Ben Maher wins final major class of 2011 WEF's second week

Ben Maher and Oscar.
By sportfot.com

Britain's Ben Maher and Lindsay Cook's Oscar topped the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic, the final class of week two of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) 2011.

Over a course set by Luc Musette of Belgium, 13 of the original 31 entries jumped clear in round one. Six of those went on to jump double clear, but none were as fast as Ben Maher and Oscar, whose time was 38.72 seconds.

Ben bested the previous leading time of 39.12 seconds set by fellow Brit Nick Skelton and Carlo 273, relegating that pair to second place. Finishing third was the USA's Sarah Treddenick and My November Guest, with a time of 40.62 seconds.

Jet-setting
Class-winning ride Oscar is a 15-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding (Harcos x Animo). He jumped at the Basel CSI**** in Switzerland a week earlier and flew straight to Florida, arriving on Wednesday (19 January). Ben explained that he had not intended to jump the horse this week, but decided to when Oscar felt fresh upon arrival.

Ringmaster Cliff Haines, Suncast's
Lauren Tisbo and Ben Maher. By
sportfot.com

"The plan worked," said Ben. "He is quite a hot sharp horse, so I think the warmer weather helps to quieten him out a little bit. He is a great 1.50m horse and that is why we brought him here, for these classes and maybe the WEF Challenge classes on Thursdays. As far as I am aware this is his first time in the United States and his first time competing outdoors for a few months now, so it was quite a good round being that he did not have any training rounds previously."

"The course was difficult enough. I am surprised that there were 13 clear," Ben added. "There were some good horses, some up and coming Grand Prix horses just getting going early in the season. It was quick and there were a lot of turns as well, so you needed a fast, careful horse to win. Oscar is naturally a fast horse in the air. He doesn't jump too high, so he saves time, and I think I was pretty quick to the last fence."

Oscar will have next week off while Ben travels to Zurich CSI*****W, Switzerland, to ride his top horse Robin Hood W. He will then return during week four of WEF and plans to jump Oscar in the WEF Challenge Cup on the Thursday of that week.

Although he missed coming to Wellington in 2010, this is Ben's third year competing at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

"I love it here," he said. "There is nice weather, great facilities and people, and it is good sport. I look forward to the season."

For full results, click here