way. This was a perfect week to get the younger horses out here.”
Kamara’s owner, Kaitlin Porath, has been ringside with Lauwers every step of the way after importing the gelding from Europe two years ago.
“It’s always nice to have people like Kaitlin that want to spend time and invest in horses to get in the program,” said Lauwers. “It’s always fun and rewarding to bring horses along for people that are really committed to the sport and want to do right by the horses and right by the trainer.”
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