Press release from Wellington International, edited by World of Showjumping

Opening the day on the derby field, British Olympic champion Ben Maher had luck on his side when he piloted 15-year-old Ginger-Blue (Plot Blue x Royal Bravour) to win the $62,500 Hermès CSI4* 1.50m Classic for owner Jane Forbes Clark.

Only six riders returned to the jump-off, where the Dutch Warmblood mare ate up the track of Brazilian course designer Anderson Lima. Stopping the clock at 36.84 seconds, Maher bumped Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) to second place with Contago (Cornet Obolensky x Cassini II), a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by El Milagro.

Finishing third, Juan Manuel Gallego (ESP) rode Lloyd (Namelus R x H.B.C. Cantos), a 10-year-old Dutch-bred gelding, to a time of 38.16 seconds for owner Pablo Mejia Equestrian.

“She’s amazing for us to have on the team—very competitive, and we really play to her strengths,” said Maher of the mare who has a winning record on the derby field at Equestrian Village after also taking Friday’s four-star speed victory. 

"I’ve had Ginger-Blue for many years now, and we know each other extremely well,” said Maher—World No. 4—of his eight-year relationship with the mare. “I know her strengths and weaknesses, but she’s an incredible horse anywhere, to be honest. It was a good week, and hopefully the start of a good season here.”