Ben Maher and Ginger-Blue Set the Standard for Five-Star Victory at World Equestrian Center – Ocala
As the first of 17 in the jump-off, Ben Maher (GBR) and Ginger-Blue, owned by Jane Forbes Clark, set the standard with an uncatchable time for victory in the $117,000 1.55m CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Qualifier presented by Ethel M Chocolates on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). The week culminates with the $300,000 1.60m CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala presented by MARS Equestrian on Saturday evening, February 14.
Fifty-nine entries competed over a first-round course set by Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR), and 18 found the way to a clear round. Seventeen combinations proceeded to the jump-off, but it was the trailblazer that held on for the win. Maher and Ginger-Blue set a winning time of 37.63 seconds.
Just off the pace for second place was Erynn Ballard (CAN) on Epsilon de Brenil, a 12-year-old Selle Français gelding by Ernest x Lord Z owned by Andrew Lopez, who stopped the timers in 37.82 seconds. With a gallop to the final vertical, Nina Mallevaey (FRA) and My Clementine, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by O.B.O.S. Quality x Kashmir van Schuttershof owned by Rein Family LLC and Tara Dow-Rein, finished in 38.29 seconds for third place.
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