Ben Maher won the WEF Challenge Cup over Kent Farrington

Details: February 23, 2024; By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--British Olympic champion Ben Maher on Dallas Vegas Batily won the five star WEF Challenge Cup over Kent Farrington on Landon on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Ben Maheron Dallas Vegas Batily Sportfot Ben Maher on Dallas Vegas Batily (Photo by Sportfot)From a starting field of 50 competing over a course set by Anthony D'Ambrosio, 10 advanced to the jump-off.

Less than a second separated the top three with Maher riding “Tilly” to win in 36.03, beating the then leading Andrew Bourns of Ireland.

Farrington and Scott Keach of Australia tried their best to beat Maher’s time but came up fractions short.

Farrington was second on Landon in 36.7,1 while Keach placed third on Noble de la Chapelle, clean in 36.74 seconds

“I’m lucky with Tilly, she has a huge stride, so I was able to get going and make up some time,” said Maher. “It was lucky for me that I stayed ahead today. It’s always difficult to win here whether on Thursday or Saturday night. When you have riders like Kent and Richard Vogel coming behind you, it’s never over until it’s over.”

MAHER has had the ride on Dallas Vegas Batilly for a year and a half, and they started their career together with a win in the CSI4* Grand Prix during WEF in 2023.

Kent Farrington on Landon WEF Cup Sportfot Kent Farrington on Landon (Photo by Sportfot)“She’s been an incredible horse early in her career,” said Maher, 41. “She jumped great in the five-star a couple weeks ago and I felt she was on form, which is why we brought her back this week.

“The horses have come together at the right time, and it really allows me to pick and choose what’s best for them,” said Maher of his string that’s on top form this season.

“When you’re not on Tilly, my 18-month-old son Cooper can sit on her and she’s the sweetest horse ever," said Maher. "When you’re on her, she has a lot of opinions. I have to be the passenger not the pilot and get her to do things by asking her not telling her. We've come with a great relationship, and I want to bring out the best in her. We saw today that she's a real fighter for me.”

Prior to five-star action, 34 riders competed in the CSI2*, 1.45m speed class.

Ireland’s Philip McGuane on Linguini De La Pomme won with a clear round in 57.33 seconds.

Second by just fractions of a second was Lucas Porter on Lingulio O, clean in 57.73 seconds, and Amy Millar of Canada on Jagger HX was third, clean in 58.77 seconds.