A bucket-list victory for Aloga Team Rider Ben Maher and Enjeu de Grisien
Aloga Team Rider Ben Maher has achieved one of the biggest wins of his career, taking the CPKC International Grand Prix presented by Rolex at Spruce Meadows with Enjeu de Grisien. It was a win that had been on his bucket list for as long as he can remember. “We have been close many times before but never seemed to be able to win it,” Ben reflected after his victory.
What made the achievement even more remarkable was what had happened just 24 hours earlier. Following a bad fall in the Nations Cup, Ben was faced with the possibility that he might not even be able to start the Grand Prix. But Ben ‘dug in’ and with Enjeu he delivered when it mattered most.
The competition started with 39 world-class horse-and-rider combinations, with the top 12 advancing to the second round. Six combinations ultimately finished on four faults and went forward to the jump-off. Among them were world No. 1 Richard Vogel, FEI World Champion Gold Medallist Steve Guerdat and American star Lillie Keenan.
Ben and Enjeu de Grisien were second into the jump-off. Their clear in 41.40 seconds set a target that nobody could beat. Lillie Keenan came agonisingly close in 41.85 seconds, while Vogel's hopes ended with a rail down.
“THANK YOU ENJEU!”
At the heart of the victory was Ben's partnership with Enjeu de Grisien, the 12 year old SF bay gelding, who once again showed exactly what he is capable of on the biggest stage. Ben's first words after the win were a fitting tribute to his horse: “I’ll start with saying THANK YOU ENJEU! Thank you for making winning the CPKC International Grand Prix sponsored by Rolex possible today!”
It was clearly a victory that meant an enormous amount to Ben and one he was equally quick to share with the people and horse behind it. He went on to thank his team for their “incredible hard work” both in and out of the ring, his owners Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright for their unconditional support, and his family and the doctors who helped him get through the day following his fall.
A WIN WORTH REMEMBERING
For Aloga, watching Ben lift the Rolex Grand Prix trophy makes this result particularly special. As an Aloga Team Rider, Ben represents the ambition, dedication and world-class performance that sit at the heart of our team. His victory at Spruce Meadows is a brilliant example of the resilience and partnership required to reach the very top of the sport. For Ben, this is a victory that will stay with him for a very long time, “This is one win I will always remember!!!” We couldn't agree more.
Huge congratulations to Ben Maher and Enjeu de Grisien from everyone at Aloga.
A bucket-list win. A remarkable comeback. And a very special victory for our Team Rider.
Photos captured by SPORTFOT
