‘The Best Pair In The Sport Right Now'

Ben Maher and Explosion W make history and Shanghai Swans succeed

- Jennifer Donald

AFTER a sensational season decorated with grand prix victories, Global Champions titles and a brace of European medals, Ben Maher and Explosion W capped it all by adding the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) €1.25m (£1.07m) super grand prix to a bulging trophy cabinet.

Saturday night showcased equestrian sport at its very best — two rounds of top-calibre showjumping featuring a cavalcade of stars, a nail-biting finale with the British rider last to jump, and the first double clear in the history of this class, which earned a standing ovation from a near sell-out crowd.

Ben is no stranger to the podium with his “horse of a lifetime” Explosion W, whom he described here as “magic”, but this was clearly a moment of glory for our hero to savour.

“It’s been an incredible two seasons but this is one of the best moments of my career,” he said. “I know now how Explosion feels every day when I ride him and I think he knows what I want from him in the ring and that’s what makes a great partnership.

“Thanks to all the people who have made this possible.”

HALL OF FAME

THE build-up to Saturday’s feature class began with an extraordinary spectacle, the walk of champions. Each of the 18 riders to have qualified through the LGCT season was introduced to the audience amidst a backdrop of drums and pyrotechnics.

With a cast of contenders including Ludger Beerbaum, Peder Fredricson, Daniel Deusser and Marcus Ehning, the Legendary soundtrack couldn’t have been more appropriate.

Just four of the 18 contenders jumped clear in round one while Ireland’s Darragh Kenny was seen cursing the time-fault he accrued in an otherwise clean round of jumping with the 13-year-old Cornet Obolensky son, Balou Du Reventon.