On the evening of January 13, Wellington International hosted the inaugural “Saturday Night Lights” grand prix of the season, which saw British Olympic Champions Ben Maher and Enjeu de Grisien wow an audience. A field of 45 horses competed for the $140,000 Southern Arches CSI3* Grand Prix, which the two horses won on courses created by Nick Granat of the USA.
Wellington International is the site of WEF’s 12-week FEI Competition, which runs through March 31.
Following a tumble at the start of the 2023 WEF that prevented him from playing the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury, Maher is back in the spotlight at Wellington International. But on Enjeu de Grisien, a 2014 Selle Français gelding (Toulon x Andiamo) he owns alongside Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright, the current world number two has come back stronger than ever.
“It’s great every Saturday night here,” said Maher, who is coming off an FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix win in London in Enjeu de Grisien. “It’s a good atmosphere and you have some of the best riders in the world which gives top sport.”
Maher outran the fastest time set by American Olympic Team gold medalist Mclain Ward, who was riding Robin Parsky’s 2013 Oldenburg mare First Lady (Don Diarado x Lordanos), in the evening’s first draw. The clocks were crossed in 37.49 seconds per second.
Third place went to fellow American rider Spencer Smith and his longstanding companion Theodore Manciais, who rode Ashland Farms’ 2007 Selle Français gelding, Kashmir van Schuttershof, in 38.31 seconds.
Thaisa Erwin (AUS) and her 2012 Dutch Warmblood Emerald x Vaillant mare Hialita B, who is owned by Michael and Wendy Smith, produced the last double-clear of the evening. In fourth place, they stopped the clock at 44.67 seconds.
“It was a difficult course; the time allowed is always a factor here but my horse is doing very well and I was very happy,” Maher mentioned Enjeu de Grisien, the horse he brought into his stable when it was seven years old.
Wellington International President Michael Stone awarded Maher the $140,000 Southern Arches CSI3* Grand Prix. Caitlin Creel of Double H Farm gave the $500 Grooms Award to Derren Lake, the winning groom and caretaker of Enjeu de Grisien, to round off the evening.
On Sunday, the $32,000 Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic and the WEF 1 Parade of Champions will take center stage in the International Arena, capping off the first week of international competition at WEF.
Top Five Results: $140,000 Southern Arches CSI3* Grand Prix
- Ben Maher (GBR) & Enjeu de Grisien: 2014 Selle Français gelding (Toulon x Andiamo)
Owners: Ben Maher, Charlotte Rossetter, Pamela Wright - Mclain Ward (USA) & First Lady: 2013 Oldenburg mare (Don Diarado x Lordanos)
Owner: X - Spencer Smith (USA) & Theodore Manciais: 2007 Selle Français gelding (Kashmir van Schuttershof)
Owner: Ashland Farms - Thaisa Erwin (AUS) & Hialita B: 2012 Dutch Warmblood mare (Emerald x Vaillant)
Owner: Thaisa Erwin, Michael Smith, Wendy Smith - Philip McGuane (IRL) & Orphea HQ: 2014 Belgian Warmblood (Emerald x Epleaser van’t Heike)
Owner: Evergate Stables
Major reporting contributions for this article were received from Wellington International in Wellington FL. Please visit Wellington International at https://wellingtoninternational.com.
