Last Updated on March 4, 2024 by adminahb
British Olympic champion Ben Maher celebrated a banner week at Wellington International during Week 8 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). He capped the final day on Sunday with a victory in the $200,000 JTWG, Inc. CSIO4* Grand Prix aboard Point Break, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright.
Five pairs jumped clear over courses designed by USA’s Steve Stephens and Nick Granat, but Maher was the only one to finish double-clear on the day. He and the Swedish Warmblood stallion (Action-Breaker x Balou du Rouet) set the standard as first to jump clear and first to return for the tie-breaking jump-off.
Coco Fath (USA) came closest to pipping the British rider but settled for second on a single time fault in the jump-off. She rode Aventador 5, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Arpeggio x Landadel) for owner Hillside Farm, LLC. Belgium’s Zoe Conter rounded out the podium on La Una, a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare (Chacco-Blue x For Pleasure), owned by Stephex Stables, with the fastest four-fault round over the short course.
“This is probably the biggest grand prix he’s won,” said Maher of Point Break, a horse he’s had in his string since the stallion’s six-year-old year. “It wasn’t so long ago he was spooking off every golf cart, but he was always a very talented horse and he’s progressed on very nicely.
“His athleticism is what separates him from the other horses,” continued Maher. “The way he can bend his body and move his shoulder allows my job to become much easier. I can ride at the jumps and trust that he can do the job for me.”
Kate Hagerty and Up Next Best the Rest in Voltaire Designs 16-17 Large Junior Hunter
Junior Hunter divisions rounded out on Sunday to close out hunter action for Week 8. The Voltaire Designs 16-17 Large Junior Hunter was claimed by Kate Hagerty of Terrebonne, OR and Up Next, owned by Ashley Schlobach.
In the last year of her junior career, Hagerty has spent her second season at WEF catch-riding around the hunter arena to make the most of what the circuit has to offer. “It’s been really fun to catch-ride such talented horses like this one as well as show my own,” said Hagerty. “The season has been great so far and I hope to continue to be consistent in all three rings.”
Hagerty and Up Next claimed the top tricolor after winning two of their over-fences, with two consistent scores of 89, and placing third in another.
“He has a really big stride, so it’s nice in this ring. He covers so much ground going around and has a great jump. He’s so fun to ride,” said Hagerty of the 10-year-old Westphalian gelding.
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