WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ben Maher of Great Britain on Ginger-Blue won the $32,000 CSIO4* WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 on Thursday , Feb. 29 at the Winter Equestrian Festival

Ben Maher on Ginger-Blue (Photo by Sportfot)The class was the first jumper competition of Nations Cup week and served as a qualifier for Sunday’s $200,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix.

Maher, the reigning Olympic champion, on Ginger-Blue, barn name Cookie, beat a field of 64 in the one-round, two-phase format class over a course designed by Steve Stephens.

Maher was clean in 69.44 seconds, and Karl Cook on his 2023 Pan-American Games mount, Caracole de la Roque was second in 70.38 seconds.

Charlotte Jacobs on Rincoola Milsean was third, clean in 71.03 seconds.

“It's always special to win any FEI competition, especially here in Wellington; there's a lot of good horse and rider combinations any week,” said Maher. “But, as you see, this week there's a lot of people that fly in especially for this week, so to start it like this is a confidence boost.”

 

“COOKIE'S a horse that's better when she's running and jumping," he said. "She'll get more confidence before the Nations Cup this week. I've had her for many years, but this will be her first Nations Cup with me. It's nice to give her the chance here, and she certainly showed in her last few rounds that she's ready for the challenge.”

Closing out the afternoon in the International Arena, Nicole Velazco Magana of Mexico on F.C. Okarla won the $10,000 U25 Welcome speed class.

Velazco was clean in 60.38 seconds to win over Natalie Dean on Oasis van de Bucxtale, clean in 61.19 seconds.

Ansgar Holtgers Jr. was third on Kennedy Z in a time of 61.95 seconds.

Under 25 jumper riders will compete again shine under the lights on Friday evening for the $32,000 U25 Sem-Final Grand Prix.