Paris Eiffel Jumping: Ben Maher in great form ahead of today’s GCT

The anticipation is rising ahead of the Global Champions Tour GP in Paris at the Champ du Mars at the foot of the iconic Eiffel Tower.
However ahead of the GP, Ben Maher took centre stage yesterday after winning the Prize of Qatar on his 10 year-old gelding Aristo Z (AndiamoZ). The rider recorded a clean run in the jump-off with a time of 33.22 seconds ahead of the Moroccan Ouaddar Abdelkebir on Quickly de Kreisker (Diamant de Semilly). Third place was taken by Holland’s Harrie Smolders on  Don VHP Z (Diamant de Semilly).
It was a tough course set up by course-designer Uliano Vezzani that asked for a near surgical precision from the riders with many struggling to master it such as Ludger Beerbaum, Edwina Alexander, Janika Sprunger and Roger Yves-Bost who all missed out on the jump-off.
The Belgian rider Gregory Wathelet on Conrad de Hus stood out, but an unlucky incident with the bridle compromised his race. A full list of the results can be viewed at the following link: http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/925/sta_erg/06_ergENG.htm?style=longi…
The 5 star category trials meanwhile begin today at 12.50 with the timed Prize Jaulin from 1.50m. Then at 17.30 the main event and highly anticipated GCT will begin over two rounds. Here is the starting line-up: http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/925/sta_erg/11_staENG.htm?style=longi…
source: globalchampionstour.com