Ben Maher wins in Saint-Tropez

It was a second win the Longines Global Champions Tour for British rider Ben Maher at the end of an emotional jump-off in the Ramatouelle Grand Prix, Saint-Tropez.The battle for the 2018 has intensified with Edwina Tops-Alexander leading the standings on 154 points followed by Maher on 143 another Briton Scott Brash on 131 pts.Maher’s ride Winning Gold who has just turned nine showed maturity and the win automatically qualifies it for the Play-Off at the end of the season.It was a debut for the CSI5* at Saint-Tropez on the LGCT circuit and Ramatouelle was a fitting venue nestles in the natural surroundings protected by the state above the Pampelonne beach.  As expected the event was full of top riders Christian Ahlmann and Daniel Deusser, who surprisingly found difficulty over the course designed Uliano Vezzani, as did Kevin Staut and John Whitaker.The first to make a clear round was the Swede Peder Fredricson on Hansson WL, followed by America’s Lillie Keenan on Supersox, Belgian Olivier Philippaerts on H&M Legend Of Love and Niels Bruynseels on Gancia de Muze.Tops-Alexander with the California bay who won at Miami Beach put in a fine display but the day belonged to Ben Maher and his mount owned by Poden Farms Winning Good, who left the Australian in third, behind Carlos Lopez on Admara 2.
Good Equestrian World for Italy and Alberto Zorzi, in 10th on Fair Light van’T Heike.The general standings of the Longines Global Champions Tour 2018 off the podium places:4° Daniel Deusser GER 119 pts
5° Jos Verlooy BEL 98 pts
6° Pieter Devos BEL 93 pts
7° Marcus Ehning GER 91 pts
8° Julien Epaillard FRA 82 pts
9° Nicola Philippaerts BEL 81 pts
10° Danielle Goldstein ISR 80 ptsPress Release Longines Global Champions TourResults: www.longinestiming.comPhoto: LGCT credits Stefano Grasso