Ben Maher Wins with Ginger-Blue, A Second Time, at WEF
Maher Takes the Blue in the $62,500 Hermès Classic
February 1, 2026 at 8:47 PMBy a.dunne
Great Britain's Ben Maher was back on Derby Field and earned his second blue ribbon within three days aboard Ginger-Blue, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, to close out week four of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, in the CSI4*$62,500 Hermès Classic. The world no. 4's other win with Ginger-Blue was in the CSI4* $32,000 Defiant Whisky Speed class on Friday.
Eugenio Garza Perez of Mexico and the 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding Contago finished second in the 1.50-meter class on Sunday, while Spain's Juan Manuel Gallego and the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Lloyd took third.
In the field of 17, seven qualified for the jump-off, and five were double clear.
American Jacob Pope and Jecibelle were the fastest four-faulters in the first round and were eighth.
Top Six Results
1 Ben Maher (Great Britain) - GINGER-BLUE - 0/36.84
2 Eugenio Garza Perez (Mexico) - CONTAGO - 0/37.98
3 Juan Manuel Gallego (Spain) - LLOYD - 0/38.16
4 Hallie Grimes (USA) - JON SNOW - 0/39.48
5 Vanessa Hood (Israel) - FBW GRAPHIK - 0/43.80
6 Hilary McNerney (USA) - RISCALINO - 4/41.24
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