Press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala, edited by World of Showjumping

World No. 3 Ben Maher (GBR) and his trusty partner Ginger-Blue, owned by Jane Forbes Clark, repeated their winning performance from Thursday, this time racing to the top of the leaderboard in the $62,500 1.50m Speed CSI5*-W class. They set the early time to beat at 56.56 seconds and couldn’t be caught. 

Wednesday’s winners, Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Her Game Ball BG, a 14-year-old KWPN mare by Carambole x Burggraaf NV owned by Mary Frances Looke, slotted into second just off the pace in 56.64 seconds. Laura Kraut (USA) and Tres Bien Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Toulon x Nabab de Reve owned by St. Bride’s Farm, placed third with a time of 57.12 seconds.

Speaking of his jump-off plan, Maher explained, “The double of verticals were early on, and I’m able to really ride at them. It’s slightly unconventional compared to some horses, where you have to be more careful, but I really trust her quality, and we know each other well. After that, some of the distances were short, but I was able to just keep a little bit of outside line and keep traveling forward, which made the lines slightly quicker. They got very, very close, but luckily, it worked for us today.”

“She’s amazing,” said Maher of the 15-year-old KWPN mare by Plot Blue x Royal Bravour. “She obviously likes it here in Ocala. She has a deceiving stride. One minute she can have quite a big stride, and then it can get small very quick, which is what makes her so fast.”

While Ginger-Blue is an easy horse to maintain and manage, Maher admits she does have “a little bit of attitude.” He added, “I mean, she knows that she’s good. She knows her job in the ring, and we trust that. She seems to be enjoying her job and her life.”